Student Support

The supervisor(s) should be the primary source of advice for PhD students. Most supervisors are very experienced and can advise on strategies for dealing with the kinds of problems that arise in the course of research. With the general lack of structure of PhD studies, lack of discipline can be a problem, and sometimes a bit of pressure is helpful. The student-supervisor relationship requires a degree of patience on both sides. Sometimes the relationship begins to break down, and in such cases it can be helpful to seek outside advice or support. Sometimes students seek a change of supervisor, but there are situations in which no improvement is feasible, for instance due to lack of local specialist expertise.

• Informatics Graduate School guidance
• University code of practice for supervisors and research students
• Concessions - Procedures on requesting Extensions, Interruptions, Leave of Absences, Internships, Annual Leave and Withdrawal from PGR study
• Parental Leave guidance
• Code of Student Conduct

• Health and Wellbeing - a range of services provided by the University and throughout Edinburgh to support your physical and mental wellbeing.
• Student Disability Service
• Student Counselling Service - short term counselling for all students at the University.
• University Chaplaincy - a safe and welcoming space for people of all faiths and none.
• University Health Service
• The Wellbeing Thesis - an online resource for postgraduate research students to support your wellbeing, learning and research.

• Protecting your mental health: A practical guide for postgraduate research students in STEM

• Resources and Support for Researchers with Disabilities

The CDT runs a coaching programme to help the students develop and engage in their studies while enhancing their wellbeing. This programme is designed to create ways to support the students who are starting their CDT programme or transitioning from MScR to PhD and would like to reflect on this new challenge.

 Group discussions and one-to-one sessions will provide students with a confidential space for deep personal reflection, the opportunity to build group support, and to co-create ways to overcome personal, institutional and societal challenges. 

The programme will include a launch session to explain its aim, five one-to-one coaching sessions for each participant, and the possibility of group sessions if requested by participants. If you would like to get access to coaching outside these dates, please get in touch with the CDT Coordinator.

We recognise the pressures, both academic and personal, which students might have experienced during the intense period of change brought by the Covid-19 pandemic. For example, they may have had their work-life balance impacted, felt isolated during lock-down periods or experienced challenges adapting to new online teaching practices. As the pandemic unfolds its consequences are likely to be long lasting bringing new challenges to students.

This bespoke personal development programme aims to address these concerns. It has been devised by the UKRI Biomedical AI CDT in collaboration with the social enterprise Presence in Action Collective (https://www.piacollective.org).

Student testimonies

My experience with the coaching session has been positive and helpful. Talking with Sam allowed me to see the difficulties in the private and work settings from different perspectives. Every session had something new we were able to discuss openly and Sam was always available in offering her advice in a sensitive and kind way. Overall I would definitely recommend it.

• Institute for Academic Development
• Research ethics - School procedure for implementing ethics regulations relating to research
• General Data Protection Regulation

The University has a zero tolerance stance towards any form of bullying and harassment. The Respect at Edinburgh web hub has been created to bring together information and guidance on the Dignity & Respect policy, the processes for raising and addressing concerns, and the support and training available.

• Hardship fund and other financial support available to students

• Tutoring Vacancies

• Student Immigration Service
• Informatics Graduate School advice

There are many diverse student societies at the University dedicated to creating and maintaining a safe and welcome space for their members. A few notable ones can be found below, however many more can be discovered through EUSA's Find a Society tool.

• Find a Society - search through all the societies the University currently has to offer.
• Beneficial AI - a society dedicated to Artificial Intelligence that positively impacts humankind
• EdIntelligence - Provides events, workshops and tech talks to students interested in Machine Learning
• Mental Health and Wellbeing Society - a fully inclusive, student-led informal support network focused on mental wellbeing.
• Student Carers' Community - online community open to anyone who fulfils unpaid caring responsibilities for a friend, partner or family member.
• Women in STEM Society - a society dedicated to promoting gender equality in STEM as well as networking, opportunities and a few socials to get to know like-minded students.
• Edinburgh Hoppers - network for women in informatics at the University of Edinburgh.
• PrideSoc - the University's LGBTQ+ Society

• EUSA portal - Information portal of the Edinburgh University Students’ Association
• Advice place – EUSA Advice Place provides information, confidential advice, and - where appropriate - negotiation, advocacy, and referral in all areas affecting your time at the University.

• Computing support - for all computing support issues, requests for software or other DICE related issues.

If you have any computing issues, please send am email to cdt-it-support@inf.ed.ac.uk , rather than using the CS contact form.

• Bayes building guide
• Student Desk Allocation policy
• Touchscreen Information

• Informatics Staff and Student intranet
• Informatics staff list
• Informatics Mailing Lists

There are various student representation schemes within the University that CDT students can reach out to or get involved in:

• Informatics Student-Staff Liaison Committee (SSLC) - Student representation within the School of Informatics for Postgraduate by Research students.
• College-level Student Staff Liaison Committee
• EUSA School and Class Representatives - Elected student positions within the Edinburgh University Students' Association.
• Student representation - information about provisions within the University

Please inform the CDT Coordinator if you take up a representative position with any of these networks.

The University has a formal complaints procedure but it is anticipated that most problems can be resolved through informal discussion. When this is unsuccessful, a formal complaint may be appropriate. Complaints should be submitted in the prescribed form to the Head of School who will generally ask the Director of Graduate School to investigate. Student complaint procedure, postgraduate research students.