Learning online

How does online learning work?  

Online programmes are delivered through the University's Virtual Learning Environment, LEARN. Our award-winning, online learning technology is fully interactive, and enables you to communicate with our highly qualified teaching staff from the comfort of your own home or workplace.

Our online students not only have access to the University of Edinburgh’s excellent resources, but also become part of a supportive online community, bringing together students and tutors from around the world.

Time commitment

This programme is designed to be fully flexible to fit around your schedule. You can study in your own time and access all your learning resources, such as reading lists, discussion forms and slides from anywhere in the world.  

If there are live online sessions, you can watch a recording later in the virtual learning environment at a time convenient to you.

During term time, you should be prepared to spend an average of 15 to 20 hours a week engaged in course materials, be that reviewing lecture notes and case studies, interacting with fellow students and the programme team on the discussion board, or researching areas of interest and preparing assessments.

As there are no set times for study, managing this time is up to you, and you will need to be self-motivated and determined to succeed in this programme.

How will you learn?  

All of our courses use innovative teaching methods to provide students with key transferable skills in addition to a solid foundation of anatomical knowledge. Learning is delivered through:   

• Weekly materials, written notes, and recommended reading. Recorded lectures are also available for you to watch or listen to in your own time.   
• Opportunities to connect regularly with your course organiser and programme team to address concerns and monitor progress.   
• Individual assessments, including essays, data presentations, proposals and presentations that will reinforce what you have learnt.   
• Group assignments and online discussions with your peers will expose you to different perspectives and new ways of thinking about a problem or topic.   
• Independent study and reflection.  

Each of the taught courses has a set of modules that are released to students on a timed basis from our virtual learning environment.

• A typical module structure consists of:
• A recorded lecture to introduce the topic
• Interactive content (video/animated/narrative)
• A set of resource links to the course reading – library and research.
• A discussion board facilitated by a tutor.
• A set of questions (MCQs) which students can take at the end of each section - these are formative and do not contribute to the final mark.

You will have access to online student services, including:

• library resources  
• well-being and student support services  
• technical support  
• study skills support

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