The Best Online Tutors in Edinburgh

Spires offer private tuition across Edinburgh for students at secondary school, university or for adults, including:

Our Edinburgh tutors specialise in personalised tutoring and online tutoring across a full range of subjects and levels. Sessions are tailored to each learner’s needs to build subject knowledge, confidence and exam technique.

• Eleven-plus and school entrance exams (7+/8+/11+/13+, Common Entrance)
• KS3, GCSE, and A-Level
• IGCSE, IB Diploma, and Advanced Placement (AP)
• University admissions, including Oxbridge (all Oxford & Cambridge tests) and Russell Group universities
• Undergraduate, Master’s/Postgraduate, PhD, and professional/chartered examination preparation
• Core subjects such as mathematics, English language, physics, chemistry, biology, economics, business and social sciences
• Specialist tuition for technical and vocational modules, study skills, exam board-specific revision and bespoke programmes to match the Scottish curriculum where required

Spires operates a unique marketplace model where tutors set their own rates via a sealed-bid auction system. Starting rates typically begin at:

Actual prices vary according to a tutor’s experience, examiner status, subject specialism and the intensity of the programme. All tuition payments are processed securely and automatically after each session.

• £30 per hour for school levels (GCSE, A-Level, IB etc)
• £40 per hour for undergraduate university tuition
• £50 per hour for Master’s/postgraduate, professional courses, and university admissions support

Students only pay for the hours booked. There are no placement fees and no long-term contracts with Spires – individual tutors may negotiate their own rates and may charge for no-shows.

Absolutely. Spires has one of the most trustworthy selections of tutors on offer in the industry:

Every Edinburgh tutor goes through a robust vetting process to ensure teaching experience, curriculum knowledge and professional standards. We prioritise experience, subject knowledge and the ability to personalise tuition for each learner.

• All tutors have at least two years’ classroom teaching or professional tutoring experience (mandated minimum)
• All tutors undergo professional vetting including an interview, an online-class demonstration, enhanced DBS check, and Know Your Customer (KYC) verification
• Many tutors are current or former secondary teachers, university lecturers, examiners or industry specialists
• All tutors hold university degrees (PhD, MSc, MA, BSc, BA) from established institutions
• Only a small proportion of applicants are accepted to work with Spires to ensure quality and consistency

Spires is very proud of the results achieved by tutoring clients:

• 93% of students report a grade improvement after receiving tutoring*
• The median tuition received by those students was 32 hours (Undergraduate) and 33 hours (A-Level)*
• Average grade uplift for those students was +1.8 grade boundaries*
• 97% of GCSE students improved with an average uplift of +2.4 grades; 78% achieved grades 7-9; 53% achieved grades 8-9*
• 93% of A-Level students improved; 61% achieved A or A* (approximately 2x the national average)*
• 93% of university students improved; 40% achieved a first (compared to 0% before tutoring)*
• Spires has maintained a 4.7/5 TrustPilot rating with over 1,000 public reviews marked “Excellent”
• Average live-class rating across more than 100,000 classes is 4.97/5*

* Based on Spires Client Feedback Survey 2025

Spires tutors support students and their families across Edinburgh and the surrounding areas. The process is:

• Create a request specifying your subject, level, goals and any assessment or curriculum notes (for example Scottish Qualifications Authority information or specific exam board details)
• Receive bids from qualified tutors who propose an hourly rate and include a message explaining how they would tailor sessions to build understanding and confidence
• Compare tutor profiles, reviews and sample lesson plans; schedule a 10-15 minute introductory call if you wish
• Select your preferred tutor and begin booking sessions inside the platform
• Most students in Edinburgh are matched quickly, with requests sent immediately to relevant tutors

All lessons in Edinburgh take place online, with:

• Live video calls via the Spires classroom with BitPaper whiteboard
• Screen sharing and file sharing for worked examples and past papers
• Integrated chat functionality and clear session notes after every session
• 100% of classes recorded – replay available indefinitely to support revision and consolidation
• Secure payments handled automatically after each session

We support learners across Edinburgh and Scotland – see tutors in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee and Stirling if you require tutors covering those locations.

If you’re looking for subject-specific online support, try our subject pages such as maths tutors in Edinburgh, physics tutors in Edinburgh, chemistry tutors in Edinburgh and English tutors in Edinburgh.

Yes. Admissions tuition is a core specialism for many of our tutors. Our tutors provide structured programmes to prepare for tests, written elements and interviews, tailoring support to each learner’s strengths and assessment needs.

Online tutors in Edinburgh can help with school applications at:

• 7+/8+
• 11+
• 13+
• Common Entrance

University admissions support in Edinburgh includes:

• UCAS applications and personal statement coaching
• Admissions tests for medicine, law, engineering and other programmes
• All Oxford & Cambridge tests and Oxbridge application preparation
• Interview practice and subject-specific preparation aligned to course curricula

Spires tutors in Edinburgh regularly prepare students for applications to Russell Group and other top UK and international universities, and provide exam-focused tuition to improve grades and confidence.

Spires clients commonly prepare for applications and assessments associated with Edinburgh’s leading schools and universities. Examples include:

• University of Edinburgh
• Heriot-Watt University
• Edinburgh Napier University
• Fettes College
• George Heriot’s School
• Merchiston Castle School

Our tutors tailor tuition to the specific entrance tests, UCAS requirements and curriculum expectations of these institutions to give applicants the best possible chance in interviews and exam-based selection.