Student News
On this page, you will find 蹤獲扦 Student News, which every 蹤獲扦 student receives each week via their 蹤獲扦 email account. Student News is issued every Wednesday afternoon.
Want an item featured in Student News? You can find out how by reading our policy and procedure.
Dont forget that we share lots of stories about the University, and our students and staff and things that interest them, on , , and. #蹤獲扦Community
In this week's Student News:
International Womens Day talk - 5th March, 5pm, Conference Suite
To mark International Womens Day 2026, the Aurora 'Women in Leadership' staff network is hosting an inspiring event at 蹤獲扦. This gathering brings together students, staff, and the wider community to celebrate womens achievements and explore the importance of leadership, resilience, and career development.
We are delighted to welcome Carol Rogers, the National Lead Forensic Scientist for Sexual Offences with the Scottish Police Authoritys Forensic Services. In this national role, Carol is responsible for advancing best practice and innovation in sexualoffence forensic investigations across Scotland. As a 蹤獲扦 Honorary Graduate, she has also been instrumental in training forensic nurses and improving evidencegathering processes for sexualoffence examinations, helping to shape Scotlands developing approach to traumainformed forensic practice.
The event will begin with refreshments at 5:00pm, followed by a 5:30pm welcome from our host. Carol will then share reflections on her career path, leadership experiences, and the realities of working in a complex and highimpact area of forensic science. This will be followed by a conversation with the host and an open audience Q&A.泭
To sign up please use our EventBrite link泭-泭
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Health Sciences Deans Student Citizenship Award
DEADLINE 31 MARCH 2026
Deans Student Citizenship Award
This award celebrates Health Sciences students who show our Graduate Attributes through volunteering and supporting the School community.
Who can apply?
You can apply if you have taken part in any of these activities:
- Student Representation泭 Representing your peers on your programme.
- Supporting Events泭 Helping with programme activities on or off campus.
- Engaging with External Stakeholders泭 Attending events or meetings organised by the School.
- Campus Tours/Demonstrations泭 Showcasing Health Sciences to visitors.
- Skills Support泭 Assisting with manual handling or clinical skills sessions.
- Blog or Social Media泭 Sharing content on behalf of the School.
- Student Workshops泭 Working with Student Reps to deliver workshops.
Eligibility
- Open to all matriculated Health Sciences students.
- Complete the .
- Your Programme Leader will verify your activities.
- The Dean reviews applications annually.
Certificate of Award
Well keep a record of your contributions each year. Students who consistently volunteer throughout their time at 蹤獲扦 will receive the Deans Student Citizenship Award.
Questions?
Contact your Programme Leader for more information.
We look forward to celebrating your contributions!
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蹤獲扦 Entrants Survey prize draw update
Were thrilled to announce that a student studying International Health won the 蹤獲扦 Entrants Survey prize draw. Congratulations!泭
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Entrants Survey, where new students shared their experiences of applying to and beginning studies at 蹤獲扦. Your feedback is invaluable and will be reviewed by the Transition and Induction Working Group, which includes staff and student representatives from across the University. Your feedback helped us identify what went well and areas for improvement.
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Annual Catering Survey - three x 瞿50 Amazon vouchers to be won!
On Monday 9th March, we will launch our annual catering survey. 泭An independent external consultancy, Litmus Partnership, will conduct this. 泭 泭
What is the one thing you would change about the current catering services? 泭How important to you is the affordability of food and drink on campus? 泭These are just a couple of the questions we need your views on.
The information collected will be benchmarked against the survey results from last year to allow us to measure the difference in customer satisfaction levels. 泭 It also allows us to make changes to our current catering offer, so please do take the time to fill out the survey. 泭You may be in with a chance of winning one of 3 x 瞿50 Amazon vouchers too!
From next week, look out for posters dotted about campus, social media messages and Moderator, which will contain the link/QR code for the survey. There will also be staff from Litmus Partnership onsite over the 2-week period to capture survey responses in person too.
The survey will be open from Monday 9h Friday 20th March.
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Anti-Ableism in Higher Education Workshops
We are offering funded spaces on two online workshops on anti-ableism in higher education, open to all staff and students at 蹤獲扦.泭
These will be led by disabled academic Si璽n Jones and ally Dr Clare Uytman, Chartered Psychologists in the Division of Psychology, Sociology and Education, and founders of the 蹤獲扦 Toy Box Diversity Lab.
Workshop 1, What is ableism to me? runs 17 March, 14:0016:30 GMT and introduces disability, ableism, systemic ableism in higher education, and reflection on privilege and prejudice.
Workshop 2, Becoming an anti-ableist practitioner, runs 24 March, 14:0016:30 GMT and focuses on creating a practical anti-ableism action plan with interactive tasks, feedback, networking, and problem-solving.
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What to expect:
繚 泭 泭 accessible materials co-produced with disabled students
繚 泭 泭 tools for inclusive dialogue, peer-led workgroups with safer spaces for disabled participants, and further reading/media resources.
繚 泭 泭 泭Registration requires attending both workshops and closes 10 March 2026.
繚 泭 泭 Contact: SJones@qmu.ac.uk.泭
繚 泭 泭 Register here:
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Finance Office Desk Closure
We would like to inform students and staff that the finance office desk will now be closed on Fridays, commencing this Friday 6th March 2026. 泭Please note that finance staff can still be accessed by email and by phone between 9am-4.30pm on Fridays. 泭
Phone: 泭0131 474 0030
Emails:
For general enquiries please email financeoffice@qmu.ac.uk
For student payment queries please email creditcontroller@qmu.ac.uk
For supplier invoice or payment queries please email accountspayable@qmu.ac.uk
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In this week's Student News:
Camp America Funding available to continuing students for summer 2026 CLOSING THURS 26th FEB!
Are you looking for an adventure this summer? Experience the summer of a lifetime with Camp America!
Spend 9-12 weeks working at a summer camp and travelling the USA with funding from 蹤獲扦 to help you get there!
Continuing students* studying on campus in Musselburgh can apply for funding to support their Camp America experience, with an enhanced funding offer available to students from widening participation backgrounds, including support towards flights (瞿749!) and readiness-to-travel expenses such as passport applications, visas and more.
(*Students must be returning to study in September 2026 to be eligible for this fund)
Application form but dont delay if youre thinking of applying! Applications CLOSE ON THURSDAY 26th FEBRUARY 2026.
For further information, please contact careers@qmu.ac.uk
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Graduation - 6th and 7th July 2026
Graduation ceremonies will be held on Monday 6 July and Tuesday 7 July 2026 at the Usher Hall, Lothian Road, Edinburgh.泭
The format of the Graduations will be as follows:泭
Monday 6 July 2026: Afternoon Ceremony 2.30pm泭
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Division of Psychology, Sociology and Education泭
Division of Occupational Therapy & Arts Therapies泭
Institute for Global Health & Development泭
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Tuesday 7 July 2026: Morning Ceremony - 10.30am
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Division of Business, Enterprise and Management
Division of DNBS, Podiatry, Physiotherapy and Radiography泭
Division of Speech & Hearing Sciences泭
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Tuesday 7 July 2026: Afternoon Ceremony 2.30pm
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Division of Media, Communication & Performing Arts泭
Division of Nursing & Paramedic Science泭
A reception for graduates and their guests will be held on campus from 5pm on each Graduation day.泭
Full Graduation information and booking details will be issued electronically to potential graduates in May 2026. Further details can be found on the website at
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Anti-Ableism in Higher Education Workshops
We are offering funded spaces on two online workshops on anti-ableism in higher education, open to all staff and students at 蹤獲扦.泭
These will be led by disabled academic Si璽n Jones and ally Dr Clare Uytman, Chartered Psychologists in the Division of Psychology, Sociology and Education, and founders of the 蹤獲扦 Toy Box Diversity Lab.
Workshop 1, What is ableism to me? runs 17 March, 14:0016:30 GMT and introduces disability, ableism, systemic ableism in higher education, and reflection on privilege and prejudice.
Workshop 2, Becoming an anti-ableist practitioner, runs 24 March, 14:0016:30 GMT and focuses on creating a practical anti-ableism action plan with interactive tasks, feedback, networking, and problem-solving.
