The Edinburgh FAQ and &#x27;Ask a Student&#x27; thread

OP

Original post by stefania!

I've four offers and one rejection for business and languages studies and was undecided between two of them. The thing is, I realised I don't like the universities I've applied to and the cities they're in. I may sound foolish but this is because I've had to decide in a hurry because as an italian student I didn't know about deadlines. Some days ago I found out about two courses that I like which are offered by the university of Edinburgh(Chinese & German or International business with language). I really like this city, it just gives me a better feeling than Birmingham(even without having visited either of them), and it seems that these courses are still opened for applications including extra. In order to apply I should however decline all my other offers.

Is there any chance I would get in(providing also that i'm applying in extra)? I know two italian girls who applied for international relations and got a rejection. (One of them holds an offer from St Andrews) I don't want to make my situation worse, but I don't want to spend the next four years of my life in a place I don't like either. Thanks for reading :smile:

As has been said, it's unlikely that Edinburgh are in extra.
Its an opt in thing and therefore unless universities specifically tell UCAS that they don't want to be in it then they will be listed, even if they have no intention of considering people via extra. Edinburgh hasn't been in extra since it began other than for the graduate entry law course.

If you want to change your university locations now then your best option is to apply next year for 2013 entry. Have you visited the universities? As you're from Italy its not exactly difficult to make a quick trip to the UK - if you're from the EU then not visiting isn't really an excuse. You might find that once you've visited you might feel better about your choices and will be in a better position to decide.

Reply 145

stefania!

Original post by Ocarinaoftime

I don't want to dishearten you but have you noticed that every course at Edinburgh is on extra? So it's most likely because Edinburgh hasn't told UCAS they don't have spaces and do not want to be in extra yet. From what I've read on Tsr and such, Edinburgh hasn't actually been on extra for years as it's so over prescribed, I'm sure this year Edinburgh were one of the only uni's that had a RISE in applications. So basically, even though the course you want to apply to is on extra, there are probably no spaces. By all means, email the university though, just to be sure though!

Thanks to both of you, I didn't know about this. I thought that course search was reliable. I will try and email them anyway, but yes I'm a little discouraged now

Reply 146

Oromis263

2

Original post by daeonica

Yes. I have mine this year, and it makes getting around the city so much more convenient, and quicker :smile:

The university is a "cycle friendly employer" so they're trying to encourage people to cycle rather than drive, and have some pretty good facilities. I can't speak for Pollock, but the majority of university buildings have bike racks outside that you can tie up to, and there are also some "secure storage areas" that are fenced off & you need to get your student card authorised to be able to swipe it for entry to them.

There are cycle lanes (next to the traffic, not separated) on a lot of the main roads, and there's a network of paths across the city that are totally separate from the traffic, too.

Thanks! I would probably look into buying one if I'm having to hike between KB and central site a couple of times a day, as Timetab suggests, as even though transport is pretty cheap (cheaper if I could get hold a Young Scots card) it will probably work out better. Obviously any city will have dangers of traffic, but I suppose that's just for my own discretion to be sensible.

Original post by nearlyheadlessian

The traffic is pretty bad as well. Narrow, pot-holed & cobbled streets filled with aggressive drivers and cyclists is not a good mix.

Yeah, I didn't particularly plan to head up to the Royal Mile or anywhere like that, it was merely for hopping between PH and KB, which on the few times I've been there, wasn't too bad a road, just a wee bit hilly as mentioned.

Thanks for the help guys and gals.

Reply 147

OP

Original post by Oromis263

Yeah, I didn't particularly plan to head up to the Royal Mile or anywhere like that, it was merely for hopping between PH and KB, which on the few times I've been there, wasn't too bad a road, just a wee bit hilly as mentioned.

I'm guessing now isn't the time to pipe up that I was witness to a cyclist's death on a junction on that road.... ?

Although that said, I'm the only person I know who has seen anyone die in Edinburgh and I never really heard about anyone being killed whilst cycling in Edinburgh whereas since I've lived in London I see things in the paper on a regular basis that another person has been killed. Although the pure fact that they're in the news proves that they're rare and most people don't die. The amount of people who cycle in London really amazes me, especially the people who fail to wear any type of safety gear and sit with headphones in their ears. How they're still alive is beyond me!

Reply 148

Original post by oxymoronic

I'm guessing now isn't the time to pipe up that I was witness to a cyclist's death on a junction on that road.... ?

