Field work, annual leave and change of study location

• You will need to complete the 'Fieldwork' request on your Compass if your research project requires you to be away from the University. Periods of fieldwork and study away from the University count towards the minimum and maximum periods of registration.
• There must be good academic reasons for seeking leave to work away; for example, a need directly related to your approved topic to conduct fieldwork. If you secure permission to work away from Stirling you will be required to work under adequate supervision and to pursue your research on the same basis as you would during residence in Stirling.
• You will need to include particulars relating to the circumstances in which you expect to be working and the name of the authority with whom you propose to work during your period of absence from Stirling.
• Students granted permission to embark on fieldwork are considered still to be under the active supervision of their Supervisor.
• During the period of fieldwork students are required to maintain regular contact with their Supervisor via email, Skype etc. Students are required to record a summary of these interactions via their Compass.
• Where a student wishes to extend their fieldwork period then an email must be sent to studentimmigration@stir.ac.uk detailing the reasons for the extension and the new return date.
• On returning from a fieldwork period students are required to present themselves to the Student Services Hub (Campus Central) in accordance with the University’s attendance monitoring policies.

• If you are going to be absent from the University for any reason not related to your course of study, you must complete the 'Annual Leave' request on your Compass. This will then be passed to your Supervisor/Programme Director for authorisation before being submitted to Student Administration.
• On returning from a period of annual leave longer than 14 days, students are required to present themselves to the Student Services Hub (Campus Central) in accordance with the University’s attendance monitoring policies.
• If you wish to extend your annual leave then an email must be sent to studentimmigration@stir.ac.uk immediately including the reasons for the extension and the new return date.

The normal expectation is that students remain at the University for the duration of their studies, however you may decide you wish to complete your studies from home or from another location.

You must first discuss your plans with your supervisor to ensure that all your study requirements can be met and to address any concerns. You will then complete the 'Change of Study Location' on your Compass which will then be sent to your supervisor for authorisation before being sent to Student Administration. Students leaving the UK will be reported to the Home Office (UK Visas and Immigration) as having done so.

If you have any questions please email studentimmigration@stir.ac.uk

• If your dissertation requires you to be away from the University for more than 14 days for a period of fieldwork then you require approval from your faculty prior to departure. This approval can take the form of an email from your supervisor and once obtained just needs to be emailed to studentimmigration@stir.ac.uk. Periods of fieldwork and study away from the University do not extend your expected completion date.
• There must be good academic reasons for seeking leave to work away; for example, a need directly related to your approved topic to conduct fieldwork. If you secure permission to work away from the campus you will be required to work under adequate supervision and to pursue your research on the same basis as you would during residence on campus.
• You will need to include particulars relating to the circumstances in which you expect to be working and the name of the authority with whom you propose to work during your period of absence from the campus.
• Students granted permission to embark on fieldwork are considered still to be under the active supervision of their School.
• During the period of fieldwork students are required to actively engage with their dissertation.
• Where a student wishes to extend their fieldwork period then an email must be sent to studentimmigration@stir.ac.uk detailing the reasons for the extension and the new return date.
• On returning from a fieldwork period students are required to present themselves to the Student Services Hub (Campus Central) in accordance with the University’s attendance monitoring policies.

• If you are going to be absent from the University for any reason not related to your course during your term time or a period longer than 14 days, you must have approval from your faculty to do so. This approval can take the form of an email from your supervisor and once obtained just needs to be emailed to studentimmigration@stir.ac.uk
• On returning from a period of annual leave longer than 14 days, students are required to present themselves to the Student Services Hub (Campus Central) in accordance with the University's attendance monitoring policies.

The normal expectation is that students remain at the University for the duration of their studies, however, you may decide you wish to apply to complete your dissertation from home.

You must first discuss your plans with your Dissertation Supervisor to ensure that all your study requirements can be met and to address any concerns. You will then obtain written approval from your supervisor which should be submitted to the Student Immigration Team at studentimmigration@stir.ac.uk

If your application to complete your dissertation from overseas is approved, the University will withdraw our sponsorship of your Student Visa (previously known as Tier 4). This will result in your visa being curtailed/cancelled.

If you have any questions please email studentimmigration@stir.ac.uk

If you submit your dissertation earlier than the submission date set by your faculty, the University must report this change to UKVI and we will withdraw sponsorship of your Student Visa (previously known as Tier 4).

This could lead to your Student Visa (previously known as Tier 4) being curtailed and/or cancelled and if you subsequently leave the UK you will have to apply for a new visa to return to the UK.

We recommend that all Student Visa (previously known as Tier 4) students check their dissertation submission date carefully and use all of the time available to submit their best work on the expected submission date.

If you do intend to submit before the submission date please contact studentimmigration@stir.ac.uk for advice on the implications for your visa.