How New Scots Can Access ESOL Classes in Scotland
How New Scots Can Access ESOL Classes in Scotland
English language learning is one of the most practical foundations of integration in Scotland. For many New Scots — people who have sought protection or resettled here — English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes can open doors to everyday life, work, study, friendships and participation in local communities.
This guide explains why ESOL matters, what the Scottish Government’s New Scots Delivery Plan says about current provision (especially in Glasgow), and how to start looking for classes through colleges, local authorities and the third sector. It is general information, not advice. Entitlements, waiting times and course fees can change, so always check details with the provider.
Why ESOL matters for integration
ESOL is about more than grammar and vocabulary. Stronger English helps people:
- understand letters, appointments and official information
- speak with GPs, schools, landlords and employers
- build confidence and reduce isolation
- progress into further education, volunteering or work
Glasgow Life, which delivers community ESOL in the city, notes that improving English can help people express ideas, meet others, feel less isolated, and support employability, community integration, and health and wellbeing.
Digital access matters too. Many ESOL applications, college portals and online practice tools assume a working device and internet connection. UFIP’s recent guides on digital inclusion for asylum seekers and digital skills for Glasgow newcomers explain why connectivity and basic online skills sit alongside language learning.
What the New Scots Delivery Plan Year 1 Report says about ESOL
In March 2026 the Scottish Government published the New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy: Delivery Plan 2024–2026 – Year 1 Report. It covers progress between July 2024 and August 2025 by the Scottish Government, COSLA, Scottish Refugee Council and wider partners.
The report’s ESOL case study explains that the Independent Review of Community Learning and Development, published on 17 July 2024, called for immediate action on an ESOL crisis, with particular mention of waiting lists in Glasgow.
Glasgow ESOL funding and partnerships
In response, the Scottish Government funded the Glasgow ESOL Strategy Partnership. Partners include Glasgow Clyde College, City of Glasgow College, Glasgow Kelvin College, Glasgow Life (on behalf of Glasgow City Council), ESOL Scotland and the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA).
Key figures from the Year 1 Report include:
- an initial £500,000 for a short-term Glasgow intervention, with classes beginning in November 2024
- a further £247,200 in April 2025 so learners could complete the 2024/25 academic year to June 2025
- over 1,300 learners reached in Glasgow in that period, exceeding an original target of 800, with some people waiting up to five years
- a further £500,000 confirmed in June 2025 for 2025/26, seeking to enable around 800 learners from August 2025
- over £1.2 million in additional ESOL funding across the 2024/25 and 2025/26 academic years for this Glasgow intervention
The report also notes longer-term work on effective ESOL delivery across Scotland, with stakeholder engagement beginning in September 2025.
Wider New Scots support context
The same report records that the Scottish Government awarded a Refugee Support Service contract in June 2025 to Scottish Refugee Council, running from October 2025 to March 2028. It also highlights publication of research underpinning the strategy: A Handbook of Integration with Refugees by Esa Aldegheri, Dan Fisher and Alison Phipps at the University of Glasgow.
These developments do not remove waiting lists overnight, but they show that ESOL is recognised as a national integration priority, not only a local college issue.
How to find ESOL classes in Scotland
Provision varies by area. The Scottish Refugee Council’s education pages advise searching locally through colleges, charities and councils, and warn that waiting lists can be long. You can often apply in more than one place.
1. Colleges
Colleges commonly offer part-time ESOL from literacy to advanced levels. Some courses are funded; others may charge fees depending on residency status and course type. Always ask the college about eligibility and funding before you enrol.
In Glasgow, the three main further education colleges offering ESOL are:
- City of Glasgow College
- Glasgow Clyde College
- Glasgow Kelvin College
Demand is often very high. City of Glasgow College has publicly noted limited places and, at times, closed applications for ESOL starting in August, encouraging people to use the Glasgow ESOL Register and other providers. Application windows and residency document requirements change, so check the college website for the latest position.
2. Local authorities and community learning
Many councils offer community ESOL through adult learning or libraries. In Glasgow, Glasgow Life runs community classes for adults over 16, from beginners to pre-intermediate level, plus book groups and creative writing for intermediate learners and above.
