Your Teaching and Learning

During the 20/21 academic year, we have been taking a blended approach to learning and teaching as described on the video on this page.

Our blended approach involves a mix of on-campus and online activity. The balance of face to face versus online at any given time is dependent on Scottish Government guidance.

The actual number of hours students are timetabled for, and the balance of that mix, vary by programme and level of study, and for some programmes from week to week.

The variation in hours across programmes and levels of study is to take account of students' different levels of familiarity with the University's approach to learning and teaching, its support systems and the requirements of individual programmes, and the extent to which students have already had the opportunity to form social networks with their peers.

Digital learning opportunities (such as recorded online lectures and online live discussion) are being provided to compensate for any reduction in standard levels of timetabled on campus learning.

Students can access lectures recorded online at a time that suits them. The removal of lectures from the face to face timetable also frees up space and time for the other elements of teaching, such as seminars and tutorials, where students will gain more benefit from face to face interaction.

We are allowing for physical distancing in our face to face teaching.

Find out about our plans for the 21/22 academic year.

Access to the library

The Learning Resource Centre (LRC) is available for self-development, with COVID adaptations. As it forms a full quarter of our main academic building, we are well placed to provide physically distanced study space.

Strong personalised support

As we are a small university, with a strong community focus, joining us you can rest assured that you will receive strong personalised support, and we appreciate this support is needed more than ever at this time. Each student is assigned a personal academic tutor, and we offer a full range of support services ranging from effective learning to wellbeing, and from the library to careers. All services have been available online throughout the pandemic and are also offered face to face whenever appropriate.

More about our Student Services