Student Support

The Student Support Officers (SSOs) provide advice, support and guidance to all the students in the School of Divinity.

• They can advise you on a wide variety of matters throughout your studies.
• They offer guidance on rules and processes, can help you to access other services in the School and University, and can give advice on any questions or concerns you have about your degree, health or wellbeing.
• If you have a question and are not sure who to ask, contact your SSO. If they can't help you themselves they will help you to find someone who can.

There are two Student Support Officers for Undergraduate and Masters and one for Postgraduate 

• You can get in touch with them at the dedicated email address, monitored Monday to Friday, 09:00am-4:30pm: div.student.support@ed.ac.uk for undergraduates and postgraduate 
• Current Undergraduate and Masters students can access full SSO contact details and information on all support services in Divinity via the SharePoint sites.

Student Adviser

• Our Student Advisers for Undergraduate, Masters and Postgraduate students have many years of experience.
• New undergraduate students will have a Student Adviser, specially trained to be able to provide you with support during your studies. For more information visit: Academic support and facilities.
• If you have a question and are not sure who to ask, start with you Student Adviser; if they can't help you they will guide you to find someone who can.

If you need help with your wellbeing or with any mental health challenges during your studies, your Student Adviser can also refer you to a Wellbeing Adviser. 

Wellbeing Adviser

• Our Wellbeing Advisers can chat through how you are feeling, provide advice and referrals to our other services, such as Student Counselling or the Disability and Learning Support Service, if needed

Undergraduate studies

Programme Representatives (Reps) are the link between students and staff at their course level.

• They improve the student experience by representing the views of their peers and ensuring that academic and professional services staff continually listen to and engage with students.
• They make a positive contribution to the University and become part of the Programme Rep cohort as ambassadors who work within the School with students, staff, and Students' Associations.
• They receive specialised training in how to represent students democratically and diplomatically, and how to work effectively as a leader within the University and Students' Association.
• They receive recognition on their Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR), or university transcript, after being active in the role as a Rep. They also earn Open Badges and/or are eligible to win the Edinburgh Award for Representing Students.
• Programme Reps serve for a year and are elected at the start of the academic year.

For further information, visit: Students' Association website.

Postgraduate studies

The Postgraduate Student Committee are the link between PG students and the School.

• They improve the student experience by representing the students and organising social gatherings. 
• They make a positive contribution to the School by helping during Welcome Week.
• They are in charge of assembling the School's Colloquium, where students can present their research work.
• The Postgraduate Committee serves for a year and is elected at the start of the academic year.

• Each semester there is one undergraduate Student-Staff Liaison Committee (SSLC) meeting and one postgraduate SSLC.
• Programme Representatives (Reps) and the Postgraduate Student Committee share the feedback they have gathered from their peers at these meetings.
• SSLC meetings are usually held at lunchtime and can last up to an hour.
• These meetings are co-convened by the undergraduate or postgraduate school representative and a member of the academic staff.

Minutes from the Student-Staff Liaison meetings can be accessed on the Divinity Sharepoint.

The University Careers Service provides information, advice and guidance, as well as a programme of events and access to opportunities.

• This service is available to all School of Divinity students, and doors are open throughout the academic year and during every vacation.
• You can access support from the Careers Service at every stage throughout your time at University and 2 years after graduation.
• From CV feedback to interview practice (using CV360  and Interview360 tools), from summer placements to graduate posts, and from careers fairs to alumni events, the service is all about inspiring futures.
• The Careers Service organises various talks, events and fairs where students can learn first-hand what employers are looking for and what they are offering,
• Being involved is very simple; watch our Guide to the Careers Service! Be curious MyCareerHub – Opportunities access to thousands of opportunities.

The Careers Service offers 30-minute careers consultations – bookable two days in advance. You can book a careers consultation or practice interview any day of the week with any consultant through the following link: Book Now.

For more information, visit: Careers Service