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What to expect:
泭 泭accessible materials co-produced with disabled students
泭 泭tools for inclusive dialogue, peer-led workgroups with safer spaces for disabled participants, and further reading/media resources.
泭 泭 Registration requires attending both workshops and closes 10 March 2026.
泭 泭Contact: SJones@qmu.ac.uk泭
泭 泭Register here:
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The 蹤獲扦 Annual Travel Survey Closes This Week!
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Tell us how you travel to campus and be in with the chance of winning a 瞿50 or 瞿20 Amazon voucher.
The survey is available here:
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The survey should take less than 5 minutes.
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Closing on the 28th February. 泭
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Individual Learning Plan (ILP) exam adjustments: semester two 25/26 deadline
A reminder that the latest date that ILP exam adjustments can be made in semester two is Friday 3rd April 2026. 泭Any student requiring adjustments/review of adjustments for exams can book a Disability Adviser appointment via or DisabilityAdvisers@qmu.ac.uk in advance of this date.泭
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Visiting Guest Research Talk: Psychology and Neuroplasticity in the Age of AI, 泭- 泭Dr. Ra繳l V. Rodr穩guez, Woxsen University, Hyderabad, India.
The event will be in room 3169 from 1100-1200 on Wednesday 18th March. Open to all with an interest in the subject.
Advances in artificial intelligence are reshaping human cognition, learning processes, attention, emotional regulation, and decision-making - this talk explores how neuroplasticity enables individuals to adapt to increasingly digital and AI-mediated environments.
Dr. Rodr穩guez brings extensive expertise in cognitive psychology, neuroplasticity, and humanAI interaction. This session would be highly relevant to psychology students and staff, and to those across 蹤獲扦 and beyond who have interests around the areas of cognitive science, behavioral adaptation, mental health in digital contexts, and the evolving relationship between technology and the human mind.
Dr. Rodr穩guez currently serves as Vice President at Woxsen University and holds the Sir Cary Cooper Professorship in Organizational Behaviour. He is a Cognitive Technologist with extensive expertise in Artificial Intelligence, Cognitive Psychology, and Machine Learning. He holds multiple academic and advisory roles globally, has authored over 20 books, and has delivered numerous keynote sessions at prestigious conferences worldwide. You may find more about his profile here:
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InnoScot Health - Call for Early-Stage Healthcare Innovators
InnoScot Health has launched a call for healthcare solutions from early-stage innovators working across Scotlands healthcare sector. They are looking for healthcare professionals or students with innovative concepts or ideas which they would like to develop further with expert assistance.
All ideas are welcome - from simple to complex, and from any role or medical discipline. They are particularly interested in healthcare solutions that:
泭 泭Improve care quality, safety, and outcomes
泭 泭Increase efficiency, affordability and sustainability
泭 泭Support workforce resilience and access for underserved communities
泭 泭Enable digital, data-driven, and remote care
Innovations may relate to products, digital tools, services, clinical pathways, processes, or enabling technologies.
Applicants will receive a comprehensive concept evaluation of:
泭 泭The problem definition and clinical need
泭 泭The proposed solution and its potential impact on the healthcare market
泭 泭Feasibility, scalability, and alignment with national priorities
泭 泭Intellectual Property advice
For more information, see
Submission deadline: Thursday 30 April 2026
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Converge's Online Workshop Series for the Entrepreneurially Curious
If youre curious about entrepreneurship but not sure where to start, then dont miss this series of online business workshops delivered by Converge.
Whether youre planning to apply for the Converge 2026 programme or just taking your first steps into the world of spinouts and start-ups, each one-hour session is packed with easily digestible content on key business topics to put you on the right track.
Whats on offer?
泭 泭3 Mar: Understanding your market - analyse and prioritise your market and customers
泭 泭5 Mar: All about Converge - find out more about the programme and how to craft a winning application
泭 泭10 Mar: Getting market ready - find out what skills, people, infrastructure and funding you will need from concept to launch
泭 泭17 Mar: Business models and route to market - how to select the best business model and how to reach your customers
泭 泭19 Mar: All about Converge - another chance to find out more about the programme and how to craft a winning application
泭 泭24 Mar: Funding essentials - an overview of the various funding options available to start-up and spinout companies in Scotland
For full details and to register visit:
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Meet 蹤獲扦's Entrepreneur in Residence, Dr Nikita Daga
Join us in the Startup Studio on Wednesday 4th March (12:00 - 16:30) for a drop in session with 蹤獲扦's Entrepreneur in Residence (EiR) Dr Nikita Daga.
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In her role as EiR, Nikita supports 蹤獲扦s commitment to fostering equality, diversity and inclusion; mentors emerging entrepreneurs; and provides guidance on commercialisation, knowledge exchange, and wider innovation initiatives across the university.
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Come along to this drop-in session to learn more about her work, and explore how she can support your entrepreneurial journey.
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You can also book a dedicated 30 minute slot with her here:
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Alongside her EiR role, Nikita is Director of Laserquant Technology and Invenita Ltd, and serves as Network Manager at Heriot-Watt University for , a ?2 million research network supporting people with dementia to live independently and maintain their quality of life for as long as possible.
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Building Anti-Ableism Through Representation: Toys and Play. delivered in partnership by 蹤獲扦, the University of Strathclyde, and the University of Cambridge.
26 February 2026 | 泭1300-1630 GMT (Hybrid vie Teams and in room 2156 on campus)
Open to all staff and students.泭
Registration is open until 24 February 2026. Full details of registration and speakers are at this link:
This interdisciplinary series brings together researchers and practitioners working across psychology, education, and childrens literature to examine how disability is represented in childrens toys, books, film, and wider material culture, and how these representations can contribute to anti-ableist practice.
Whilst registration is required, all seminars are free to attend, either online or on campus, and open to anyone with an interest in anti-ableism, disability representation, inclusion, education, and childrens culture.
For more information please contact Clare Uytman (cuytman@qmu.ac.uk)
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Fully Funded Anti-Ableism in Higher Education Workshops.
We are offering funded spaces on two online workshops on anti-ableism in higher education, open to all staff and students affiliated with 蹤獲扦. These will be led by disabled academic Dr. Si璽n Jones and ally Dr Clare Uytman, Chartered Psychologists in the Division of Psychology, Sociology and Education, and founders of the 蹤獲扦 Toy Box Diversity Lab.
Workshop 1, What is ableism to me? runs 17 March, 14:0016:30 GMT and introduces disability, ableism, systemic ableism in higher education, and reflection on privilege and prejudice.
Workshop 2, Becoming an anti-ableist practitioner, runs 24 March, 14:0016:30 GMT and focuses on creating a practical anti-ableism action plan with interactive tasks, feedback, networking, and problem-solving.
What to expect:
泭 泭accessible materials co-produced with disabled students
泭 泭tools for inclusive dialogue, peer-led workgroups with safer spaces for disabled participants, and further reading/media resources.
泭 泭 Registration requires attending both workshops and closes 10 March 2026.
泭 泭Contact: SJones@qmu.ac.uk.泭
泭 泭Register here:
For more information contact Sian: SJones@qmu.ac.uk
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In this week's Student News:
The 2026 International Forum for Peer Learning and Support
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This is the last call for contributions for the . Call for Proposals closes 5pm on 16th February 2026.泭
If you would like to for the 2026 Forum for a presentation, creative workshop, lightning talk, or round-table discussion, please complete this .
The forum aims to offer informative sessions, with themes covering, but not limited to:
Technology泭
Terminology (is peer limiting?)泭
Evaluation泭
Budgets & making PAL/SI-PASS/other peer learning and support programmes work on a low budget (value for money)泭
Inclusivity in sessions
Novel approaches to peer learning and support
We welcome proposals from staff who have an interest in peer learning, and we are also keen to encourage students who are involved in peer learning programmes to submit.泭
The is a free to attend in-person event where you can explore various peer learning and support initiatives in higher education and connect with students and colleagues who share a passion for this area of work. Each year, the Forum welcomes delegates from across the UK, Europe, and beyond.
