Academic facilities

At Edinburgh, you’ll get generous, flexible access to our libraries, IT resources and study spaces, helping you fit study into your busy life.

Libraries

In total, our Main Library, site libraries and library storage facilities hold in excess of 1.8 million printed volumes. They also provide access to a host of electronic resources, which you can access on or off campus, 24 hours a day.

Our Main Library in George Square is one of the largest academic libraries in the world with more than 2,000 study spaces. It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our other libraries also have extensive opening hours, and award-winning staff available to help. 

We have nine campus libraries. Each library covers different subject areas, but all hold library collections and offer study spaces and computing facilities. Some schools also operate their own libraries where additional resources, and sometimes study spaces, are available.

University libraries

Study spaces

The University offers a wide range of different environments to study in across its campuses.

Accessible study rooms are available to students who require additional learning support or the use of assistive technology.

More information about study spaces

Heritage Collections

Heritage Collections is unique in the UK, bringing together a collection of more than 400,000 rare books, six kilometres of archives and manuscripts, and our museum collections of art, historical musical instruments and other objects.

Heritage Collections

Computing services

We offer night owls and early risers 24-hour computer access at our Main Library and at several computer labs across our campuses.

You’ll benefit from:

  • more than 1,500 open access PCs across our libraries, study centres, cafes and beyond
  • almost 100 per cent Wi-Fi coverage in our buildings
  • free laptop loans from our libraries
  • your own University email address with online access to lecture notes, assessment and course information
  • access to lecture notes, course materials, assignments, grades and feedback online

IT and computing help

Take a virtual campus tour 

Explore the University with our Virtual Visit. This interactive online tool gives you a feel for what it’s like to study and live in Edinburgh.  

You can explore different areas of the city and campus yourself or take a guided tour of the University’s Central Area.

University's Virtual Visit website

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