Accessibility statement for the eResearch (QMU Repositoies)
Website accessibility statement inline with Public Sector Body (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018
This accessibility statement applies to: https://eresearch.qmu.ac.uk/
This website is run by the Library and University Collections Directorate, Information Services Group at the University of Edinburgh. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this application. For example, that means you should be able to:
- Change most colours and contrast levels
- Encounter no need for dragging movements
We’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand. However, some of our content is technical, and we use technical terms where there is no easier wording we could use without changing what the text means.
Customising the website
AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability. This is an external site with suggestions to make your computer more accessible:
AbilityNet - My computer my way
With a few simple steps you can customise the appearance of our website using your browser settings to make it easier to read and navigate:
Additional information on how to customise our website appearance
If you are a member of University staff or a student, you can use the free SensusAccess accessible document conversion service:
How accessible this website is
We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible:
- It is not possible to keyboard navigate to all content as there is a keyboard trap
- Keyboard navigation focus indicators can be hard to see
- The skip to main content function is not visible
- The website is not fully compatible with assistive technologies such as screen readers and voice recognition software
- There are pop ups that open without warning
- There are pop-ups that obscure or render other content inaccessible
- There are some instances where colour contrast does not meet the WCAG 2.2 AA standard
- There are examples of text as images
- Not all non text content has a text alternative
- There are examples of information conveyed by colour only, for example links that are not underlined
- There are examples of links without meaningful hypertext
- There are time limits that cannot be extended in that data validation message disappear without user interaction
- There is some moving content that cannot be stopped or paused by the user
- Some content does not magnify correctly from 200%
- Some content does not reflow correctly from 200% magnification
- Some heading levels are missing throughout the site
- Error suggestions are not always given and appear in an inaccessible manner
Feedback and contact information
If you need information on this website in a different format, including accessible PDF, large print, audio recording or braille:
Email: EResearch@qmu.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)131 474 0000
British Sign Language (BSL) users can contact us via Contact Scotland BSL, the on-line BSL interpreting service
We'll consider your request and get back to you in 5 working days.
Reporting accessibility problems with this website
We are always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems not listed on this page, or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, please contact:
Email: EResearch@qmu.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)131 474 0000
British Sign Language (BSL) users can contact us via Contact Scotland BSL, the on-line BSL interpreting service
We'll consider your request and get back to you in 5 working days.
Enforcement procedure
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’). If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint please contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS) directly:
Contact details for the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS)
The government has produced information on how to report accessibility issues:
Reporting an accessibility problem on a public sector website
Contacting us by Telephone using British Sign Language
British Sign Language service
Contact Scotland BSL runs a service for British Sign Language users and all of Scotland’s public bodies using video relay. This enables sign language users to contact public bodies and vice versa. The service operates from 8.00am to 12.00am, 7 days a week.
Contact Scotland BSL service details.
Technical information about this website's accessibility
The University of Edinburgh is committed to making its websites and applications accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.
Compliance Status
This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.
The full guidelines are available at:
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA standard
Non accessible content
The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.
Noncompliance with the accessibility regulations.
The following items to not comply with the WCAG 2.1 AA success criteria:
- Not all non-text content has appropriate alternative text.
- Information, structure, and relationships conveyed through presentation can be programmatically determined or are available in text. e.g. certain ARIA roles are not contained by particular parents and some ARIA roles do not contain specific children.
- There are examples of information conveyed by colour only.
- There may not be sufficient colour contrast between font and background colours for data validation.
- Items do not reflow properly above 200% meaning some content is cut off or overlaps.
- Not all content can be reached and interacted with by keyboard alone.
- Keyboard focus encounters a keyboard trap so there is a keyboard trap.
- There are time limits which cannot be extended e.g. there are pop ups which appear for a limited amount of time and then disappear without altering the use.
- There is movement that the end user cannot pause.
- Although a skip to main content option is present this is only accessible for screen reader users as the visual presentation is blocked by other content on the page.
- There are links on the site without meaningful hypertext.
- There are missing heading levels.
- It is not always clear where you have navigated to using the keyboard.
- Pop ups open without warning the user this will happen.
- There are form elements that do not have labels.
- Error suggestions or corrections are not always displayed.
- The site is not fully compatible with assistive software such as Screen readers or voice recognition software e.g. Form elements do not always have labels, buttons do not always have discernible text, some interactive controls are nested etc
We aim to improve our websites accessibility on a regular and continuous basis. See the section below ('What we're doing to improve accessibility') on how we are improving our site accessibility.
We are working towards solving these problems and expect significant improvements by October 2026. The site is fully within our control.
Disproportionate burden
We are not currently claiming that any accessibility problems would be a disproportionate burden to fix.
Content that is not within the Scope of the Accessibility Regulations
At this time, we do not believe that any content is outside the scope of the accessibility regulations.
What we're doing to improve accessibility
We will continue to address and make significant improvements to the accessibility issues highlighted. Unless specified otherwise, a complete solution or significant improvement will be in place by October 2026.
While we are in the process of resolving these accessibility issues we will ensure reasonable adjustments are in place to make sure no user is disadvantaged. As changes are made, we will continue to review accessibility and retest the accessibility of this website.
Preparation of this accessibility statement
This statement was prepared on 23rd September 2021. It was last reviewed on 15th October 2025.
The website was last tested on 10th October 2025. The testing was carried out by Library and University Collections, Information Services Group at the University of Edinburgh using both automated and manual methods. The site was tested on a PC, primarily using Microsoft Edge alongside Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome.
Recent world-wide usage levels survey for different screen readers and browsers shows that Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Edge are increasing in popularity and Google Chrome is now the favoured browser for screen readers:
WebAIM: Screen Reader User Survey
The aforementioned three browsers have been used in certain questions for reasons of breadth and variety.
We ran automated testing using AXE Devtools and then manual testing that included:
- Spell check functionality;
- Scaling using different resolutions and reflow;
- Options to customise the interface (magnification, font, background colour, etc);
- Keyboard navigation and keyboard traps;
- Warning of links opening in new tab or window;
- Information conveyed in the colour or sound only;
- Flashing, moving or scrolling text;
- Use with screen reading software (for example JAWS);
- Assistive software (TextHelp Read and Write, Windows Magnifier, ZoomText, Dragon Naturally Speaking, TalkBack and VoiceOver);
- Tooltips and text alternatives for any non-text content;
- Time limits;
- Compatibility with mobile accessibility functionality (Android and iOS);
- Any drag functionality and alternatives;
- Consistent help function;.
- Submission and re-entry of data;
- Any cognitive tests.
Change Log
- October 2025 - A ‘skip to main content’ option has been added that is audible to users of assistive software but is not visually apparent as it is blocked by other content so this later aspect needs to be resolved to fully meet the criteria.