Our online learning platform allows you to study at your own pace and collaborate easily with other students and academic staff. Tools and resources for online learners As an online student, you will use our online learning platform to study, talk with academic staff and other students, and complete assignments. We use a virtual learning environment to provide access to: lecture and seminar recordings and slidesdiscussion forums moderated by tutors where you can talk with other studentslive group sessions on video conferencing tools like Microsoft Teamsvideos on YouTube and Vimeotimetablesassignmentsreading lists You will also have access to ebooks and ejournals from our libraries, as well as a number of other academic resources. Support and resources for online learners Each of our online programmes differs slightly in how it is delivered. Check how your programme is delivered on the degree finder Video: How online learning works Discover how you will interact online with classmates and tutors using our online learning platform. View media transcript Choose an online degree with the University of Edinburgh, where all teaching and interaction with your tutors and classmates happens within our virtual platform – your home for online learning.We’ve delivered online degrees to more than 10,000 students from all over the world – from Greenland to Australia!Our online learning platform is accessible 24/7 from the comfort of your home. It hosts all your course materials including lecture videos, PowerPoint slides, introductory notes, reading lists consisting of various academic sources, and assignments.You will have access to variety of video content, including lectures and learning materials that you can watch at a time convenient to you. These videos may also be available as audio files or transcripts.Our online students lead busy lives, so flexible participation is key.Most exercises are asynchronous, enabling you to advance your academic knowledge at a time that suits you.Most of our online degrees are assessed through course work. You’ll upload your assignments online, and receive your marks and feedback there too.Group collaboration and learning from other professionals is what makes online learning so valuable.Our students tell us this is what they like the most – the opportunity to learn from others, and to hear how they’ve applied what they’ve learnt within their own working environment.The virtual learning environment should adapt to whatever device you are working on – desktop, tablet, or mobile. You can also access the virtual learning environment through a downloadable mobile app.Extraordinary futures await you online at the University of Edinburgh! Our online learning platform The discussion forums were a great way of interacting. The student learning platform is really good for working with groups around the world. Jennifer Argent MSc Global Challenges, current student Example course homepage on desktop An example virtual learning environment. Users can view course information, library resources and assessments, and access lecture recordings all from one central homepage. Example course with video on mobile An example of a course video on the virtual learning environment, displayed on mobile. All materials in our online learning platform are easy to access using a mobile phone, allowing you to study on the go. Example discussion forum on desktop An example discussion forum on the desktop virtual learning environment. Users can add their own topics and wait for others to respond, keeping track of responses in the Engagement tab. Technical requirements for studying online You will need a computer, internet access and a supported web browser. Technical requirements This article was published on 2025-10-07
