School of Social and Political Science

Useful FAQs

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We know you'll have questions - we've gathered up a list of the most common questions and provided some answers below.

Please also view these University-level FAQs:

Postgraduate on-programme queries

How do I select, change or audit courses?

Please follow instructions on our Choosing Courses webpages

What funding is available to me while on-programme as a PhD student?

You will find information and application guidance on our Funding webpage.

What facilities and resources are available to PGR students?

Facilities and Resources webpage

Who do I contact if I have a disability or require a Schedule of Adjustments?

Please contact the University's Disability and Learning Support Service for guidance and information on support available to you.

Who should I contact if I need to request an Extension, Interruption or Leave of Absence from my PhD?

Please take a look at the Extensions and Interruptions of Study section or the Leave of Absence section and follow the instructions there.

What should I do if I need to request Special Circumstances or an Extension during my MSc by Research programme?

Please take a look at the Extensions and Special Circumstances section and follow the instructions there.

Where is the PGR Support Team located?

The PGR support team are based in the Chrystal Macmillan building though work partly from home and partly on-campus during the week. As a result, it is best to make contact via email in the first instance, pgresearch.sps@ed.ac.uk 

Postgraduate scholarship queries

Where do I find information on available scholarships and application instructions?

Our Scholarships webpage provides a list of those available, their deadlines, how to apply, eligibility criteria, and award details for each scholarship.

How will I be advised of my scholarship application outcome?

The status of your application can be found in the 'My Scholarship Applications' section in EUCLID. You will also receive an email notification when a decision has been made on your scholarship application.

Who do I contact if I am having technical issues with the scholarship application system?

Please contact our Student Systems department for guidance.

Student administration queries

How do I get a Certificate of Matriculation letter confirming my student status?

You are able to print a Certificate of Matriculation from your MyEd account when you have matriculated.

How do I access my PGR Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR)?

Your HEAR is an important document that represents your hard work, dedication, and accomplishments as a doctoral researcher at the University of Edinburgh. The HEAR builds upon existing information incorporating an expanded academic transcript and the European Diploma Supplement. This will provide you with more detailed information about your learning and achievement than the traditional degree classification system alone, and will serve to support applications for future academic or professional opportunities. You can access your HEAR via MyEd, then the documents tab. The HEAR will still be available to you once you graduate, via The Alumni Portal.

How do I pay my tuition fees?

Your tuition fees must be paid in full on or before matriculation at the start of each new academic year, unless you are paying in instalments. The payment methods available to you will depend on who is paying for your tuition fees.

More information on the Finance website - Student Academic Fees

What other programme fees should I be aware of?

Administration charges to be aware of include matriculation, examination, and continuation fees.

More information on administration fees

How do I set up a bank account?

The University provides comprehensive information on options for opening your first student bank account in the UK and banking safety.

More information on opening a UK Bank Account

How do I get a letter for Edinburgh Council Tax exemption?

Please follow the guidance on the University's Student Administration website.

Council Tax Exemption Letter

How do I register with a doctor?

Register with a local doctor and access your health services

Student category
PhD Students