This is the 9th Forum to be held, and we are delighted to be hosting at 蹤獲扦. It provides a great opportunity to find out more about how PALS @ 蹤獲扦 fits into the broader peer learning landscape.
The 2026 International Forum for Peer Learning and Support
蹤獲扦, Edinburgh
Friday, 22nd May 2026
and closes at 5pm on Friday, 27th February 2026.
The main Forum will be held on Friday, 22nd May, with an option to join an additional afternoon workshop on Thursday, 21st May.泭
Please visit our page for details and updates, and should you have any questions, do not hesitate to get in touch at PALS@qmu.ac.uk.泭
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Camp America Funding available to continuing students for summer 2026
Are you looking for an adventure this summer? Experience the summer of a lifetime with Camp America!
Spend 9-12 weeks working at a summer camp and travelling the USA with funding from 蹤獲扦 to help you get there!
Continuing students* studying on campus in Musselburgh can apply for funding to support their Camp America experience, with an enhanced funding offer available to students from widening participation backgrounds, including support towards flights and readiness-to-travel expenses such as passport applications, visas and more.
(*Students must be returning to study in September 2026 to be eligible for this fund)
Applications now open with a deadline of 26th February 2026.
For further information, please contact careers@qmu.ac.uk泭
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Careers and Employability Work Experience Fund 2025/26 - Applications are now open
Grants from The Careers and Employability Work Experience Fund are designed to support students who are currently doing volunteering for a UK registered charity or not-for-profit organisation to gain hours for their elective placements, or to enhance their work experience if the course that they are doing does not offer a mandatory placement.
The Careers and Employability Work Experience Fund (CEWEF) exists thanks to the generous donations of alumni, friends of the University, 蹤獲扦 staff, and employers who pay to attend 蹤獲扦 career events. The fund aims to reward volunteering and help level the playing field by supporting current students in enhancing their work experience and developing employability skills through work-related learning.
Applications are invited from all undergraduate and postgraduate students currently enrolled as in-person students at our Musselburgh campus.
Your application will require evidence of your volunteering hours from the host organisation.
If you have volunteered during this academic year, you may be eligible to receive one of the following certificates, which will be presented at the Awards Evening:
泭 泭Gold 200 hours or more Award: 瞿400
泭 泭Silver 100 hours or more Award: 瞿300
泭 泭Bronze 50 hours or more Award: 瞿100
The deadline for the 2025/26 fund is noon on 3 March 2026.
If you meet the baseline criteria you can submit your application form in .泭
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The Royal Literary Fund Fellow at 蹤獲扦
Want to improve your writing?
Book a free, confidential, one-to-one session with our RLF Fellow to help you strengthen your academic writing.
Sessions last 50 minutes and can be in person or online. Whatever your subject or level of study, the RLF Fellow will work closely with you to identify where you can develop your skills and how you can sharpen your writing.
Appointments are available Tuesday & Wednesday during term time. Sessions are available in person or online. To enquire or book your session, email: miranda.moore@rlfeducation.org.uk 泭
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Planned Internet Migration rescheduled Tuesday 24th February
IT Services will migrate 蹤獲扦s internet connection to new hardware after hours on Tuesday 24th February. This upgrade moves the connection from older equipment to Jiscs updated network, improving resilience and reliability.
Key Details:
泭 泭At-risk period: 5:30 pm 7:30 pm
泭 泭Expected outage: Around 6:00 pm (kept as short as possible)
泭 泭Duration of work: Approximately 2 hours
During the outage, the entire campus will briefly lose internet access. Campus-hosted resources such as the Student Portal and App, Timetable, Horizon Remote Desktop, and Shibboleth will be unavailable externally.
Microsoft 365 services (email, OneDrive, Teams, etc.) will continue to work for users off campus or those using mobile data.
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Turn Your Ideas Into Competition Ready Ventures with the Start up Factory (24 - 26 February)
The Start up Factorys Industry Led Innovation Sprint is a three day (24 - 26 February), hands on programme designed to take early stage founders from idea to competition ready ventures.
Open to students, staff and recent graduates from universities and colleges across Central-East Scotland including those without a venture idea the sprint will focus on shaping sustainability driven solutions that meet real innovation funding and accelerator standards.
All academic backgrounds are welcome from arts and social sciences to health, engineering, business, design and science.
Whether youre working from an early stage idea or exploring how your expertise could create impact, this is your chance to collaborate, innovate and compete for up to 瞿2,500 in prizes.
Dates: Tuesday 24 - Thursday 26 February
Time: 09:00 - 16:00 each day
Venue: Heriot-Watt University
For more information and to register, visit:
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Data Equity Incubator - APPLY NOW!
The Data Equity Incubator helps ethnic minority women who have an idea for a business or community initiative, or are already running one, to build their data and AI skills.
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The programme, led by and supported by , will deliver hands-on learning, mentoring and peer support, building participants confidence in using data, digital tools and AI to understand customers, shape ideas and communicate their ventures clearly.
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10 weeks of online training
Monthly in-person meet-ups
Expert support in data, AI and entrepreneurship
Support for both business and community initiatives
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Find out more and apply:
Application deadline: 16 February
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Employer Mentoring Programme - Student Announcement
LAST CHANCE TO APPLY!!!
Looking to gain practical insight and experience within your area of study?
Careers and Employabilitys Mentoring Programmes are now open for new applications to all Year 2 students and above.
All students are encouraged to apply and benefit from this opportunity to connect with experienced professionals in your field of study.
We have mentors in Marketing, PR, Business, Finance, HR, Hospitality, Tourism, Events Management, Psychology, Sociology, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Podiatry, Speech Therapy, Drama, Film, Theatre, and other Creative industries.泭
Explore Mentors and Mentoring Programmes
Take some time to review the and think about who you would like to work with. Consider what kind of mentoring programme best suits your personal and professional development goals. If you're unsure, you're welcome to discuss your options with Juan Garcia, Mentoring Coordinator, and Careers Adviser. Please be aware that students will be allocated mentors as they apply; therefore, your preferred mentor may not be available.
Apply today to have the best chance of getting the match you want!
Book a 15-Minute Appointment with Juan Garcia
To apply, schedule a short meeting with Juan to talk about your interest in the programme and what type of mentoring arrangement would work best for you.
Book an appointment .
Applications close on the 14th of February.泭
蹤獲扦-online students have limited access to on campus student services and opportunities. If you are an online student, you can access information on the or by sending an email to oss@qmu.ac.uk to find out more.
In this week's Student News:
Introducing the New 蹤獲扦 IT Chatbot Your Virtual IT Assistant
We are pleased to announce the launch of the , a new virtual assistant designed to help staff and students quickly resolve common technology issues and access instant IT support.
The chatbot can provide immediate responses to frequently asked questions, for example:
- Password resets
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
- Remote access guidance
- General IT troubleshooting and support
Its knowledge base has been carefully developed using verified content from the 蹤獲扦 website, ensuring that all guidance you receive is accurate and consistent.
Accessing the Chatbot
The chatbot is available when you are connected to 蹤獲扦 remote systems or to Eduroam Wi-Fi.
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Give it a try today and discover a faster, easier way to get the IT support you need!
蹤獲扦 IT
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Planned IT maintenance affecting VLeBooks and other Browns Books services
As a result of planned maintenance, there may be short periods of disruption to VLeBooks and other Browns Books services from 10pm on Friday, 6 February until 4am on Saturday, 7 February.
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Free seminar - 26th Feb, Building Anti-Ableism Through Representation: Toys and Play.
A reminder of this event: Building Anti-Ableism Through Representation: Toys and Play. delivered in partnership by 蹤獲扦, the University of Strathclyde, and the University of Cambridge.
26 February 2026 | 1300-1630 GMT (Hybrid via Teams and in room 2156 on campus)
Open to all staff and students.
Registration is open until 24 February 2026. Full details of registration and speakers are at this link:
This interdisciplinary series brings together researchers and practitioners working across psychology, education, and childrens literature to examine how disability is represented in childrens toys, books, film, and wider material culture, and how these representations can contribute to anti-ableist practice.
Whilst registration is required, all seminars are free to attend, either online or on campus, and open to anyone with an interest in anti-ableism, disability representation, inclusion, education, and childrens culture.
