Perth College UHI started as a day further education college in the old Academy building on Rose Terrace in 1961 teaching trades. Soon afterwards it opened a centre in Nelson St on the site of the Southern District School.
The range of courses grew and in 1985 the College offered Scotland’s first popular music course in NC Rock Music.
Originally called Perth Technical College, it became firstly Perth College of Further Education, then Perth College and is now know as Perth College UHI.
Perth Technical College’s Brahan Building was officially opened on 16 October 1971 by the Secretary of State for Scotland, Gordon Campbell. The first Principal was William McNeill. Our building was on the site of the Pullars (of dry-cleaning fame) family home and cost around £1.25 million.
While there were 24 full-time lecturers at the opening, there are around 500 full-time and part-time staff today.
The original 8 departments were: Building, Engineering (mechanical, motor and electrical), Commerce, Retail Distribution, Catering, Homecraft & Women’s Trades, Hairdressing, General Studies.
In 1971 there were 700 students and in 2010, around 9000 student enrolments.
Perth College UHI runs a network of learning centres across the area, in Blairgowrie, Crieff, Kinross and Pathways in Perth. We also own AST (Air Service Training) and deliver a range of aircraft engineering courses.
More recently we've launched the country’s only post-graduate degree in popular music performance and are home to research centres which have international reputations.
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