Support and wellbeing

You can take advantage of our extensive student support services as soon as you accept a place at the University of Edinburgh

Support and resources for postgraduate students

Postgraduate research can be stressful at times. To support students to manage their wellbeing, the University provides a variety of services. The fully accessible Health and Wellbeing Centre is based in Bristo Square and houses the Student Counselling and Disability & Learning Support Services, the University Medical Centre, and an independent Pharmacy. It offers professional one-to-one consultation rooms and a wellbeing lounge for students and staff. The Chaplaincy offers a variety of wellbeing support options including mindfulness, tai chi, a PhD book club and the 24/7 Listening Service.  

A-Z of Student Services

Student Wellbeing Services

EdHelp

EdHelp is a student enquiry service for The University of Edinburgh that acts as a first point of contact for questions about key student services, including Library, IT, and Student Administration and Finance.

Launch EdHelp

Advice Place

A team of professionally trained caseworkers ready to support you during your time at Edinburgh.  Please explore the advice here on our site and get in touch if you need our help

Advice Place

The Wellbeing Thesis

The Wellbeing Thesis is an online resource for postgraduate researchers to support wellbeing, learning and research.

The Wellbeing Thesis

Wellbeing and Sustainability at IRR

IRR People and Culture 

The IRR People and Culture Forum (IRR PCF) is a group dedicated to fostering a positive and inclusive environment at the Institute. It focuses on promoting a vibrant community by addressing issues related to workplace culture, diversity, wellbeing, and employee engagement.  

The forum offers all varieties of support, including financial, for initiatives that enhance the university experience for staff and students across the Institute for Regeneration and Repair.

IRR offer a variety of activities for staff and students. Recent examples include:

  • Socials
  • Board Game Nights
  • pub-quizzes (not necessarily in a pub)
  • Christmas and Halloween parties
  • BBQs
  • Coffee Club
  • Crochet Club
  • IRR Garden
  • Wellbeing Walks
  • Yoga
  • Table Tennis
  • Acupressure Sessions

IRR Sustainability Group

The University of Edinburgh is committed to being a world leader in addressing global challenges including poverty, climate change and the growing demand for energy, food and water. 

The IRR Sustainability Group was launched in 2024 to bring together those with an interest in contributing towards a more socially responsible and sustainable Institute. Projects include: kitchen garden and walking groups, lab sustainable practices, wildlife support activities and more.

The hard work and innovation of the group was recognised by the University’s Sustainability Awards in 2025, when we received the Silver Sustainable Lab award.

Sustainable Lab Awards

Prayer and Reflection Room

The IRR Prayer and Reflection Room at the University of Edinburgh provides a tranquil environment for contemplation, meditation, and prayer, open to all students and staff. Alongside our outdoor spaces, it ensures there's always a peaceful spot for reflection and relaxation.

Students' Association and student groups

The Edinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA) is an organisation built around supporting students. It provides specialist student services, representative councils and union buildings. The Students' Association supports many student-led societies and clubs, from A Cappella and Business Societies, to Yoga and Zoology Societies. It also promotes opportunities with local charities through its volunteering centre. 

EUSA has a number of student groups that provide a sense of community, offer support and form a base for campaigning.  EUSA’s postgraduate student group provides a forum for the discussion of postgraduate issues. It also represents postgraduates and the issues that concern them within the Students’ Association and to the University.

EUSA specifically represents postgraduate students by connecting postgraduate initiatives across the University and organising events to provide networking opportunities where postgraduate students can talk to each other online, ask questions and share experiences.

EUSA website

Venues and events

EUSA runs four student union buildings, which contain several bars, retail and catering outlets: Teviot Row House, Potterrow, King's Buildings House and the Pleasance complex. These spaces offer a home from home for students, housing an array of unique pubs, clubs, shops, events, cafés and spaces to relax and study.

EUSA organises events in Welcome Week and throughout the year, from language cafes to silent discos and food fairs.

EUSA venues

EUSA events

Student representation

The views of postgraduate students are represented on both school and university committees. There are School postgraduate studies committees, which include representation from taught and research postgraduate students. EUSA student representatives are elected each year to ensure that students’ views are represented within the Students' Association, the University and beyond. 

EUSA student representation information

Nightline 

Nightline is a listening and information service operated by students for students in the University of Edinburgh. Nightline offers an anonymous and confidential support and information service run for students in Edinburgh. Calls are answered by trained student volunteers who are here to help you talk through anything you want, in your own time.

You can call 0131 557 4444 any night of term between 8pm and 8am to talk to a trained volunteer about any issue, however big or small. You can also chat to Nightline online via the link below:

Edinburgh Nightline

The Little France Postgrad Society

The Little France Postgrad Society brings together postgraduates from across the bioQuarter campus at the University of Edinburgh. The society aims to promote scientific and social exchange between postgraduate students at the various research centres at this campus, and organises social and academic events, including career days and events around funding acquisition and preparing for thesis defence. You can follow them on Facebook and twitter:

Little France Postgrad Society Facebook page

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

The aim of the ED&I committee is to promote equal opportunity for everyone by developing a positive working environment and culture at the University. Therefore, in recent years, the LGBT+ ED&I group at BioQuarter have organised social media campaigns to increase visibility of LGBT+ staff and students, talks to highlight LGBT+ experiences and events celebrating LGBT+ history.

Active BioQuarter

Active BioQuarter supports staff and students at BioQuarter to build more movement into their working day or their daily commute. Please see below for a small sample of activities and engagement currently on offer: 

Feel Good Walks & Cycles

Our small groups are led by experienced and welcoming walk & cycle leaders. Meeting up with others for a walk/cycle and a talk can do wonders for our physical, mental and social health.

We have partnered with Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust who lead some themed nature walks around Little France Park.

You can also embark on beginner-level cycle rides designed to enhance your skills and enjoyment.

We provide bikes and helmets if needed.

1-to-1 Cycle Training

We will put you in touch with a qualified trainer and they will work with you on a 1-to-1 basis to develop your cycling in a personalised way. 

Bike Maintenance Classes

Learn all about taking care of your bike, so that it rides smoothly and maintenance costs are reduced. These classes are delivered by local social enterprise The Bike Station, in their dedicated training workshop.

Doctor Bike

Doctor Bike is a free bike maintenance service for staff and students. Doctor Bike takes place monthly at Bioquarter campus.

 

There are things you can do if you're not feeling 100% about things, or have concerns or queries that might not be at a stage where you are considering a formal change to your studies. 

Know that you can talk to colleagues if you have any concerns. Your fellow lab members/students, student representatives, supervisors, thesis committees, Postgraduate Directors and administrators are all people you can speak to.

You can also explore our community activities to establish connections and take time for yourself. 

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