For more information, please contact Clare Uytman (cuytman@qmu.ac.uk)
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Individual Learning Plan (ILP) exam adjustments: semester two 25/26 deadline
The latest date that ILP exam adjustments can be made in semester two is Friday 3rd April 2026. Any student requiring adjustments/review of adjustments for exams can book a Disability Adviser appointment via or DisabilityAdvisers@qmu.ac.uk in advance of this date.
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International Students: Join This Free Alumni UK Event!
Final year international students are invited to Scotland and beyond: Celebrating your global journey on Wednesday 11 February 2026 (14:0019:00) at Edinburgh Napier University, Craiglockhart Campus.
Hear from global alumni, get practical career advice, meet employers and career teams, and enjoy free dinner, drinks and a ceilidh. Its a great chance to build your network before graduation.
Register your interest by Friday 6th Feb 09:00.
Youll receive a confirmation email if selected.
Register here:
Queries: alumniuk.team@britishcouncil.org
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Turn Your Ideas Into Competition Ready Ventures with the Startup Factory (24 - 26 February)
The Startup Factorys Industry Led Innovation Sprint is a threeday (24 - 26 February), handson programme designed to take early stage founders from idea to competition ready ventures.
Open to students, staff and recent graduates from universities and colleges across Central East Scotland including those without a venture idea the sprint will focus on shaping sustainability driven solutions that meet real innovation funding and accelerator standards.
All academic backgrounds are welcome from arts and social sciences to health, engineering, business, design and science.
Whether youre working from an earlystage idea or exploring how your expertise could create impact, this is your chance to collaborate, innovate and compete for up to 瞿2,500 in prizes.
Dates: Tuesday 24 - Thursday 26 February
Time: 09:00 - 16:00 each day
Venue: Heriot-Watt University
For more information and to register, visit:
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Compassionate Assessment in HE Network Event: Scottish Tertiary Enhancement Project (STEP) - Transforming Assessment Practices and Policies in Scotland
Thursday 26th February 2026
3-4pm GMT/UTC
All staff and students are invited to join us for this session, part of the Compassionate Assessment in HE Network talk series.
This session introduces a sector-wide collaborative project which is part of Scotland's Tertiary Enhancement Programme (STEP) - Transforming Assessment Policy and Practice in Scotland (TAPPS) which 蹤獲扦 are collaborating on. Focussed on advancing the current STEP topic - Supporting Diverse Learner Journeys" - the project aims to drive transformation in assessment policy to support compassion, inclusion and flexibility in assessment practice to better recognise the needs of diverse learners across Scottish tertiary education and to remove harmful practices. The presentation will explore how inclusive, diverse, and optional assessment strategies can enhance student learning and success by enacting compassionate approaches to assessment. By embedding principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) that promote assessment choice and embracing innovative approaches that reflect and support the learning of our increasingly diverse learners, we aim to create more equitable opportunities for achievement whilst supporting students' development for life beyond study.
Join the Project Leads and Project Collaborator: Dr Cameron Graham, Associate Professor at Edinburgh Napier University; Alison Greenwood-Bell, Dean of the Faculty of Creative Industries at City of Glasgow College and Vikki Hill, Director of Learning Enhancement and Academic Development at 蹤獲扦.
and feel free to share across networks.
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Converge Challenges Competition and Drop-In Sessions
Converge is on the lookout for aspiring innovators to join their 2026 programme!
If youre a 蹤獲扦 member of staff, student or recent graduate (graduated in the past 36 months) looking to turn your research, idea or invention into a thriving business, then this is your chance to access the right skills, expertise and connections to make it happen.
Whatever difference you want to make from tackling health and societal challenges to improving food safety Converge can guide you every step of the way. And you dont need any business experience to get started.
Places on their programme the only one of its kind in Scotland - are highly sought after with an application deadline of 2 April 2026.
Find out more at or come along to a Converge drop-in sessions at the 蹤獲扦 Startup Studio from 10am to 4pm on the following dates:
- Thursday 5th February ()
- Wednesday 11th March ()
- Wednesday 25th March ()
Come along to learn more!
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Planned Internet Migration rescheduled Tuesday 24th February
IT Services will migrate 蹤獲扦s internet connection to new hardware after hours on Tuesday 24th February. This upgrade moves the connection from older equipment to Jiscs updated network, improving resilience and reliability.
Key Details:
- At-risk period: 5:30 pm 7:30 pm
- Expected outage: Around 6:00 pm (kept as short as possible)
- Duration of work: Approximately 2 hours
During the outage, the entire campus will briefly lose internet access. Campus-hosted resources such as the Student Portal and App, Timetable, Horizon Remote Desktop, and Shibboleth will be unavailable externally.
Microsoft 365 services (email, OneDrive, Teams, etc.) will continue to work for users off campus or those using mobile data.
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RESEARCHER DEVELOPMENT FEBRUARY OPPORTUNITIES
Converge Drop-In Session
10:00am - 4:00pm, Thursday, February 5, 2026
The Converge drop-in and advice sessions offer support and advice to take the next step in your entrepreneurial journey!
Converge work with Scotlands universities to empower staff, students and graduates to transform academic research and innovation into real-world solutions. Through collaboration, we harness expertise, knowledge and connections to support the creation of impactful businesses that contribute to a more sustainable future.
Come along to hear more about how Converge can help you.
Facilitators: Sam Trett and Lissa Herron, Converge
Location: 蹤獲扦 Startup Studio
Bright Red Triangle (BRT) Drop-In Session
10:00am - 11:00am, Thursday, February 12, 2026
蹤獲扦 staff, students and graduates can access free lifelong enterprise support from our partners at Bright Red Triangle (BRT), enabling the development of enterprise skills that are invaluable for an entrepreneurial career.
It is the mission of BRT to equip our community with the skills and knowledge needed to progress from idea to business launch, to long-term growth and sustainability. Since their launch in 2005, BRT have supported more than 1,000 start-ups and freelancers.
The BRT team offer a variety of services to help our entrepreneurial community thrive, including:
Entrepreneurial Support: guidance, resources and mentorship to help turn innovative ideas into successful businesses. Enterprise Skills Development: workshops to enhance your skills in leadership, communication, time management, networking and more. Networking Events: connect with like-minded individuals and professionals, fostering valuable connections. Hot-desking Space: access dedicated workspace for collaborative projects and entrepreneurial endeavours. Funding Opportunities: learn about grants and sand funding options available to support your projects and initiatives.
Join us in the Startup Studio to learn more about their service and resources.
Facilitator: Bright Red Triangle
Location: 蹤獲扦 Startup Studio
E-Research and Open Access Publishing
1:00pm - 2:00pm, Thursday, February 12, 2026
Find out about depositing your research in 蹤獲扦's institutional repositories eResearch and eData and what you need to know about open access and publishing, including how to ensure that your research publications are compliant with REF 2029.
This interactive workshop will provide an opportunity to find out more about 蹤獲扦s support and policies, with an opportunity to ask questions at the end of the session.
Facilitator: Helen Muir, 蹤獲扦 Research Support Librarian
Location: Online
The Ventures Lab by Challenges Group Drop-In
1:00pm - 2:00pm, Tuesday, February 24, 2026
The Ventures Lab by Challenges Group provides support for aspiring and early-stage social entrepreneurs in Scotland.
They offer a range of interventions to support new enterprises to understand their customer needs, develop their business model and value proposition, access financing, prepare their go-to-market strategy, design (and even trial) their core service or product offering. They can also support with legal incorporation and brand and website development.
Come along to this drop-in session and explore whether your idea for a product or service has potential to make a difference in Scotland and beyond!
Facilitator: Ross Isdale, Business Development Manager, Challenges Group
Location: 蹤獲扦 Start Up Studio
Please direct any queries to rkedu@qmu.ac.uk.
In this week's student news
Introducing the New 蹤獲扦 IT Chatbot Your Virtual IT Assistant
We are pleased to announce the launch of the , a new virtual assistant designed to help staff and students quickly resolve common technology issues and access instant IT support.
