r/Edinburgh_University

I'm transferring to Edinburgh from Cambridge, and I was wondering what mature student life was like at Edi, especially for those in their late 20s? I'll be 27 when I begin my first year in Chinese and History, so I really wanted to gauge the vibes as I found being a mature student in Cam quite lonely and this was even with living in a mature college. The mature student society at Cam, while active, seemed heavily targeted towards those 35+ so I was hoping that Edi catered more for younger mature students. For context, I'm English and I'll be living off-site (but close to central) with my partner. TIA <3

Hi, I am an international student finishing my studies here

I fully support the staffs and I genuinely think the uni really need to work on its finance and admin

But as an international student, I feel a bit worried about the boycott possibly leading to just a certificate of completion in July....which is really not ideal for anyone but esp international students

Any internation students worried about the visa and graduate job?

I hope the uni pays our staffs and let me graduate properly this summer.....:(

hi, i am joining uni of ed as an exchange student this sep, and im a second year undergrad student primarily considering joining pollock halls as it is catered!

- however have heard some horror stories about the people there, and was wondering if people could share their thoughts?

- also have heard that it is mainly 18 year olds, do you think it will be weird coming as a second year?

- lastly within pollock halls, which are better than others?

- if not pollock halls, where else should i stay? is self-catered that much of a burden/that hard to maintain (being someone whos kinda lazy lol)

thank youuuu

I’m going to start my integrated masters in theoretical physics this September and am planning to take a year abroad. I initially emailed the university asking about the year abroad program, to get to the point they replied saying I can transfer immediately (from BSc physics) and asked which program I’d like to transfer to with two options being MPhys Theoretical Physics & MPhys with a Year Abroad. I replied asking if I’d still be able to specialize in theoretical physics if I do the year abroad program but regardless I’d like to transfer to it. Then they just replied saying I was successfully transferred and when I checked it was MPhys Theoretical Physics. Was this just a miscommunication?

I emailed asking this question but in case they don’t get back I’m posting the question here; wil I still be able to apply for the year abroad and would my odds of getting it be worse because my course doesn’t require it?

Hi All -

I’m an MSc Student in SPS. I’ve met with my dissertation advisor (in person) and she’s offered to have online meetings with me for the duration of the process. She also said I need to check with student immigration if I plan to leave for all or part of the summer.

I’ve heard several things about how the university tracks attendance during the summer months, and I’m curious if anyone here has any more specifics or advice.

• I’ve heard that the UK Home Office tracks your movements at the border and will take unilateral action if you are gone more than the [undefined] maximum amount. I’m skeptical about this approach. If this were true, I expect many of the below items wouldn’t be needed.

• I’ve heard that the university tracks attendance via “engagement points” through the dissertation process. As long as you attend your advisor meeting (which can happen online), you should receive credits and it shouldn’t trigger a check.

• I’ve just heard that student immigration will call folks in for in person check-ins. I don’t know if this is random or triggered by some internal process. I believe the person who (anecdotally) was called in had two online advisor meetings with no in person meeting.

• I’ve heard there is a “leave of absence” you can apply for. I’ve heard it is available if you begin a job during the summer. I’ve also heard that it’s only if the job is related to your field of study and is more like a dissertation placement… if I’m working abroad in an unrelated job/field, I assume I would not be eligible for a LOA.

• I do not plan to peruse the graduate visa post graduation. If (worse case) it’s deemed that I’ve been out of the UK for too much of the summer and my visa is cancelled, is an active student visa a requirement to graduate? If I submit my dissertation early (like, in June), do I need to retain the student visa through the summer, just because? Sounds like a hostage situation…..

Any thoughts or advice would be much appreciated!

Hi everyone, I have just firmed my offer for Chemical Physics. However, it was more out of the fact that I had to rather than me really making a choice.

I chose Edinburgh over Bristol, purely cause of the aesthetic of the city and the public transport. But now I am having second thoughts.

I have a few worries about life at the university and on this course, so if any students could answer that would be really helpful thank you :)

(Very lengthy post sorry, I've attempted to make it easily readable)

1 King's Campus and commuting

1a. From what I can gather, I will be based on King's Campus. Does having to commute on a bus become tiring and a pain? Where I live, the buses were so horrific that I learnt how to drive straight away. Bristol has the science in the main campus, 10min walk, which is something that makes me reconsider.

1b. And does being away from the main campus become isolating? I rejected Durham over it being "dead". Is the King's Campus like that? Might as well I have just gone to a nicer campus uni?

2 Second year "direct" entry

Could anyone that has done this advise me please? I am resonably social but also quite socially anxious, and am extremely worried that this could completely stunt my social life. Academically I am confident so not worried about catching up. Will I be "alone" walking into second year tutorials and labs not having a clue what's going on, while everyone around me knows all the protocols? Does studying content a year above your peers have impact on bonding? Does it also just suck a bit? Like missing out on stuff.

