Online short courses

We offer a range of short online courses on Learn. The course content has been written to help you get the best possible start to your academic journey; additionally, it will allow you to practice navigating the main online platform, which will be used for most of your learning.  

There is no University academic credit attached to the courses, and no assignments you need to complete.  Please work through them at your own pace; each course has contact details for staff who can help if you have any questions.

These following courses are introductory courses recommended for all new students.

Most are available from mid-August, and all can be found on Learn.  

Information Security Essentials

This course is a lightweight course that gives students information and advice to help avoid information security threats, and accompanying material gives information on where further support and information is available at the University.

Find out more about the Information Security Essentials course

Successful Academic Communications 

This course will help you to understand how to use academic language appropriately for different audiences and purposes through interactive lectures and self-study tasks.  

On completion of this courses, you should be able to:  

• Plan, structure, and organise your academic writing
• Investigate your lecturers’ expectations
• Develop the critical reading and writing skills needed to have your voice heard  

Academic Integrity 

This course will help you to explore how we teach and learn at Edinburgh.   For the first 6 weeks of Semester 1, Dr Donna Murray, Head of Taught Student Development, will be checking the discussion boards, so please feel free to ask any questions you have.  After this point the board will remain as an archive, but will not accept new posts.

On completion of this course, you should be able to: 

• Describe the behaviours and standards of the Edinburgh academic community
• Explain why these behaviours and standards are important to your academic community
• Demonstrate that you understand the principles of good academic practice, and how to put them into action in your studies    

Exam Bootcamp

This is a course which aims to support you with developing effective study strategies and then show you how to apply this to revision. You can work through the stages in order, or dip in and out as you need. 

On completion of this course, you should be able to:

• Understand what is effective studying and learning.
• Plan an effective revision schedule.
• Know and use effective strategies to revise.
• Develop effective strategies for your exams.

LibSmart I: your library research starts here 

This course will help you to practice core information literacy skills 

On completion of this course, you should be able to: 

• Find the library support you need
• Access, explore, evaluate, and reference various library resources
• Know how to explore your own subject pathway and information landscape 

Find out more about the LibSmart I course  

Our diverse community brings together different perspectives, personal experiences as well as different religious and cultural backgrounds. As a new member of this community, you have an important role to play in creating and sustaining a respectful, safe, diverse, and inclusive community. 

There are many considerations and ways to learn about creating an equal environment. The most important and practical things you can do are to take the free online ‘Consent Matters’ and 'Tackling Harassment' courses to learn about the importance of sexual consent, recognizing harassment and where to get further support for you or others. 

Consent Matters 

This course covers sexual consent, relationships and bystander intervention training.  It also will help you to identify and recognise any abusive behaviours and lack of respect, as well as challenging the behaviours & attitudes of those who don’t respect personal & sexual boundaries.

Tackling Harassment 

This course addresses all forms of harassment and discrimination. It examines harassment and hate, and how members of the University community can recognise problematic situations and intervene safely. 

Consent Matters and Tackling Harassment courses 

You may also want to find out more about our approach to other areas of discrimination and how your behaviours will have a positive impact.  

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion for students