Attendance and Engagement
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We want you to make the most of your time studying with us. On this web page, you can find out more about our expectations and shared responsibilities around attendance and engagement.
Attendance
You are expected to attend all teaching and assessment events associated with all courses that you are enrolled on. Participating in all your classes is important and will significantly enhance your learning and academic performance. There are also social benefits: attending classes will allow you to meet other students and help you to feel a greater sense of belonging to your academic community.
Missing classes
One-off or ad hoc absence
If you cannot attend a scheduled class e.g. as a result of illness, contact your Course Organiser or tutor to let them know. You will be marked exempt (rather than absent) on the attendance register.
Regular absences
We know that for many of you, you are balancing your studies with other important factors including work, caring commitments, travel costs etc. It is important that you arrange a realistic schedule that will allow you to attend your classes. If there are obstacles which may prevent you from attending class and making the most of your studies, speak to your Student Adviser as soon as possible.
Adjustments
If you have a Schedule of Adjustments relating to a disability, learning difference, neurodiverse or health condition, it is important that you understand how your learning adjustments work in practice. Adjustments pertaining to attendance are not designed to permit sustained or permanent periods of absence.
If you have an attendance adjustment in place and cannot attend a scheduled class, you still need to contact your Course Organiser or tutor to let them know. You will be marked exempt (rather than absent) on the attendance register.
If you are finding that you are regularly unable to attend class as a result of a disability, learning difference, neurodiverse or health condition, your Student Adviser may suggest that you refer back to the Disability & Learning Support Service to discuss your learning support needs.
Disability & Learning Support Service
Dissertation period (MSc students only)
Once you have submitted your final assessment for Semester 2, the dissertation period begins in earnest.
You are expected to remain on campus for this period unless you are undertaking an approved placement or authorised fieldwork. If you plan to leave Edinburgh, you must contact your Student Adviser.
When you meet your superviser, remind them to log the meeting on EUCLID. You may additionally be asked during the summer to report in person to the Chrystal Macmillan Building to confirm your continued engagement with your studies.
How we review your attendance and engagement
Attendance registers are taken at all small group teaching events (usually classes of around 50 students or fewer). Other activities are also logged, such as confirmation of attendance at the start of the year, submission of coursework, exam attendance etc.
This data is reviewed regularly by the Student Advice & Support team. If your engagement with your studies is looking lower than expected, you may receive an email or a message on EUCLID to ask if you are ok.
It is important that we understand why you have missed classes and if there is any additional support you may need to make the most of your studies. You may therefore still be contacted where your engagement is low but you have been marked exempt (rather than absent) on the attendance register (including where you have a specific learning adjustment relating to attendance).
We will follow up again with you if our concerns persist and your engagement does not improve. If you do not feel able to improve your engagement, we may discuss alternatives with you such as taking a break from your studies.
Authorised Interruption of Studies
Contacting you with our concerns
If you receive a message about your attendance or engagement, it is important not to ignore it. This is a good opportunity to talk to your Student Adviser about any problems you may be encountering.
Our aim is to support you to re-engage with your studies and we will follow up again with you if our concerns persist and your engagement does not improve.
Pre-escalation
This is a friendly message to ask if everything is ok.
Escalation 1
This message lets you know that we are concerned and have placed a flag on your record to consider if you need any additional support. If we do not hear back from you and your attendance does not improve, we will contact you again.
Escalation 2
This message lets you know that we remain concerned and have placed a further flag on your record to consider if you need any additional support. If we do not hear back from you and your attendance does not improve, we will escalate our concerns and contact you again.
Escalation 3
You will be invited to a meeting with the Director of Students and your Student Adviser to understand how we can better support you to engage with your studies. This is a supportive meeting where we will discuss how we can work with you to help you to re-engage with your studies, or to consider alternatives such as an authorised interruption of studies.
Escalation 4
If you do not attend your Escalation 3 meeting, or if you do attend but do not re-engage with your studies, you may be referred to College for exclusion for non-engagement.
Withdrawal and Exclusion policy
Frequently asked questions
I have moved into a new tutorial group but my name doesn't appear on the register. What should I do?
Contact the Course Administrator to ensure they update your group. This is really important to ensure you get updates about things like room changes too. In the meantime, ask your tutor to manually add you to the register in each class.
I am here on a Student route visa, is this different for me?
No. Our expectation of regular attendance applies equally to all our students. We review attendance and engagement data for all students in order to identify issues and offer appropriate support. This incorporates our legal obligation as a sponsor of student visas. As a visa holder, you should be aware of the conditions of your visa: Rights, responsibilities and restrictions
My course includes a mark for tutorial participation. Will I be marked down if I miss a class?
You should check LEARN for details on how this is managed on your course. If you are still unsure, contact your Course Organiser.