Pre-arrival

What to do before arriving in Edinburgh and commencing your studies.

Particulars for TESOL students

Choose your Option courses by 2 September

Before commencing your studies, you must select which option courses you would like to take in the 2026-27 academic year.

You can find information about available option courses in the Degree Programme Table.

Visit the Degree Programme Table 

This year's option courses include:

You can also find a selection of presentations and introductory videos for our Language Education option courses:

We cannot guarantee that you will be allocated a space on your selected course. Course choices are subject to approval by Course Organisers and Programme Directors and are dependent on course capacity. Course choices may be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. We will do our best to allocate all students their preferences.

A link to the option course preference form will be posted soon.

To indicate your preferences, please fill in the form by Monday 2 September. Students will be enrolled on their courses after this deadline.

If you have questions regarding the option course selection process, contact Student Experience and Support. 

Contact Student Experience and Support

Preparing for your studies

Complete your Top Tasks

Before starting at the University of Edinburgh, there are some essential tasks that you will need to complete.


The New Student website contains a wide range of information on starting at the University of Edinburgh, including health and wellbeing guidance, keeping safe, and setting up IT.  For those coming to Edinburgh for their studies, learn how to register with a GP, open a UK bank account, find accommodation, and get visa assistance as well.


LEARN is the University’s Virtual Learning Environment. Learn provides access to course materials, assignments, grades, feedback, lecture recordings, resource lists and much more. Please familiarise yourself with the information on Learn ahead of Welcome Week. For nearly all courses, assessment during Semester 1 will be submitted digitally through Learn. This might be in the form of essays, reports, recorded video presentations, reflective journals, multiple-choice tests, and so on. 


Additional assistance and resources

The University's Disability and Learning Support Service provides advice and support for students with additional support needs joining the University. Make an appointment to meet them to discuss your needs, and they can help to work out an appropriate package of support that matches your personal needs. This might include a note-taker, material captioning or transcription, a BSL ​​​​​ ​interpreter, or additional time for assessments or completing assignments.

We have a number of support mechanisms within Moray House for students with additional support needs, as well as research expertise by way of the Scottish Sensory Centre.


The University offers free, non-credit-bearing courses for Postgraduate Taught and Research students from all disciplines. You may register yourself for this course prior to joining the University if you feel you could benefit from additional academic English support during your studies. There are typically two courses offered in the autumn term – one starting in September and one in October. Academic staff on your programme may also refer you for ALLIS but places are limited so early self-registration is recommended.


Students have access to the library, which is conveniently located in Dalhousie Land.

The Moray House Library is the centre of the School's knowledge base.  It holds the University's education, sport and recreation collections, containing literature covering:

  • Education
  • Psychology
  • English language teaching
  • Physical education
  • Sports sciences
  • Leisure studies
  • Recreational management

Designed to enhance and support the learning opportunities available to staff and students the School Library provides a point of ready access to textbooks, key academic journals, past dissertations and to many specialist subscription databases.

The School Library is a popular place for study and research.

Access to the majority of these services is available to students and staff from wherever they are in the world, from their place of work and at home.

The Reserve Collection of high-demand titles on student reading lists is shelved on the First Floor of the Library (entrance level). 

The General Book Collections are on the First Floor.

The Print Journal Collections are on the Ground Floor.

Resources

The University libraries provide access to a vast range of e-books, e-journals, and databases. The main route to the University library's collection is via DiscoverEd. The majority of online resources are also available off-campus via this route. You can access library resources and services from the library website or via the MyEd 'Studies' tab.

DiscoverEd (Library discovery service)

Accessing e-resources on and off campus

University of Edinburgh Library website

Access and opening hours

Staff and students of the University of Edinburgh have full access and borrowing rights.

Joining the Library

Opening hours

Moray House Library accessibility information

There are great spaces to study at the University. There are formal and informal areas, areas for quiet individual study or for group work, and all the facilities you need to study effectively. Some of the Main Library areas are open 24/7. Please note there may be restrictions to support social distancing.

Finding Study Space

Location

Dalhousie Land, 15 St John Street, Edinburgh EH8 8JR

Email: IS.Helpdesk@ed.ac.uk

Campus maps and travel information

British Sign Language support

A video relay service is available, enabling British Sign Language users to contact public bodies and vice-versa. This service operates from 8 am to 12 midnight, 7 days a week.

ContactScotland BSL

Key Links

Moray House Library Guide (PDF)

About Moray House Library

The Library tab in MyEd, is a really quick way into all that the Library has to offer

General information for Online Learning students

Subject guide for Education & Teacher Training

Subject guide for Sport & Physical Education ​​​​​​


The British Council has released a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) to help people prepare to study and live in the UK. Find out more on the Future Learn Website:


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