Resources and facilities in the University
As a fully matriculated student, there are a number of resources and facilities available to you across the University.
The Main Library is located in George Square. This will be your first port of call for library facilities. Reading materials assigned for postgraduate courses are generally available in the HUB (Highly Used Books) collection in the Library. Other books are available in their location within the Library. Books acquired since 1985 are catalogued on-line and this catalogue can be accessed via the various terminals throughout the University. You can also access your own borrowing records on-line.
There are regular introductory tours of the whole Main Library, especially during the first semester.
Special Collections include manuscripts and archives, rare books, photographs, printed and handwritten music, architectural drawings, theses and microforms.
Our aim is to make all materials set as reading for taught courses available in the University of Edinburgh main library. However since independent research can go in many directions we expect you to draw on the resources of the National Library of Scotland, and we cannot aim to cover every possible topic within the University's collection.
The HCA Academic Support Librarian is Caroline Stirling. Any students having any problems with accessing material can contact them directly: Caroline.Stirling@ed.ac.uk
All postgraduate students can request 30 interlibrary loans per year free of charge. The year starts on 1st September. Please note that renewals of physical loans are included in the quota and each renewal will count as a loan.
Students must first check that the book is not available at the University of Edinburgh before making the request to the Main Library staff. Please also check that the item is not available at the National Library of Scotland.
If you exceed your quota, you will still be able to have the interlibrary loan, but you will be charged by the library; each interlibrary loan costs £5.
Sport, exercise and physical activity play a key role in both your physical and mental wellbeing. Our state-of-the-art facilities are here to help you stay active and feel your best.
Please visit the University of Edinburgh's Information Services site for further information.