The chatbot can provide immediate responses to frequently asked questions, for example:
Password resets
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Remote access guidance
General IT troubleshooting and support
Its knowledge base has been carefully developed using verified content from the 蹤獲扦 website, ensuring that all guidance you receive is accurate and consistent.
Accessing the Chatbot
The chatbot is available when you are connected to 蹤獲扦 remote systems or to Eduroam Wi-Fi.
Give it a try today and discover a faster, easier way to get the IT support you need!
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Need a Short Term Laptop for use on campus?
The library now has 16 short-term laptops available for student borrowing. Each laptop can be borrowed for up to 4 hours, making it perfect for study sessions or quick tasks.
Youll find the laptop issuing machine in the library between Rooms 1125 and 1126, in the area where library books are located.
To access a laptop, simply use your student card at the machine and follow the on screen instructions.
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Undergraduate Tuition Fees for 2026/27
The Undergraduate tuition fees for 2026/27 are now available to view via the link below. Depending on your fee status, you may also need to refer to the separate table for Continuing Students at the bottom of the page.
2026-27 Undergraduate fees
If you have any questions regarding your fees for next year, please get in touch with Registry.
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Misinformation and disinformation session Tuesday, 3rd February 2-3 pm - online
In a polarised world of information overload where fake news, misinformation and disinformation travel many times faster than facts, how do we cope? How do we avoid falling prey to misinformation and disinformation when it becomes harder every day to tell fact from fiction?
We aim to raise awareness, discuss ways to cope with and avoid spreading misinformation and disinformation.
Registration is required for this online session.
Please follow this link:
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Planned IT maintenance affecting VLeBooks and other Browns Books services
As a result of planned maintenance there may be short periods of disruption to VLeBooks and other Browns
Books services from 10pm on Friday 6 February until 4am on Saturday 7 February.
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The International Office will be unavailable on Thursday 5th February
The International Office will be unavailable on Thursday 5th February as the team will be attending a conference.
If you have any queries, please contact them by email (international@qmu.ac.uk) and they will get back to you as soon as possible.
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Leisure Reading Collection
Please let the library know of any stock recommendations you have for the new Leisure Reading Collection. This collection consists of both fiction and non-fiction books.
The aim of the new collection is to combat stress, to increase wellbeing and a sense of belonging, to challenge existing worldviews and social injustices, and to be representative of our student population. In other words, everyone should be able to walk into the library and feel that they belong and that there are books on the shelves that represent their background and experience.
Please use this form to submit a recommendation.
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Invitation to attend 蹤獲扦's Annual Nursing and Health and Social Care Career Fair (NHSCC) 2026 on 29th of January (in person)
We are pleased to invite you to attend our annual Nursing and Healthcare Career Fair on Thursday 29th of January on campus.
This event is designed for final year students, but it may be also relevant to students in other years of study who want to explore potential employers or career options/pathways.
Annual Nursing and Health and Social Care Career Fair (NHSCC) 2026 Invitation
Thursday 29 January, 10:00am2:00pm | The Atrium, 蹤獲扦
蹤獲扦 Careers and Employability warmly invites staff, students, and recent graduates to attend 蹤獲扦s Annual Nursing and Health and Social Care Career Fair (NHSCC) 2026.
Fifteen of our partner organisations will be in attendance, offering information about graduate opportunities in Scotland, Ireland, and Australia. These organisations are particularly keen to engage with students and recent graduates from the following disciplines: Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Podiatry, Music/Drama/Art Therapy, Radiography,
Paramedics and Dietetics.
Participating organisations include:
Each organisation will be promoting specific roles and opportunities for students and recent graduates. Please refer to the for further details.
No registration is needed, but students can register for the event in Student Central using the following link:
If you require any further information, please contact Juan Garcia or email careers@qmu.ac.uk.
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PALS Feedback
As we starting our PALS sessions for this Semester, we would love to get your thoughts and feedback on PALS. We have a short survey for you to complete so that we can find out about your experience of PALS in Semester 1; this will help us improve PALS and make it a useful support resource for all 蹤獲扦 students.
You can also complete the survey if you did not attend any PALS sessions you will only need to respond to relevant questions.
We look forward to reading your feedback:
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蹤獲扦 Disability Service
At 蹤獲扦 Disability Service, we help current students who have a disability to access the support they need. This includes everyone, whether youre an undergraduate, postgraduate, EU or International student. You don't need a formal diagnosis to access our service.
To book an appointment, please visit Student Central, email DisabilityAdvisers@qmu.ac.uk or visit Student Services Reception
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Scottish Government Microfinance Enterprise Fund 2026 FINAL CALL
Applications for the Scottish Government Microfinance Fund 2026 are now invited from current students and staff of 蹤獲扦.
This fund is intended to support students and staff from Scottish universities in achieving their entrepreneurial ambitions by offering awards of 瞿1,000 - 瞿3,000 to help them test and progress their business ideas.
Current 蹤獲扦 students and staff are eligible to apply. Projects must be pre-incorporation without a business bank account and must have received less than 瞿5,000 in financial support for business, commercialisation or enterprise activities to date.
Full eligibility criteria and application process details can be found on the , along with a link to the application form.
The deadline for applications is 23:59 on Sunday 1st February 2026.
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Turn Your Ideas Into Competition Ready Ventures with the Start up Factory (24 - 26 February)
The Start up Factorys Industry Led Innovation Sprint is a three day (24 - 26 February), hands on programme designed to take early stage founders from idea to competition ready ventures.
Open to students, staff and recent graduates from universities and colleges across Central-East Scotland including those without a venture idea the sprint will focus on shaping sustainability driven solutions that meet real innovation funding and accelerator standards.
All academic backgrounds are welcome from arts and social sciences to health, engineering, business, design and science.
Whether youre working from an early stage idea or exploring how your expertise could create impact, this is your chance to collaborate, innovate and compete for up to 瞿2,500 in prizes.
Dates: Tuesday 24 - Thursday 26 February
Time: 09:00 - 16:00 each day
Venue: Heriot-Watt University
For more information and to register, visit:
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Converge Challenges Competition and Drop-In Sessions
Converge is on the lookout for aspiring innovators to join their 2026 programme!
If youre a 蹤獲扦 member of staff, student or recent graduate (graduated in the past 36 months) looking to turn your research, idea or invention into a thriving business, then this is your chance to access the right skills, expertise and connections to make it happen.
Whatever difference you want to make from tackling health and societal challenges to improving food safety Converge can guide you every step of the way. And you dont need any business experience to get started.
Places on their programme the only one of its kind in Scotland - are highly sought after with an application deadline of 2 April 2026.
Find out more at or come along to a Converge drop-in sessions at the 蹤獲扦 Startup Studio from 10am to 4pm on the following dates:
- Thursday 5th February ()
- Wednesday 11th March ()
- Wednesday 25th March ()
Come along to learn more!
In this week's Student News:
Head.Heart.Hand - a new Stef Smith play celebrating the history of 蹤獲扦
1921 February 2026 at the Traverse Theatre
Join our Acting and Performing students this February at the Traverse Theatre for a powerful new production by award-winning playwright and 蹤獲扦 graduate Stef Smith. This special performance marks the 150th anniversary of the University.
Head. Heart. Hand. is a story of perseverance, action, and the enduring belief in education as an act of hope. It promises to be an unforgettable celebration of 蹤獲扦s legacy - and the students, past and present, who shaped it.
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Need a Short Term Laptop for use on campus?
The library now has 16 short-term laptops available for student borrowing. Each laptop can be borrowed for up to 4 hours, making it perfect for study sessions or quick tasks. Youll find the laptop issuing machine in the library between Rooms 1125 and 1126, in the area where library books are located. To access a laptop, simply use your student card at the machine and follow the on screen instructions.泭
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Thoughts and Feedback on PALS
As we starting our PALS sessions for this Semester, we would love to get your thoughts and feedback on PALS. We have a short survey for you to complete so that we can find out about your experience of PALS in Semester 1; this will help us improve PALS and make it a useful support resource for all 蹤獲扦 students.
泭
You can also complete the survey if you did not attend any PALS sessions you will only need to respond to relevant questions.
