Access Programme

Our Student Advisers can offer you information, advice and guidance on matters such as:

• signposting to appropriate University services or teams
• ongoing physical or mental health conditions.
• learning support issues – eg dyslexia, ADHD, Autism
• any other support needs
• caring responsibilities
• money concerns
• accommodation problems
• assistance with extension/special circumstances applications
• discussions about Authorised Interruption of Studies/withdrawal
• any other matters which may affect your studies

They can also signpost you to appropriate sources of support within and beyond the University, such as the University’s Counselling Service, the University’s Disability and Learning Support Service, Edinburgh University Student Association, the Institute for Academic Development and English Language Education support.

Students Advisers are not counsellors, but they can refer you to sources of counselling support.

If you think you might need support with a learning difference or a disability, please do contact the Student Advisers as early as possible so that they can advise you on the best sources of support. They will talk to your class teacher or programme director about any adjustments you might need for your studies to help fulfil your potential.

Our Student Advisers are Moya Kilgallon and Tatiana Chepelina. You can contact them at COL.StudentSupport@ed.ac.uk to arrange an appointment to speak to them. They also offer drop-in office hours for student queries. 

Moya and Tatiana can also refer you to our Wellbeing Adviser, Kim Chapman. You may also contact the Wellbeing Service directly:

Contact the Wellbeing Service

You will have an Academic Cohort Lead who will help you settle in at the beginning of your programme, At the end of your programme, they will support you to move on to undergraduate study.

Your Academic Cohort Lead will help you, and others on your programme, understand what is expected of you in terms of your programme of study and assessments.  You will meet your Academic Cohort Lead at the start of your programme.

You will work with your Academic Cohort Lead to reflect on your academic performance and how it contributes to your aspirations. The Academic Cohort Lead will also help you to get to know other students on your programme so that you can help support and encourage each other.

You will meet your Academic Cohort Lead regularly as part of a scheduled group meetings with other students on your programme and at social events. You may also consult them on an individual basis if you need assistance with specific academic matters, by contacting them using e-mail.

Your Academic Cohort Lead is Rachael King.  You may contact Rachael at: Rachael.King@ed.ac.uk

You will also be assigned a UCAS Adviser at an appropriate point in your programme. Your UCAS Adviser will help you prepare your UCAS application for undergraduate study. Your UCAS Adviser will meet you as part of a small group of students to help you understand how to prepare your application form. They will also meet with you individually to discuss your undergraduate course choices and to offer feedback on your form.