To enquire with Glasgow Life, email gl*******************@*************rg.uk with your full name, mobile number and postcode. You will usually be invited to an assessment so staff can place you at the right level. Classes run when there are enough learners in a local area.
Outside Glasgow, start with your local council website, library service or community learning team and search for “ESOL” or “English classes for adults”.
3. Third sector and community providers
Charities and community organisations also deliver or signpost ESOL. Useful starting points include:
- ESOL Scotland — guidance on finding classes, including WhatsApp enquiry options for their own provision
- WEA Scotland — adult and community learning, including ESOL in some areas
- local integration networks, libraries, churches and community centres that host conversation classes
Community classes can be a valuable route while waiting for college places. In Glasgow, colleges have agreed to prioritise learners who have attended community ESOL linked to the city register.
Using the Glasgow ESOL Register
If you live in Glasgow, joining the Glasgow ESOL Register is one of the clearest first steps. According to Learn ESOL Glasgow:
- the register helps anyone in the city who needs ESOL to record interest and be assessed
- joining is not itself a college application
- you normally receive a text confirmation with a unique five-digit number
- assessment appointments can take a few months; do not register more than once
- after assessment you receive a yellow certificate with your level and information about free community classes
- colleges also use the register to find students and may prioritise community class attenders
Keep your mobile number up to date by emailing the register team if it changes. If you are offered a class three times and turn it down, the register may ask whether you want your details removed.
ESOL Scotland also points learners to the Glasgow ESOL Register and to community maps and local noticeboards for classes across the city and beyond.
Practical tips while you wait
Waiting lists remain a real barrier, especially in high-demand areas. While you wait, consider:
- joining community conversation groups or library ESOL book clubs where available
- using free online practice from reputable sources such as BBC Learning English or the British Council LearnEnglish site (you will need a device and data)
- keeping copies of any assessment certificates and residency documents ready for college applications
- asking a local advice service or caseworker to help with forms if English or digital access is difficult
- looking at community support options in Glasgow for wider integration help alongside language learning
Scottish Refugee Council also publishes online English learning links for adults and children on its education pages, which can complement formal classes.
Fees, eligibility and important limitations
Whether a course is free depends on your immigration status, the provider and the type of course. Scottish Refugee Council notes that people with refugee status or humanitarian protection may access further and higher education funding on a similar basis to other Scottish residents in many cases, but rules are detailed and course-specific. Asylum seekers and people with other forms of leave may face different fee or eligibility rules.
This article cannot tell you whether you will get a free place. For funding questions:
- speak to the college student advice or funding team
- check Student Information Scotland for further education bursary information where relevant
- use Scottish Refugee Council’s education guidance as a starting point, then confirm with the provider
Important: this is general information for public awareness, not immigration, education or benefits advice. Rules, waiting lists and application windows change. Always verify current details with colleges, councils, official websites or a qualified adviser.
About Unity for Integration Project
Unity for Integration Project (UFIP) is a Scottish charity (SC045663) based at Unity Hub in Glasgow. Since grassroots beginnings in 2013, UFIP has worked alongside migrants, refugees, families and diverse communities to strengthen wellbeing, build confidence, develop practical skills and open pathways into volunteering, participation and leadership. This article is shared to help New Scots and supporters find authoritative routes into ESOL; it does not replace provider assessments or official advice.
Conclusion
ESOL remains central to Scotland’s New Scots approach. Recent Scottish Government funding for Glasgow shows both the scale of unmet need and a clear commitment to expand places through colleges, Glasgow Life and third-sector partners. Across Scotland, the practical path is usually the same: contact local community providers, join any local ESOL register where one exists, apply to college when windows open, and keep practising while you wait.
If you are supporting someone to find a class, start with Scottish Refugee Council’s education pages, your local council or college website, and — in Glasgow — the Glasgow ESOL Register and Glasgow Life. Take one step at a time, keep your contact details current, and ask for help with forms if you need it.
Featured image: AI-generated classroom still life (no real people). General information only — not advice.