3 Xenophobia

I am from England. I'm not loud or abrasive or very posh or anything. At the open day, everyone I met was very friendly however I have a friend from Falkirk that I met with when I was there who has made comments like "the last thing we need is another Englishman" or "Edinburgh is full of foreigners anyway, you'll fit right in". To be honest, the Scots have every right to be proud of their nation, but I don't appreciate being treated like a foreigner in a different region of my own country. When I went there, I did not run across many English people at all. Have any people from England had any issues with this?

4 Music scene

A bit random, but I have a paticular interest in very electronic/alternative music. Is there much of a scene for this? How much variety is there in the music scene? (Compared to Bristol, which is known for being quite "arty")

5 First-year halls

Because the halls are so much more expensive than Bristol, and since an en-suite or max 1 toilet between 2-3 is pretty non-negotiable for me, I will have to go on one of the cheaper halls that are a bit outside. Has anyone does this? Is it a bad idea? From what I can tell, for what I can get in the really nice area in Bristol (Clifton) for £8.5k, I can't really get anything ensuite in Edinburgh. Budget is important to me.

6 Chemical Physics course

Part of what attracted me to this course over Bristol's is the fact that the final year is a research project wherever you want, instead of a "sandwitch year" in penultimate year. This seems less disruptive and just way more logical. Have you felt supported during this final year? Do you believe that it is an advantage? Similarly, do you find that not having a specific lead for the Chemical Physics course is an issue?

If you got all the way to the end thank you very much for reading :)

So I just got my year 12 mocks back and I got A*s in history and sociology and a B in politics (but I was legit 1% of an A). My current predicted grades are A* in soc, A in history and A* in politics. Aside from the mock, I’ve been sitting in between an A* and A in politics the entire year. I want to do politics at uni preferably at Edinburgh or Birmingham but since politics was my lowest result, would this effect my chances?

I’m planning to study abroad at UoE next sem and I’m just wondering if someone could point out some easy subjects to take im hoping to take it pretty easy for the semester. Thank you

Hi, i’ve got offer to study in edinburgh in september intake but i have a few sports competition, mainly in mid / end december. would it be possible to join the university in january or could i take a leave for a few weeks before the completions as it is held in my native country. please advise

Hi everyone! I was recently accepted for my MSc programme, starting September 15th. I was wondering when I should aim to move to Scotland from Canada. I know that finding housing is a bit of a nightmare, so I’m wondering if I should come a bit earlier (mid-August) to try to secure something for September? What would you guys suggest? TIA!! :)

Hello everyone I’m an Indian student who has an offer letter, are there any communities of Indian students or any students community in general which I could join for an offer holder!

Anyone else looking for other mature students to meet up with for coffee and a blether?

i’m a scottish student considering study law and spanish at edinburgh in september. i’m currently going back and forth between uni of edinburgh and glasgow and my main issue is the classism stereotype.

is the treatment actually that bad for scottish students????

Hey all, I was admitted for an MSc beginning in September and would love to climb with some friends while I’m there. I primarily boulder but top rope and lead as well, and would love to try my hand at trad and ice climbing! I’d also like to know if there’s relevant societies or clubs or organizations to join.

Shoot me a DM if interested :) I’m on iMessage WhatsApp Discord Instagram etc.

Hi, I’m a bit lost with the fee rules and was hoping someone might know.

I’m an Irish citizen but living in Switzerland, and I have an offer from the University of Edinburgh but they classed me as international fees but did not send me a fees questionnaire. I’d really like to go, but I can’t afford international fees.

I found this on the UK government website about Irish citizens living in the EEA or Switzerland being eligible for home fees for courses starting before 2028 if certain conditions are met. But it seems linked to Student Finance England, so now I’m not sure if this actually applies in Scotland as well.

On Edinburgh’s website it says Irish nationals living in the EU/EEA are considered international, which just confuses me more.

So I’m wondering if this rule only applies in England, or if anyone has experience with this in Scotland / Edinburgh specifically?

I meet the residency conditions (living in Switzerland before Dec 2020 and since then), so I’m just trying to understand if there’s any chance of getting home fees.

I’ve tried contacting UKCISA but can’t get through, so any advice or experience would really help.

Thanks :)

Im quite a quiet person and don't drink very often, so I was wondering if quiet accom is worth it? But I want to come out my shell and socialise a bit, I don't wan't to be stuck in a flat where absolutely nobody speaks and I'd like to go out sometimes too. What are peoples experiences with quiet flats at Edinburgh Uni, is it a good choice or not worth it? Also i'll take any accommodation recommendations, Id prefer an en suite but the only one in my price range really is Morgan Court, apart from that I've also thought both Warrender Park ones looks quite nice?