Although that said, I'm the only person I know who has seen anyone die in Edinburgh and I never really heard about anyone being killed whilst cycling in Edinburgh whereas since I've lived in London I see things in the paper on a regular basis that another person has been killed. Although the pure fact that they're in the news proves that they're rare and most people don't die. The amount of people who cycle in London really amazes me, especially the people who fail to wear any type of safety gear and sit with headphones in their ears. How they're still alive is beyond me!

People do die cycling in Edinburgh. And just because they don't die doesn't mean they're not incapacitated. I'm not saying it's not safe - but there's a reason why I stopped using my bike in Edinburgh. If you're dead you don't have to get to classes with a broken leg...

Reply 149

Oromis263

2

Original post by oxymoronic

I'm guessing now isn't the time to pipe up that I was witness to a cyclist's death on a junction on that road.... ?

Although that said, I'm the only person I know who has seen anyone die in Edinburgh and I never really heard about anyone being killed whilst cycling in Edinburgh whereas since I've lived in London I see things in the paper on a regular basis that another person has been killed. Although the pure fact that they're in the news proves that they're rare and most people don't die. The amount of people who cycle in London really amazes me, especially the people who fail to wear any type of safety gear and sit with headphones in their ears. How they're still alive is beyond me!

*gulp*

I'm quite a sensible person in general, and I cycle quite regularly, road and cross-country, so I'd hope I don't get killed.. Although, often (at least from what I've read), the blame is more on the motorists.

You've made me question this (possible) decision.. Cheers though! :P

Reply 150

OP

Original post by nearlyheadlessian

People do die cycling in Edinburgh. And just because they don't die doesn't mean they're not incapacitated. I'm not saying it's not safe - but there's a reason why I stopped using my bike in Edinburgh. If you're dead you don't have to get to classes with a broken leg...

Oh no, I'm not saying that people don't die in Edinburgh more that I've heard about more deaths of cyclists since I've lived in London than I ever did when I was in Edinburgh, but then perhaps I just didn't really know about it in Edinburgh.

Did you break your leg then or is that just a reference to someone else? Either way -- having a leg injury is painful in Edinburgh. I nearly dislocated my hip in second year (not due to cycling) and couldn't really walk on it for about a month meaning I had to miss all of my tutorials which were conveniently located on the 5th floor somewhere as they wouldn't change the room or let me change groups when I couldn't get up the stairs.

Original post by Oromis263

*gulp*

I'm quite a sensible person in general, and I cycle quite regularly, road and cross-country, so I'd hope I don't get killed.. Although, often (at least from what I've read), the blame is more on the motorists.

You've made me question this (possible) decision.. Cheers though! :P

Oh yeah the blame is generally on the motorists but it really really scares me in London as about 50% of the people I see aren't wearing helmets or safety gear, then loads of people with safety gear have headphones in meaning they can't hear the traffic as well. It feels like that's just asking for it!

The incident I saw was a cyclist pulling left out out of a junction at a cross road, then there was a parked car just near the corner so they had to swerve out more into the road than they would do normally when turning. A bin men truck came flying across the lights (they were just changing) and hit the cyclist, and essentially swept the cyclist under it and dragged them about 10m along the road. I was at the junction waiting to cross the road when the lights changed so it was right in front of me meaning I was one of the main people who gave evidence etc and responded to the accident. Not nice.

However, a lot of people manage to cycle in Edinburgh without any issues!

Reply 151

Original post by oxymoronic

Did you break your leg then or is that just a reference to someone else? Either way -- having a leg injury is painful in Edinburgh. I nearly dislocated my hip in second year (not due to cycling) and couldn't really walk on it for about a month meaning I had to miss all of my tutorials which were conveniently located on the 5th floor somewhere as they wouldn't change the room or let me change groups when I couldn't get up the stairs.

Nah, no broken limbs from cycling for me. But I found the whole experience of cycling in Edinburgh quite stressful (and I was a weathered cyclist) and felt the risks were much higher than anywhere else I had cycled. Being dead would be a disappointment, but the inconvenience of a cycling related injury would have been much worse.

Reply 152

daeonica

1

Original post by oxymoronic

but it really really scares me in London as about 50% of the people I see aren't wearing helmets or safety gear, then loads of people with safety gear have headphones in meaning they can't hear the traffic as well. It feels like that's just asking for it!

This is what scares me, too. Some people just don't seem to realise how dangerous some things are. What really annoys me though is when I see cyclists with a helmet on their handlebars, when they aren't wearing one. It's not going to do them much good there, is it?