泭
We look forward to reading your feedback:
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6-week Compassionate Mind Training course
Mondays, 12 - 2pm starting on the 2nd February
泭
Do you ever feel that you are your own worst critic? Or find it hard to regulate your emotions? 泭If so, this course might be helpful!
This course is useful for anxious over-thinkers, perfectionists or students who struggle to know what to do with their anger/anxiety/ other difficult emotions.泭
Its helpful for low self-esteem and self-criticism.
There is more information here, including comments from past participants:
Book a place:
If you would like to book a place, email Sophie on smacleod@qmu.ac.uk giving your name and matriculation number.泭
Spaces are limited.
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Looking to gain practical insight and experience within your area of study?
Careers and Employabilitys Mentoring Programmes are now open for new applications to all Year 2 students and above.
All students are encouraged to apply and benefit from this opportunity to connect with experienced professionals in your field of study.
We have mentors in Marketing, PR, Business, Finance, HR, Hospitality, Tourism, Events Management, Psychology, Sociology, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Podiatry, Speech Therapy, Drama, Film, Theatre, and other Creative industries.泭
Explore Mentors and Mentoring Programmes
Take some time to review the and think about who you would like to work with. Consider what kind of mentoring programme best suits your personal and professional development goals. If you're unsure, you're welcome to discuss your options with Juan Garcia, Mentoring Coordinator and Careers Adviser. Please be aware that students will be allocated mentors as they apply, therefore your preferred mentor may not be available.
Apply today to have the best chance of getting the match you want!
Book a 15-Minute Appointment with Juan Garcia
To apply, schedule a short meeting with Juan to talk about your interest in the programme and what type of mentoring arrangement would work best for you.
Book an appointment .
Applications close on the 14th of February.泭
蹤獲扦-online students have limited access to on campus student services and opportunities. If you are an online student, you can access information on the or by sending an email to oss@qmu.ac.uk to find out more
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Parking on Campus
We would like to remind everyone that the University car park is particularly busy at the start of the semester. Due to high demand, we cannot guarantee parking spaces for all users. To avoid inconvenience, please arrive early and be prepared for potential queues. You may also wish to consider alternative options such as the Park and Ride at Newcraighall, which is within walking distance of the campus and connected by direct bus services. Additionally, we encourage you to explore public transport and sustainable travel options.
For more detailed information on parking, public transport, and sustainable travel options, please visit our webpage.
Parking in Local Areas
It is important that staff and students respect our neighbours and adhere to parking restrictions in the local areas surrounding our campus. Please note that parking on 蹤獲扦 Drive is not permitted, and enforcement is carried out by East Lothian Council on all roads surrounding the campus. Additionally, parking on kerbs, footways, and verges is not permitted as it is unsafe and causes damage.
Musselburgh Railway Station Car Park
Parking is only for ScotRail customers using Musselburgh Station. Non-customers using the station car park may be subject to enforcement action by British Transport Police under The Railway Byelaws. Those parking outside of marked bays, on double yellow lines, or in disabled bays without a Blue Badge will be fined.
Musselburgh Controlled Parking Zone
To ensure that our neighbours can access their homes, parking within the residential streets adjacent to the campus is controlled by East Lothian Council through limited waiting times and permits. To avoid receiving a 瞿100 penalty charge notice, drivers should comply with the restrictions indicated by the signs and markings displayed on the streets. Further details can be found here. For the benefit of our neighbours, please respect these restrictions and refrain from parking in residential areas around the campus.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Campus Operations
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Introducing the New 蹤獲扦 IT Chatbot Your Virtual IT Assistant
We are pleased to announce the launch of the , a new virtual assistant designed to help staff and students quickly resolve common technology issues and access instant IT support.
The chatbot can provide immediate responses to frequently asked questions, for example:
泭 泭Password resets
泭 泭Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
泭 泭Remote access guidance
泭 泭General IT troubleshooting and support
Its knowledge base has been carefully developed using verified content from the 蹤獲扦 website, ensuring that all guidance you receive is accurate and consistent.
Accessing the Chatbot
The chatbot is available when you are connected to 蹤獲扦 remote systems or to Eduroam Wi-Fi.
Visit the Chabot .
Give it a try today and discover a faster, easier way to get the IT support you need!
蹤獲扦 IT
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Annual Nursing and Health and Social Care Career Fair (NHSCC) 2026 Invitation
Thursday 29 January, 10:00am2:00pm | The Atrium, 蹤獲扦
蹤獲扦 Careers and Employability warmly invites staff, students, and recent graduates to attend 蹤獲扦s Annual Nursing and Health and Social Care Career Fair (NHSCC) 2026.
Fifteen of our partner organisations will be in attendance, offering information about graduate opportunities in Scotland, Ireland, and Australia. These organisations are particularly keen to engage with students and recent graduates from the following disciplines: Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Podiatry, Music/Drama/Art Therapy, Radiography, and Dietetics.
Participating organisations include:
Each organisation will be promoting specific roles and opportunities for students and recent graduates. Please refer to the NHSCC booklet for further details. You can view the draft event booklet here:
Students/graduates may attend the event at any time between 10:00am and 2:00pm; however, we recommend attending at the following suggested times:
泭 泭10:00 11:00: Physiotherapy (postgraduate), Podiatry, Art/Music/Drama Therapy (postgraduate), SLT, Dietetics and - Allied Health
泭 泭10:30 11:45: Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Art/Music/Drama Therapy, SLT, Dietetics - Allied Health
泭 泭11:45 12:30: Occupational Therapy undergraduate students; Paramedic Science students - Allied Health
Employer short presentations to groups of students
泭
泭 泭12:30 13:15: Nursing students Group 1
泭 泭13:15 14:00: Nursing students Group 2
泭 泭14:00: Event concludes
No registration is needed, but students can register for the event in Student Central using the following link:
If you require any further information, please contact @Garcia, Juan or email careers@qmu.ac.uk.
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Student Attendance and Engagement Policy update
There has been a small update to the . It clarifies the circumstances under which a students attendance may be manually recorded if they are unable to register their own attendance during class.
Section 6:
If a student is unable to register their attendance using the SEAtS App in class, they must notify the teaching team during or immediately after the class.
泭 泭The teaching team can manually record a students attendance up to one calendar week after the class.
泭 泭The Attendance Team (attendance@qmu.ac.uk) cannot verify that a student attended a class.
However, they can:泭
o 泭 泭Assist the teaching team with technical difficulties.
o 泭 泭Provide guidance and support on how to mark students as attended manually.
Section 9:
(Staff responsibilities)
b) Providing the QR code for students to log in with during each timetabled session. The QR code refreshes approximately every 20 seconds. If a student is unable to scan the code, they must notify the teaching team during or immediately after the class. The teaching team can manually record a students attendance up to one calendar week after the session.
泭
If you have any queries, please contact the Attendance Team at attendance@qmu.ac.uk
泭泭
泭泭
泭泭
泭泭
泭泭
泭泭
In this week's Student News:
6-week Compassionate Mind Training course
Mondays, 12 - 2pm starting on the 2nd February
Do you ever feel that you are your own worst critic? Or find it hard to regulate your emotions? If so, this course might be helpful!
This course is useful for anxious over-thinkers, perfectionists or students who struggle to know what to do with their anger/anxiety/ other difficult emotions.
Its helpful for low self-esteem and self-criticism.
There is more information here, including comments from past participants:
Book a place:
If you would like to book a place, email Sophie on smacleod@qmu.ac.uk giving your name and matriculation number.
Spaces are limited.
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Seminar invitation: Building Anti-Ableism Through Representation in Childrens Material Culture, 26th February
We are pleased to announce an upcoming British Psychological Societyfunded seminar series, Building Anti-Ableism Through Representation in Childrens Material Culture, delivered in partnership by 蹤獲扦, the University of Strathclyde, and the University of Cambridge.
This interdisciplinary series brings together researchers and practitioners working across psychology, education, and childrens literature to examine how disability is represented in childrens toys, books, film, and wider material culture, and how these representations can contribute to anti-ableist practice.
Across the series, delegates will share research, practice, methodological innovations, and theoretical insights, exploring our understanding of how disability representations influence attitudes, educational practice, and childrens everyday experiences.
