Online short courses

We are committed to ensuring our campus is a safe and inclusive environment for everybody. You are encouraged to complete 2 micro-courses on ‘Consent’ and being an ‘Active Bystander’ before you start University. 

Please look out for messages from UEdinburgh and GoodCourse containing links for you to access these micro-courses, which will be sent via SMS text and to your student email. 

Top 6 Task - Complete introductory courses 

We offer a range of short online courses on Learn. The course content is extremely useful as you enter your academic journey, but also using the main platform where you will do most of your learning will also be of huge benefit.  

Using Learn as a Student

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.   

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  

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