Many students here at the university, including myself, find themselves playing catch-up to all their uni-work at the weekend. It’s the perfect opportunity to do those readings, write those essays and tie together those loose strings on concepts they haven’t had chance to do during the week. But where do students do this?
Recently, during my third year here at the university, I’ve found myself needing to dedicate all my Saturdays and `Sundays cooped up at the main campus library, experiencing the harsh lights and
almost bunker-like feeling for my study duration.
However, it is only on the weekends that I’ve found myself resorting to the library, my flats just too cold and I dislike the idea of paying for overpriced coffee too often. On a typical weekday I find myself alternating between Lister Building, Nine and Forty George Square which are excellent and I highly recommend (we don’t gate-keep here!) Yet, unfortunately, these study spaces are closed to students during the weekend.
After some digging, I found that only the Main, Law, ECA and Moray House Library are open to students in the central campus area. Kings campus keeps Murchison House, Murray and Nucleus Library doors open for students too. Yet, despite this selection, these buildings only have the capacity for 3852 study spaces. Considering that the university enrolled 39,365 students in the 2021-22 academic year, this only accommodates for less than 10% of students at the weekend.
No wonder I was struggling to find spaces to study! I further went on to interview some other students, to get a further understanding if I was the only one feeling this way. Jessica Cawley, a third year graphic design student, described her frustration “My graphics room isn’t open on the weekends, so I can only go into the computer room or the ECA library.”
Additionally, Jasmine Johnston, a third year neuroscience student, explains: “Last weekend I went to 40 George Square and it was closed. I didn’t want to go to the library so I tried other George Square buildings and they were all closed too. Even the medical study room was closed.” This highlights how many students are still wanting to study in the university at the weekend, but struggle to find space to do so.
However, some students may not be concerned about the reduction in study spaces at the weekend. For them, the weekend may be a chance to not step foot on campus, as who wants to be university seven days a week if they don’t have to be? For instance, third year politics student Abigail King said: “I tend to study in the flat! I make it cosy and it feels more like a weekend… I can keep some balance between uni and the weekend.” This would resonate with many students as rent prices are so high, maybe you should make the most of your money and stay in!
I find it astonishing that such a prestigious institution does not accommodate for even 10% of their students a place to study at the weekend. Since Teviot’s closing I feel we as students have lost a
go-to study space, especially one where students could sit guilt-free without having to order anything. The university has expanded their study spaces in George Square, yet perhaps they should look into keeping them open at the weekend, in order to accommodate for students wanting to continue their studies out of weekday hours.
“Edinburgh University Library Computers” by thisisedinburgh is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Related
Weekend Study Spaces: Less Than 10% of University Students Accommodated For
Many students here at the university, including myself, find themselves playing catch-up to all their uni-work at the weekend. It’s the perfect opportunity to do those readings, write those essays and tie together those loose strings on concepts they haven’t had chance to do during the week. But where do students do this?
Recently, during my third year here at the university, I’ve found myself needing to dedicate all my Saturdays and `Sundays cooped up at the main campus library, experiencing the harsh lights and
almost bunker-like feeling for my study duration.
However, it is only on the weekends that I’ve found myself resorting to the library, my flats just too cold and I dislike the idea of paying for overpriced coffee too often. On a typical weekday I find myself alternating between Lister Building, Nine and Forty George Square which are excellent and I highly recommend (we don’t gate-keep here!) Yet, unfortunately, these study spaces are closed to students during the weekend.
After some digging, I found that only the Main, Law, ECA and Moray House Library are open to students in the central campus area. Kings campus keeps Murchison House, Murray and Nucleus Library doors open for students too. Yet, despite this selection, these buildings only have the capacity for 3852 study spaces. Considering that the university enrolled 39,365 students in the 2021-22 academic year, this only accommodates for less than 10% of students at the weekend.
No wonder I was struggling to find spaces to study! I further went on to interview some other students, to get a further understanding if I was the only one feeling this way. Jessica Cawley, a third year graphic design student, described her frustration “My graphics room isn’t open on the weekends, so I can only go into the computer room or the ECA library.”
Additionally, Jasmine Johnston, a third year neuroscience student, explains: “Last weekend I went to 40 George Square and it was closed. I didn’t want to go to the library so I tried other George Square buildings and they were all closed too. Even the medical study room was closed.” This highlights how many students are still wanting to study in the university at the weekend, but struggle to find space to do so.
However, some students may not be concerned about the reduction in study spaces at the weekend. For them, the weekend may be a chance to not step foot on campus, as who wants to be university seven days a week if they don’t have to be? For instance, third year politics student Abigail King said: “I tend to study in the flat! I make it cosy and it feels more like a weekend… I can keep some balance between uni and the weekend.” This would resonate with many students as rent prices are so high, maybe you should make the most of your money and stay in!
I find it astonishing that such a prestigious institution does not accommodate for even 10% of their students a place to study at the weekend. Since Teviot’s closing I feel we as students have lost a
go-to study space, especially one where students could sit guilt-free without having to order anything. The university has expanded their study spaces in George Square, yet perhaps they should look into keeping them open at the weekend, in order to accommodate for students wanting to continue their studies out of weekday hours.
“Edinburgh University Library Computers” by thisisedinburgh is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Share this:
Like this:
Related