UHI Moray: A History
Discover what makes us a place where learning means more history.
Humble beginnings
Having taken over the former Elgin Academy buildings, we opened on the 16th November 1971 as Elgin Technical College. 14 years later our Linkwood Technology Centre campus opened providing courses in engineering, the built environment and motor vehicle repair and maintenance.
With the introduction of Further and Higher Education Scotland Act in 1992 we left the ownership of Grampian Regional Council and changed our name to Moray College. The same year we opened The Beechtree Restaurant providing students studying hospitality with hands on, practical experience.
In 1996 the Biblical Garden was opened – the first of its kind in Scotland – giving our horticulture students a place to call home. Located next to the iconic Elgin Cathedral, the garden gives learners an internationally recognised qualification that guarantees they have the skills, knowledge and abilities to continue into a horticulture role. This unique space is also a visitor attraction maintained in partnership with the Friends of the Biblical Garden.
1997 saw the college change the nature of study to offer a wider range of subjects through our partnership with the UHI Millennium Project, turning Moray College into Moray College UHI. Four years later UHI gained full university status, naming James Fraser as our first vice-chancellor.
A new millennia
2001 saw the opening of our Student Services Centre (LRC); a hub of student activity that is the first port for students needing help with everything from registration to graduation and beyond. This space incorporates soundproof pods for individual study, our library, The Study Bar and group study spaces.
20 years after the opening of the Beechtree Restaurant we launched our Hospitality and Tourism Academy offering a range of part time options and short courses in the areas of cookery, hospitality and tourism. Some well-known chefs who have studied with us include Lorna McNee (Michelin Star chef) and Ross Burgess (contestant on MasterChef: The Professionals 2020).
Our Moray Street Campus changed again with the opening of The Alexander Graham Bell Centre for Digital Health (AGBC) in 2014. Officially opened by Princess Anne, Chancellor of the University of the Highlands and Islands, the AGBC is our research, education, and business hub. The building provides teaching facilities for our students and houses medical research and training rooms used by NHS Grampian. This space also offers conferencing space and over the years has become more established as an events venue hosting a variety of events including the Vivit Experience, Moray Game Jam, Moray Blue Lights Festival and CoHI (Convention of the Highlands and Islands).
The launch of a one-of-a-kind course
In 2017 after a decade of development, we introduced our BSc (Hons) in Integrative Healthcare with the aim of producing graduates with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of complementary therapies, science, research, and healthcare. Eight years on, this course has welcomed hundreds of students and gained international status allowing students from across the world to study with us.
A fresh start
In 2022, the UHI partnership underwent a rebrand, changing our name to UHI Moray. This fresh start joined the partnership together to strengthen our combined ethos and commitment to higher education while responding to the needs of the local community with entry level, vocational and professional training.
Since then, our staff, students and graduates have gone on to success after success including:
- Hospitality students celebrate reaching the Country Range Student Chef Challenge 2022 Grand Final
- HNC Healthcare graduate Shirley Catto awarded historic Queen's Nurse Award in 2022
- Gallia Cochrane reaching the Scottish regional final of the Young Horticulturist of the Year
- Construction apprentices winning golds at WorldSkills UK and representing the UK at the World Skills in Lyon 2024
- Beechtree Restaurant celebrated at The Scottish Hospitality Awards 2023
- Our Marketing team receiving national commendation at the CDN awards in 2023
- Horticulture apprentice, Brodie Linklater winning Horticulture Learner of the Year award
- Fine Art students win prestigious awards and receive offers to share their work at exhibitions which showcase the best of Scotland’s emerging artistic talent
Commitment to inclusivity
We pride ourselves on being an inclusive institution and in 2024 we made that commitment clear by signing up to the Scottish LGBTI+ Rainbow Mark. This declaration joined our other inclusive offerings such as accessible extra-curricular activities, student support and equality initiatives.