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English courses at college or university
Many colleges and universities have courses to help you learn English. Contact your local college or university to find out about their courses.
Find out more about universities in Scotland.
Find a list of colleges in Scotland on Colleges Scotland website (collegesscotland.ac.uk)
English courses in your local area
Local councils offer courses to help you learn English. These are often called English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses.
You can find out more about these courses through your local council:
- Aberdeen City Council Adult learning (aberdeencity.gov.uk)
- Aberdeenshire Council English for speakers of other languages (aberdeenshire.gov.uk)
- Angus Council English for speakers of other languages (angus.gov.uk)
- Clackmannanshire Council Community learning and development (clacks.gov.uk)
- Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) Adult learning (cne-siar.gov.uk)
- Dumfries and Galloway Council English for speakers of other languages (dumgal.gov.uk)
- Dundee City Council English for speakers of other languages (dundeecity.gov.uk)
- East Ayrshire Council English for speakers of other languages (east-ayrshire.gov.uk)
- East Dunbartonshire Council Adult Learning, youth work and employability (eastdunbarton.gov.uk)
- East Lothian Council English for speakers of other languages (eastlothian.gov.uk)
- East Renfrewshire Council Adult learning (eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk)
- Edinburgh Council English for speakers of other languages (edinburgh.gov.uk)
- Fife Council English for speakers of other languages (fife.gov.uk)
- Glasgow City Council Adult learning (glasgowlife.org.uk)
- Highland Council English for speakers of other languages (highlifehighland.com)
- Inverclyde Council English for speakers of other languages (inverclyde.gov.uk)
- Midlothian Council English for speakers of other languages (midlothian.gov.uk)
- Moray Council English for speakers of other languages (moray.gov.uk)
- North Ayrshire Council English for speakers of other languages (north-ayrshire.gov.uk)
- North Lanarkshire Council English for speakers of other languages (northlanarkshire.gov.uk)
- Orkney Council Adult learning (orkney.gov.uk)
- Perth & Kinross Council English for speakers of other languages (pkc.gov.uk)
- Renfrewshire Council Adult courses, learning and development in (renfrewshire.gov.uk)
- Scottish Borders Council English for speakers of other languages (scotborders.gov.uk)
- South Ayrshire Adult learning (south-ayrshire.gov.uk)
- South Lanarkshire English for speakers of other languages (southlanarkshire.gov.uk)
- Shetland Council Adult learning (learnshetland.com)
- Stirling Council Adult learning classes (stirling.gov.uk)
- West Dunbartonshire Council English for speakers of other languages (west-dunbarton.gov.uk)
- West Lothian Council English for speakers of other languages (westlothian.gov.uk)
Translation support
If you need translation support, there are services available. You can get more information from your local council.
Find out more about local councils (cosla.gov.uk)
Language support for children
There are English as an additional Language (EAL) teams in each local council. They help children and young people whose first language is not English. The support is for children aged two to 18 years old.
Learn more about English as an additional language (education.gov.scot)
The Scottish dialect
English is the national language of Scotland. There are differences of pronunciation in some areas of Scotland. These are known as dialects.
Every region in Scotland has its own dialect. Spending time in your local community and talking to local people will help you get used to the way they speak.
The Scots Language Centre has information on Scottish dialects (scotslanguage.com)
Community support
In many areas there is community support for migrants, such as social or religious groups. Some offer English language help.
They might also offer support on how to settle into your new life in Scotland and help you make new friends.
These groups might be run by the council, a charity, or it might be an informal meet-up group.
For details on groups in your local area, check your local council website, library or community centre noticeboard.
The content on this page is provided by Citizens Advice Scotland.
Header image photo credit: Welcome to Fife / Luigi Di Pasquale