Attendance and engagement for taught programme students

From the autumn 2024 semester, a new policy and approach to student attendance and engagement will launch across the University. 

Supporting students and student retention and ensuring compliance with the requirements of UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) in respect of our students who are student visa holders, are key areas of the University’s work. Within this, having insights into how our students are engaging with their programme of study, and being able to take steps to offer timely support and guidance, are vital.  

A new Student Attendance and Engagement Policy and Procedure has been developed to provide an up to date institutional approach to monitoring student attendance and engagement, and is being implemented from September 2024.  

Our approach is based on recording students’ attendance at their timetabled learning and teaching activities via the enhanced attendance check-in app, determining threshold levels of non-engagement and supportive follow-up communication and action being progressed in response. The approach is supported by new and improved digital tools, including the check in app now recording geo-location so that we know where students are when they log in.  The system is part of the University of Stirling app and allows students to register their attendance at timetabled classes with a click of a button. This should be used in all timetabled classes including on campus lectures, seminars and other teaching activities. 

Using the app will make it quicker and easier to record attendance and will create a digital record of attendance which we can then use to follow up non-attendance and welfare issues. The app also allows students to view their own attendance record. 

All timetabled teaching sessions, lectures, seminars and other activities should have attendance recorded, whether online or on campus, so we can rely on accurate attendance data. 

Read the attendance monitoring information for students.

Your Immigration Responsibilities Concerning Your Academic Studies:

  • Ensure you complete administrative enrolment and module selection on time when requested by the University. Attend ID check events when requested.
  • Upload your passport and current immigration permissions when requested by the University or Share Code (for digital visas) when requested by the University.
  • Attend University Contact Point events when requested by the University.
  • Meet the engagement and attendance requirements of your course and submit course work as required (ensuring that you meet the progression and attendance requirements of your programme with no significant gaps or absences).
  • Attend all exams as required. If you are unable to attend an exam you must notify the Student Immigration Team at studentimmigration@stir.ac.uk within 24 hours.
  • If you miss a compulsory or prescribed class for any reason you should submit an electronic self-certification form, which can be found via the Student Portal. If your absence is due to illness for seven days or longer then you are required to submit a medical certificate. This should be submitted to Student Administration.
  • Notify studentimmigration@stir.ac.uk should you wish to embark on an assessed work placement. You must always comply with the working restrictions as stated on your Student Visa.
  • Gain approval from your Supervisor should you wish to embark on fieldwork during the semester.
  • Gain approval from your Supervisor should you wish to complete your dissertation from your home country.
  • Maintain your UK contact address details via the University Portal.
  • Respond promptly to correspondence from Student Administration
  • Inform Student Administration if you intend to suspend your studies or withdraw from your studies. If you defer or leave your studies you will be required to leave the UK. On returning to your home country you will be required to provide the University with a copy of your flight details as evidence of your departure from the UK.

Your Immigration Responsibilities Concerning Your Visa:

  • To ensure that you continue to retain a valid visa by extending or applying for a new visa before your current visa expires and that you provide the University with a copy of any new visa. If your visa expires before your programme ends you should contact the Student Immigration Team.
  • Submit your new visa to Student Administration should you move into a new immigration category.
  • Ensure you do not breach the conditions of your visa: - for example, do not break the rules on working or claiming public funds.
  • Ensure you do not breach the conditions of your visa by working more than the specified hours as recorded on your visa. Working more hours could have significant negative consequences for future visa applications.
  • You will notify the Home Office (UK Visas and Immigration) should the duration of your studies shorten.

Our Responsibilities as Your Visa Sponsor:

The University has responsibilities and duties under the Points Based System which we are required to comply with in order to retain our Visa Sponsor License and continue to invite international students to study at Stirling.

Should you break any of your responsibilities then the University is required to report you to the Home Office (UK Visas and Immigration). If you have any significant changes in circumstance, for example, if the length of your programme of study becomes shorter then we are required to notify the Home Office.