Good Citizen Guide

Download the Good Citizen Guide:

Good Citizen Guide

Our responsibility as a community

We each have an ongoing responsibility to prevent the spread of Covid-19, including variants of concern that could cause another wave.

The health and safety of our community remains our top priority and while all legal measures have now been removed, our existing campus measures remain in place including ventilation, hand hygiene facilities, and regular cleaning of buildings.

We ask all students and staff to follow any on-campus safety measures we have in place to help stop the spread of Covid.

We also ask all members of our community to continue to be considerate, supportive and inclusive by:

• Remembering some people are more vulnerable and some may be shielding.
• Respecting other people’s space and recognising that others may feel more cautious

If you need further advice about what the expectations are regarding Covid-19 safety measures, you can check the guidance on the University’s webpages or contact us.

The Covid-19 guidelines in Scotland

Information about the current rules in Scotland can be found below:

Scottish Government Covid-19 

In line with Scottish Government guidance, you are encouraged to:

• Stay home if you’re feeling unwell
• Adopt safe hygiene practices and clean your hands regularly
• Wear a face covering in enclosed and crowded spaces and on public transport
• Open windows if you’re socialising indoors
• Get your Covid-19 vaccine to ensure you are fully protected

Guidelines on face coverings

University expectations

When you come to study at the University of Edinburgh, you are choosing to join a community of students and staff who care about our University and about each other. Nothing is more important to us than the wellbeing of our community. We will always act decisively to protect this.

In order to play our part and help to stop the spread of Covid, we all need to act with a renewed level of personal awareness and responsibility - whether we are on campus, in our accommodation, online or in town.

What do I do if someone else is making me feel unsafe?

If you feel someone has acted in a way that intentionally places others at risk, you can approach your Student Support Team, Graduate School or the Residence Life Team in University-managed accommodation. You can also report this using the Complaints Handling Procedure. If you need help out of hours please contact Security. 

We will consider whether the situation requires further action in line with the Code of Student Conduct but our approach begins by sharing information and working collaboratively with students on how to maintain a safe community.

Contacting your Student Support Team | Contacting Residence Life 

How is Student Misconduct handled?

All students are subject to the Code of Student Conduct. This sets out expectations which include behaviour on campus, online and off campus where the safety, interests or reputation of the University, its students and others are concerned. The Code also sets out the procedure for investigating and taking disciplinary action where there is an allegation that an individual student has breached these expectations.

The Code outlines (at Section 12) the kinds of behaviour which would be considered unacceptable within the University community. These include:

• behaving in a way likely to cause injury or to impair safety;
• failing to comply with any University rule, regulation or policy.

Advice for students

If you are subject to action under the Code of Student Conduct, you should contact the Advice Place, which is run by Edinburgh University Students’ Association. Staff at the Advice Place are independent professionals who are experienced in the University’s student conduct process.

The Advice Place