A core principle of the series is the centring of disabled voices. Grounded in disability justice, the seminars actively challenge the historical marginalisation of disabled people within academic, educational, and cultural contexts.
Seminar 1: Toys and Play (蹤獲扦)
26 February 2026 | 1300-1630 GMT
Key Note Speaker: Rebecca Atkinson (she/her) - The power of representation and TV access for disabled children in early years
From sparking ideas to developing imaginative outcomes across childrens industries, Rebecca is an original thinker adept at storytelling, production and the creation of compelling worlds. She is the founder of ToyLikeMe and creator of Mixmups for Milkshake! including developing Ultra Access, a revolutionary interactive technology
Key Note Speaker: Christina Lee (she/her) - Representation Matters: Creating an Inclusive Future for All
is a Research Associate for Knowledge Exchange for Disability Matters at the University of Sheffield. She completed her PhD in English and Medical Humanities at Kings College London in 2023. Her current work focuses on how disability can expand equity, diversity, and inclusion, and drive transformative knowledge exchange in research.
Plus flash talks, poster presentations and a panel discussion. The call for abstracts is now open until 26 January and registration is open until 24 February 2026. Full details of how to submit an abstract and register are at this link:
Whilst registration is required, all seminars are free to attend, either online or on campus, and open to anyone with an interest in anti-ableism, disability representation, inclusion, education, and childrens culture.
Further Seminar Themes & Dates
Building anti-ableism through books
University of Strathclyde, Glasgow | 21 April 2026 | 1300-1630 BST
Building anti-ableism through film and television
University of Cambridge | 11 June 2026 | 1300-1630 BST
Collaborators
Dr Katie Cebula University of Edinburgh
Dr Charlotte Webber - University of Strathclyde
Rachel Milne University of Cambridge
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Voi City Bike Hire Discounts
Voi is the new bike hire scheme available in Edinburgh and Glasgow - you may have spotted the pink bikes around town.
Students, apprentices and staff at higher education institutions qualify for a 50% discount on minute bundles and subscriptions.
To get your discount code, apply on the VOI website:
To hear more cycle related news in the local area you can sign up to the edi.bike newsletter or visit their website:
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Scottish Government Microfinance Enterprise Fund 2026
Applications for the Scottish Government Microfinance Fund 2026 are now invited from current students and staff of 蹤獲扦.
This fund is intended to support students and staff from Scottish universities in achieving their entrepreneurial ambitions by offering awards of 瞿1,000 - 瞿3,000 to help them test and progress their business ideas.
Current 蹤獲扦 students and staff are eligible to apply. Projects must be pre-incorporation without a business bank account and must have received less than 瞿5,000 in financial support for business, commercialisation or enterprise activities to date.
Full eligibility criteria and application process details can be found on the , along with a link to the application form.
The deadline for applications is 23:59 on Sunday 1st February 2026.
In this week's Student News:
蹤獲扦s Dissertation Festival 19 - 23 January!
Developing your dissertation is a unique opportunity to bring your own research interests to life and can be one of the most exciting parts of your degree programme! However, undertaking such an independent research project can also feel like a big challenge with new skills to learn along the way.
蹤獲扦s Dissertation Festival from 19 - 23 January is here to help!
The dissertation festival brings together support from across 蹤獲扦 to help you nurture your project into a piece of research you can be truly proud to submit when the time comes. With a programme of online workshops, the festival combines support from 蹤獲扦s Liaison Librarian team and the Effective Learning Service. With several sessions on most days, you can choose which topics are of most interest for you, and join us to boost your skills.
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Monday 19 Jan |
Tuesday 20 Jan |
Wednesday 21 Jan |
Thursday 22 Jan |
Friday 23 Jan |
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Literature reviews with ELS 11 - 12 |
AI and academic integrity |
Getting the most out of Google Scholar |
Looking ahead to your dissertation with ELS |
AI: Trust, truth and hallucinations |
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Finding journal articles |
Cited reference searching |
Literature reviews with ELS |
Advanced Google searching |
Looking ahead to your dissertation with ELS |
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Developing search strategies |
Using Zotero to manage your references |
Introduction to SAGE Research Methods |
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Creating references using Cite Them Right |
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Essential electrical maintenance work on campus:
Friday 9th Jan Monday 12 Jan
Dear students and staff
蹤獲扦s Estates team will carry out essential electrical maintenance on campus over the weekend of Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th January. This work is part of our annual statutory inspection of the electrical distribution network and is vital to ensure the safety and reliability of our systems for all students, staff and visitors on campus. The work will involve the testing of low voltage and high voltage systems throughout the weekend.
What you need to know
POWER & LIGHTING LOSS - The work will result in loss of power and lighting across all non-residential buildings.
CLOSED - Academic (Main) Building, including the Learning Resource Centre (LRC) - Closed from 9pm on Friday 9th January and reopening 6am on Monday 12th January.
CLOSED - Sports Centre, 紼硃眶眶勳梗s, and Students Union Offices - Closed from their usual closing times on Friday 9th January and reopening Monday 12th January.
IT SYSTEMS 蹤獲扦s IT systems will be powered down and taken offline during the evening on Friday 9th January, including Wi-Fi.
WI-FI UNAVAILABLE - Residences will not lose power, but Wi-Fi will be unavailable on Saturday 10th January and at risk on Friday night (9th Jan).
The estates team will check essential supplies (eg freezers) after the work is finished, but please inspect your area from Monday 12th January to ensure everything is functioning correctly.
We appreciate that there is no ideal time for this work, but these inspections are essential for the safety of all and the reliability of our electrical systems for the year ahead. We thank you for your patience and understanding while this important work is carried out.
Thank you for your cooperation.
蹤獲扦 Estates Team
In this week's Student News:
GrantsNow Research Ethics Platform NEW URL LINK UPDATE
Further to previous moderator messages regarding changes to the URL for accessing GrantsNow platform, it has been confirmed that the changeover will take place from 27th December. The system will be unavailable to all users from Tuesday 23rd to Thursday 26th December (inclusive) whilst the providers make necessary system updates.
As this change will take place whilst the campus is closed, the existing link accessed through the Research Ethics Canvas site (or bookmarked) should continue to be followed. When following this link, a message will be displayed that includes the new URL to access the system.
The URL will be updated on the Canvas site to reinstate direct access to the platform when the campus reopens on the 5th January 2026.
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Scottish Government Microfinance Enterprise Fund 2026
Applications for the Scottish Government Microfinance Fund 2026 are now invited from current students and staff of 蹤獲扦.
This fund is intended to support students and staff from Scottish universities in achieving their entrepreneurial ambitions by offering awards of 瞿1,000 - 瞿3,000 to help them test and progress their business ideas.
Current 蹤獲扦 students and staff are eligible to apply. Projects must be pre-incorporation without a business bank account and must have received less than 瞿5,000 in financial support for business, commercialisation or enterprise activities to date.
Full eligibility criteria and application process details can be found on the , along with a link to the application form.
The deadline for applications is 23:59 on Sunday 1st February 2026.
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Printer Upgrade Complete
The replacement printers have been successfully installed across campus.
The new devices operate in a very similar way to the previous printers, with no significant changes to printing, scanning or copying processes.
If you have not already done so, you may wish to restart your computer to ensure it fully recognises the new printers.
User guides for printing, scanning and copying are available under Printing Services section of 蹤獲扦 website.
If you experience any issues or have questions relating to the printers, please contact the Helpdesk for support.
Thank you for your cooperation during the upgrade work.
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蹤獲扦 Food Outlet - Opening times
勞喝喧堯娶勳梗s Food Court胼
勞喝喧堯娶勳梗s will be closed after lunch service on Friday 12 December, and will reopen on Monday 12 January with a reduced lunch offer from 11.30am - 2pm. Full service will resume on Monday 19 January.胼胼
The Hux
The Hux closes at 3.30pm on Friday 19 December, then reopens again on Monday 5 January from 8am - 3pm. Full opening hours (8am - 4pm) will commence from Monday 12 January.
