Study advice

Sources of advice in your school of study

If you are concerned about a particular subject or piece of work associated with your programme, you should ask the members of staff who teach on your programme, such as your tutors, lecturers and Programme Director in the first instance.

There may also be dedicated members of staff within your school who provide guidance about learning and studying. Some courses or schools have a student support team or office who can offer support for your studies.

For further academic advice or guidance concerning your programme you should contact your programme director. Check the programme information in your handbook or online for details of who you should contact within your school.

Advice from the Institute for Academic Development

Workshops

You may find attending one of our open or programme-specific workshop a useful way of picking up information and advice about studying. Our workshops cover a range of topics such as reading, academic writing, dissertation and research projects, and exam revision and strategies.

Study skills consultations

This half hour one-to-one session with a Study Development Advisor can help you learn and study more effectively by developing effective study strategies and enhancing current study skills.

The session could be used to discuss such things as (but not limited to):

• managing reading workloads
• effective note making
• planning and prioritising your time
• essay planning and writing
• exam revision and techniques

When you book an appointment you will be asked for a specific study skill issue(s) you wish to discuss.

Please feel free to bring examples of feedback so that you can reflect on your academic work, but be aware we cannot proofread or edit individual pieces of work or give subject specific guidance.

How can I make an appointment?

Study skills consultation appointments must be booked in advance. There is no drop-in service available.

During semesters 1 and 2, you can find booking information on the following webpage:

Study skills consultations - online booking

If you would like a consultation outside semester 1 and 2, or there are no appointments that are suitable for you, it may be possible to arrange a consultation out with the scheduled times. However, this is dependent on the availability of our Study Development Advisors and can take up to 2 weeks to arrange. Please email us at iad.study@ed.ac.uk with your name, matriculation number, the study skill issue you wish to discuss, and at least 2 date and time options when you are free.

Online consultations

All consultations for AY24/25 will be held online in Microsoft Teams. You will receive information on how to join the session in an email reminder a few days before your consultation.

Any questions

Any questions, please email study development advice:

Are other issues affecting your learning?

Concerns about learning can be linked to other issues like stress or money worries. The guide to student services at the University provides a short description of all student services that may be able to help you; it includes information on advice services to support your health and wellbeing.