Before you arrive

Starting University

The prospect of starting university can be quite daunting, and it can seem like there are too many things to do before you get there! As well as starting university, you will also need to adapt to studying at university level. The University's Pre-Arrival and Induction team have created lots of useful resources to help you prepare for the start of university. Here are the things that we have singled out as being particularly important:

Learn course

As a new student, you will be enrolled on an online course called 'Getting Started with your Maths Degree' (in Learn, the University’s virtual learning environment). It contains all the information and tasks you should work through in order to prepare for your arrival in the School of Mathematics. Tasks include researching course choices; completing preparation for online learning; and completing a diagnostic test (which will help you with course choice). You should read all the information carefully and complete most of the tasks before Welcome Week.

'A Companion to Studying Mathematics at University'

One of our academic staff members has produced, “A companion to studying mathematics at university” to help you with the well-known challenges that some new students have with the transition to studying maths at university. It will also be referenced explicitly in the new Year 1 Semester 1 course 'Introduction to Mathematics at University' which you will all take. We strongly suggest you read it in advance. It should help to set some expectations around what you will experience and hopefully build some enthusiasm before the start of the semester.

New Students Website

The New Students website contains lots of information to help you get ready for university life and your move to Edinburgh.

Top 6 Tasks

Complete the essential Top 6 Tasks for new students.

'How-to' Online Sessions

The University's support teams have created some useful 'How-to' sessions to share practical information in easy 30-minute chunks.  

School of Mathematics Undergraduate Handbook

The Undergraduate Handbook (included in the Learn course above, as well as being linked below) introduces you to key members of staff in the School, and provides an overview of all aspects of your undergraduate degree. You should read this fully before your arrive.