Reply 153

ninja-lewis

9

Original post by Oromis263

Thanks! I would probably look into buying one if I'm having to hike between KB and central site a couple of times a day, as Timetab suggests, as even though transport is pretty cheap (cheaper if I could get hold a Young Scots card) it will probably work out better. Obviously any city will have dangers of traffic, but I suppose that's just for my own discretion to be sensible.

Are you aware that the University has a free shuttle bus that runs between Central Area and KB for people who need to get between the two for lectures? http://www.ed.ac.uk/staff-students/students/shuttlebus

Also Lothian Buses do Student Ridacards for £36 a month - unlimited travel during the day. http://www.lothianbuses.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1014

Reply 154

Original post by daeonica

This is what scares me, too. Some people just don't seem to realise how dangerous some things are. What really annoys me though is when I see cyclists with a helmet on their handlebars, when they aren't wearing one. It's not going to do them much good there, is it?

Have you seen the studies that demonstrate that wearing a helmet in an urban environment can increase the chances of an accident for cyclists? :tongue:

Reply 155

daeonica

1

Original post by nearlyheadlessian

Have you seen the studies that demonstrate that wearing a helmet in an urban environment can increase the chances of an accident for cyclists? :tongue:

I'd expect it's like when skiers/boarders wear helmets - some of them suddenly feel invincible and start doing stupid things.

Reply 156

Snapescape

Hi

I think I posted in this thread before but I shall do so again anyway :tongue:

I received an offer from Edinburgh a few weeks back to study English Literature and I have signed up to attend the Open Day on 4 April. However, I have to make a decision by 8 May and I want to spend the time before my visit trying to find out anything I can about the course, the location, the campus life, etc. I'm doing a sort of table of comparision between Edinburgh and York, my final two choices, and I would love to know a few things from a current English student. So here come the questions :smile:

-Are the first two years basically groundings on English literature overall? What I mean is that Edinburgh appears to concentrate on giving you the basics in year 1 and year 2 so you can specialise in the final two years. Would you say this is true? Are there no possibilities to do specific modules in the first two years?
- 4 contact hours a week doesn't seem like very much time. Do you feel like you spend more time out of class, working by yourself and researching the topics you're discussing, or debating them in seminars/tutorials? And do the teachers make themselves available for you if you have queries? Are there any open office hours?
-How many works would you say you did on average per day/week?

And just a few general questions :smile:

-How far is the accommodation from the English Department? Do they have a frequent shuttle facility or is it best to use a bike? From what I read above, cycling might be a bit of a concern so I would just like to know what other options are available.
-Which accommodation buildings would you recommend? :biggrin:

Sorry for asking so many questions, some which you have probably already answered, but I am keen to get to know as much as I can about Edinburgh! Thank you :smile:

Reply 157

stefania!

I've tried sending an email asking about vacancies, two days and still no answer. Should I call them? I'm afraid that in case there are vacancies they will soon run out. By the way, I've noticed looking in course search that the fashion course is closed, so there may be hope for me

Reply 158

Original post by Snapescape

-Are the first two years basically groundings on English literature overall? What I mean is that Edinburgh appears to concentrate on giving you the basics in year 1 and year 2 so you can specialise in the final two years. Would you say this is true? Are there no possibilities to do specific modules in the first two years?

I suggest you read the sticky thread about outside courses (and even the FAQ thread) as you don't seem to have a firm grasp of how an Edinburgh degree works.

Original post by Snapescape

- 4 contact hours a week doesn't seem like very much time. Do you feel like you spend more time out of class, working by yourself and researching the topics you're discussing, or debating them in seminars/tutorials? And do the teachers make themselves available for you if you have queries? Are there any open office hours?
-How many works would you say you did on average per day/week?

No, 4 hours isn't lots. But you're supposed to turn up prepared, which is supposed to take hours. You'll also be taking another two courses. In first and second year, expect to have between 10 and 14 contact hours a week.

Staff are available in their published office hours.

Original post by Snapescape

-How far is the accommodation from the English Department? Do they have a frequent shuttle facility or is it best to use a bike? From what I read above, cycling might be a bit of a concern so I would just like to know what other options are available.

Well, uh, it varies. Firstly, there is no "English department" to measure from. Secondly, accommodation is spread throughout the city. Most people just walk to class...

Original post by Snapescape

-Which accommodation buildings would you recommend? :biggrin:

That's one for the accommodation sticky thread - but there is no one perfect residence that is better than the others.

Reply 159

OP