University of Edinburgh starters, 2025

[gerbo]

Anyone want to chat about this? My daughter is heading up soon to study English. We are currently working on a list of things she will need...and the 6 administrative tasks they've set.

She's in catered halls. She seems to have made contacts already via Instagram!

My DD started at Edinburgh last year and absolutely loves it. If you are not already in Scotland, a useful tip is to for DD to get her Young Scot card sorted as soon as she can provide evidence of her Edinburgh address, as it will give her free bus and tram travel.

Hello! I was hoping an Edinburgh thread would start. Ds is starting this year doing Engineering. What are the six adminstrative tasks?!

DD is also starting in Sept. She's got SC accomm in the Meadows area. They should have had an email about 6 tasks they have to complete before starting - think the first one was registering as a student then various other admin tasks/ stuff to fill in.

Good to hear from you all. Thanks for the advice re the Yound Scot card.....

My dd is in Pollock Halls.

We seem to be in a state of limbo here- clearing her room, putting things in piles, making lists.....!

Lots of lists, both written and mental, and lots of piles of stuff here too!

My dd is going into 2nd year - she has loved it so far. She was in South Clerk St last year.

Elder DD is going into her 3rd year at Edinburgh (in fact, MFL 3rd year abroad). She loves it. She was in Pollock Halls in her first year. It took her probably 5/6 weeks to settle in so to start with she said that she would give it till Xmas but after that initial patch she has loved it. As much as anything, it was because she left for uni at least 2 weeks before her non-Scottish uni friends. But she loves it.

Its good to hear that your young people are going back happily to second and third years.

I'm thinking it will be a month or two to settle in.

Moving in seems quite free and easy - all day on the 6th. Anyone know if it's possible to park at Pollock Halls?

Parking limited (even more so because of the chargers) but 4 years ago they let you drive right up to each house for unloading (and you could stay for a bit). There is an reasonably priced (for Edinburgh) car park down the road at St Leonards (might be worth booking a space).

My DD loved Edinburgh too.

We dropped DD in September 2023. We were able to drive in and park in front of her block (Holland House). I would imagine it’s the same now.

Can I ask about GP registration? Do the students do this before arrival or in freshers week?

DD was in Patrick Geddes House at Mylnes Court last year, just off the Royal Mile. Drop off was interesting! Difficult to open the car door because of the gaggles of tourists and I ended up parking on a double yellow line with a note on the windscreen while we hiked her stuff up five flights of stairs with no lift. Payoff was that she had possibly the best view in all of Edinburgh!

DD registered with the uni medical centre and I think did it after freshers week. They called her straight in for a medication review and she was very impressed with the service. Fortunately didn't need to use it apart from that.

Thanks so much.

Btw: check your DCs do all necessary GCSE certificate uploads etc. Can’t remember actual deadline, but DD announced as we were driving up to Edinburgh that this was something she was supposed to do/have done. From memory, she found photos of her certificates in her phone and then there was some faff around trying to convert them to pdf for uploading. We managed it on the journey but it was a bit of a scramble which could have been avoided!

My DS claims to not have been asked for his GCSE certificates. That by does not mean a request hasn't been made!

We had a look at 'my application' last night but couldn't see anything. Does the request come in at different times for different departments do you know?

I have a feeling DD was asked for these after she firmed Edinburgh, before A level results. It may well be different for different courses as it was only English results she had to confirm, not maths (she's doing a Humanities course)

@Vrondle @PartoftheBand - not sure when or how the request was initially made. Will ask DD in the morning. Not sure if course has a bearing: DD is studying a humanities subject + 1 language.

TY

I’ve got a first year going into Pollock too. Older daughter was there a couple of years ago so I feel like and old hand. Parking fine at pollock, you’ll get a 30 minute slot from when you arrive. Loads easier than old town or Clark street! Pollock great fun 😊

fingfong that's great to hear! Thanks.

DS just going into 4th year and very happy there. All those of you fretting about parking - we moved DS into halls the same weekend that the Queen’s coffin arrived in Edinburgh from Balmoral, so I promise that, compared to that, you will be fine!

Am taking ds2 up on Friday (on the train so no parking worries).

Do any of the old hands have any tips for societies and sports?

Hi , daughter was in Pollock last year . They let you drive into park . Very well organised with someone on the gatehouse . They went into one of the halls and collected their keys and there were students about to show which building was where . The JCC I think was open on first night for food although we stayed up and met for dinner . Register for Dr there as prescriptions are free . Also all sanitary products are free so don’t need to stockpile before they go . Young Scot’s travel card is brilliant as the bus stops just outside the commonwealth pool . My dd is moving into Marchmont for year 2 and is absolutely thriving anc loving life at Edinburgh. Good luck .

I'm glad to hear it's all doable.

Only thorn in our side right now is that our car has broken down and we may need to hire one!

My stress levels are high.

Hopefully it'll all be worth it in the end and go smoothly.

Good luck with the big move, everyone!