紼硃眶眶勳梗s胼
紼硃眶眶勳梗s closes on 5pm on Sunday 21 December, reopening on Monday 5 January病rom9am - 6pm.狼here will then be reduced hours in 紼硃眶眶勳梗s operating until Sunday 18浥anuary. Normal opening times commence from Monday 19 January.
Please note 紼硃眶眶勳梗s will be closed the weekend of the 10 & 11 January to allow for an essential power shutdown.
The Nook胼
The Nook closes on Friday 19 December at 3pm and reopens on Monday 5 January.
All information on 蹤獲扦 food outlets, including opening times, can be found on the 蹤獲扦 website:
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Getting a new phone for Christmas? Remember and update MFA first
Christmas and January sales are a popular time for getting a new mobile phone.
If you do get a new device then has instructions to ensure you are not locked out of 蹤獲扦 resources, as multi-factor authentication (MFA) is associated with your older device or phone number.
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The 2026 International Forum for Peer Learning and Support
The is a free to attend in-person event where you can explore various peer learning and support initiatives in higher education and connect with students and colleagues who share a passion for this area of work. Each year, the Forum welcomes delegates from across the UK, Europe, and beyond.
This is the 9th Forum to be held, and we were pleased to be asked to host at 蹤獲扦.
The 2026 International Forum for Peer Learning and Support
蹤獲扦, Edinburgh
Friday, 22nd May 2026
and closes on 5pm on Friday, 27th February 2026.
The main Forum will be held on Friday, 22nd May with an option to join an additional afternoon workshop on Thursday, 21st May.
Call for Contributions
If you would like to for the 2026 Forum for a presentation, creative workshop, lightning talk, or round-table discussion, please complete this .
The forum aims to offer informative sessions, with themes covering, but not limited to:
Technology
Terminology (is peer limiting?)
Evaluation
Budgets & making PAL/SI-PASS/other peer learning and support programmes work on a low budget (value for money)
Inclusivity in sessions
Novel approaches to peer learning and support
We welcome proposals from staff working in peer learning but also from students involved in peer learning programmes. Call for Proposals closes 5pm on 16th February 2026.
Webinar to support new presenters
This year, we are offering a webinar in January 2026 to support any students who would like to submit a proposal to present, and any staff who are thinking about submitting a proposal for the first time. At this webinar, the Forum organisers will provide advice and guidance on how to develop a proposal idea and structure the proposal for submission. In the true ethos of peer support, part of the session will be split, with students being giving an opportunity to work with other students who have previously presented at the Forum, while staff will continue discussions separately.
Webinar to support new presenters
Online via MS Teams
Monday, 26th January 2026 2pm (UK time)
If you are interested in attending the webinar, please complete this .
Please visit our website page for details and updates, and should you have any questions, do not hesitate to get in touch at PALS@qmu.ac.uk.
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Feedback on PALS sessions
Now that we are at the end of Semester 1, we would love to get your feedback on PALS sessions. We have a short survey for you to complete so that we can find out about your experience of PALS in Semester 1; this will help us improve PALS and make it a useful support resource for all 蹤獲扦 students.
You can also complete the survey if you did not attend any PALS sessions you will only need to respond to relevant questions.
We look forward to reading your feedback:
In this week's Student News:
To Absent Friends Festival/Records for Remembrance on Spotify 塚
As part of the in November, 蹤獲扦 held a Records for Remembrance Event where many people wrote a message on a vinyl record or CD about a song title, a lyric or a piece of music that connects them with memories of someone who has died.
We are grateful to the many people who shared a musical memory and some very poignant messages. This captured the aim of the To Absent Friends Festival, as a people's festival of storytelling and remembrance - because dead ordinary people live on in the memories and stories we share.
蹤獲扦 has a long-standing partnership with . The music, songs and artists have been collated into a playlist and added to the St Columbas Hospice Care Spotify account. The To Absent Friends Week 2025 Playlist can be found .
Enjoy!
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GrantsNow Research Ethics Platform - NEW URL link
We have been advised that the URL website link for the GrantsNow platform will be changing after Dec 15th as they will be changing servers. This new link will be updated within the Research Ethics Canvas site, but please note that if you have bookmarked the page, you will need update the URL after that date.
Any questions, please contact the UREC Secretariat: researchethics@qmu.ac.uk
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Upcoming Ebook Central maintenance
0300 to 0500 on Sunday, 14 December.
Clarivate will be carrying out maintenance on the Ebook Central platform between 3 am and 5 am on Sunday 14 December and have advised that the platform will be unavailable for the duration of this work.
In this week's Student News:
Would you like to spend a semester abroad as part of your degree?
If you are a student in one of the following subjects, you may be able to take a semester abroad at one of our selected exchange partners in Europe, Canada, USA, Hong Kong, or Australasia:
Subject Current Year Time of Exchange
Business Management (with Analytics, Digital Marketing, 1st 2nd
Finance, Human Resource Management) 2nd 3rd (Semester 2)
International Hospitality, Tourism & Events Management 2nd 3rd (Semester 2)
Drama 2nd 3rd
Theatre & Film 2nd 3rd
Film & Media 2nd 3rd
Digital Marketing & PR 2nd 3rd
Psychology 1st 2nd
2nd 3rd
Psychology & Sociology 1st 2nd
2nd 3rd
Sociology 1st 2nd
2nd 3rd
Education (not Primary) 1st 2nd
2nd 3rd
Nutrition 1st 2nd
2nd 3rd
Funding support is available of 瞿5000+ for students who could not otherwise afford an exchange semester.
If you would like more information about the exchange opportunities available, please email StudyAbroad@qmu.ac.uk. Closing date for applications is 31 January 2026 to go on exchange in the 2026/27 academic year.
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Upcoming Ebook Central maintenance
Clarivate will be carrying out maintenance on the Ebook Central platform between 3 am and 5 am on Sunday, 14 December, and has advised that the platform will be unavailable for the duration of this work.
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Individual Learning Plan
You can now view your Individual Learning Plan (ILP) on the Student Portal If you require any changes to your Individual Learning Plan (ILP), please book an appointment on Student Central or email DisabilityAdvisers@qmu.ac.uk
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Update to Catering Christmas Opening Hours
Due to the recent announcement that the University will be closed on the 22nd and 23rd of December, the opening dates of the campus food outlets have been updated to the following:
The Hux
Closes: Friday 19th December
Reopens: Monday 5th January
勞喝喧堯娶勳梗s
Closes: Friday 12th December
Reopens: Monday 19th January
紼硃眶眶勳梗s
Closes: Sunday 21st December
Reopens: Monday 5th January
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Students as Workers: the experiences of working alongside studying
Monday 8th December 1pm Room 3106
Please come along to this research conversation seminar delivered by our students and recent graduates, and publicise amongst your students
蹤獲扦 sociology students and recent graduates will talk about the results of research into the experiences of students who work alongside their studies.
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The Association of British Theatre Technicians Virtual Ideas Platform - Competition
The (VIP) is a competition which celebrates the creative ingenuity of those working behind the scenes in theatre, by spotlighting and supporting the innovations, tools and processes developed every day by production professionals.
The competition is open to anyone who studies or works in the theatre and live events industries. If you have a technical, conceptual or practical idea that could positively impact the future of theatre production, they want to hear from you!
Winning submissions will receive 瞿1,500 seed funding to support early-stage development or prototyping, support from ABTT and its partner networks to develop the idea, and the opportunity to be showcased at the ABTT Theatre Show.
Submission Deadline: Friday 5th December 2025, 11.59pm
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Scottish Government Microfinance Enterprise Fund 2026
Applications for the Scottish Government Microfinance Fund 2026 are now invited from current students and staff of 蹤獲扦.
This fund is intended to support students and staff from Scottish universities in achieving their entrepreneurial ambitions by offering awards of 瞿1,000 - 瞿3,000 to help them test and progress their business ideas.
Current 蹤獲扦 students and staff are eligible to apply. Projects must be pre-incorporation without a business bank account and must have received less than 瞿5,000 in financial support for business, commercialisation or enterprise activities to date.
Full eligibility criteria and application process details can be found on the , along with a link to the application form.
The deadline for applications is 23:59 on Sunday 1st February 2026.
