We expect all students to be in person for the coming academic year, so that you can participate in classes and other on-campus activities. The School of Engineering is using a mixture of teaching methods including lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops, laboratories, pre-recorded material, office hours and self-directed study. Students are responsible for engaging with the teaching material provided and methods used.

For details of non-teaching related activities, information will be made available through Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA) and Edinburgh University Sports Union (EUSU), and individual club and society pages.

Requesting a change to your timetable

Where a seminar or other timetabled activity runs at multiple times, and you are unable to attend at the time you are currently assigned to, you can use the University's Group Change Request form to request a change of time. You need to give a valid reason for the requested change, for example your timetable does not allow sufficient time to travel from one activity to the next.

Academic support

You can access the following one-to-one support in the School of Engineering:

• Your Personal Tutor (PT): students entering years 2 to 5 of their programme will have personal tutor, they are a member of academic staff who will meet with you to help you review your learning, academic progress and performance and become a confident, active learner; discuss your future development and career preparation; and deal with any concerns or problems that may affect your studies, or refer you to other sources of support as appropriate.
• Your Student Advisor: students entering year 1 of their programme will have a named student advisor, they are a member of professional services staff who will be your primary contact at the University, and they will be able to offer guidance and support.
• Your Academic Cohort Lead: students entering year 1 of their programme will have a named academic cohort lead who will play a key role in building community amongst your cohort and offer academic guidance and support.
• Student Support Team: staff members who are there to help you with general student support enquiries, including routine advice and guidance on the School’s policies and procedures which govern your progression through your degree programme. You can find out how to contact the Student Support Team on the ETO Hub.
• Academic Staff: academic staff, tutors and demonstrators who provide regular feedback throughout your degree programme. Support is provided in class and through your course surgery hours. Contact details for each of your courses can be found on the course’s Learn page.
• Office Hours: provide an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about your course - including course content, assessment, or how to take your learning to the next level. They are a chance to meet with teaching staff for each course, and attendance is entirely optional. Office hours are also an opportunity to ask teaching staff questions in a more private environment than, for example, in a class. You will be able to find the times of your course office hour on the course's Learn page. If you are unable to make an office hour, for example, because it clashes with a timetabled class, you can arrange an alternative time to speak with teaching staff by email. Please remember, office hours should not be used as a substitute for regular class attendance.
• Teaching Support Staff: staff members who are there to help you with general teaching enquiries, including routine advice and guidance on your timetable, course support materials, tutorial and lab group allocations, coursework and examinations. You can find out how to contact the Teaching Support Team on the ETO Hub.
• EngPALS: a student-to-student support scheme which helps first year engineering students to make the transition to University-level learning through regular sessions run by more senior engineering students, known as Student Leaders. Session details will be shared with first year students at the start of the academic year.

Will support be provided digitally or in-person?

Most of the sources of support outlined above will be offered both digitally and in-person.

Is one-to-one support available outside the School?

• The University offers a range of services to support your health and wellbeing. These specialist services can help you to cope with a variety of concerns, including the impacts of Covid-19.
• The Institute for Academic Development offers study skills and learning support for undergraduate and postgraduate taught students.

Access to labs and study spaces

• Labs: final year project students will be able to make use of lab facilities where this is needed in order to complete their work, once permission has been granted by the appropriate Lab Manager.
• Study spaces: the School has set aside space for Engineering students to study together in small groups and individually, in addition to the study spaces already provided by the University. Details of how these spaces can be booked will be shared with students at the start of the academic year.

Assessments

You can find out how each of your courses will be assessed on the course Learn page.

The School of Engineering examinations will be conducted in person during 2022/23. Please check with other Schools if you are taking courses outside Engineering.

Contact us

If you have a question about undergraduate or postgraduate taught study in the School of Engineering which has not been answered, please contact: sst.eng@ed.ac.uk.