Points of contact for taught programme students

Points of contact for taught programme students

All students should refer to the University Of Stirling Code Of Practice on Attendance and Engagement. This document sets out expectations concerning participation and engagement with your studies and sets out procedures when reporting absences.

For students following taught programmes (undergraduate or postgraduate), the University has the formal points of contact which are described below. In addition to these, your Faculty will set out the attendance and engagement requirements for each module and report any concerns about your attendance and engagement – for example, if you have failed to submit coursework or if you have missed scheduled classes. It is your responsibility to know what the expectations are in relation to attendance and engagement for so if you are unclear, please speak to your Faculty.

If you miss a required point of contact or your Faculty reports engagement concerns, the University will investigate and contact you by email. You must read and reply to all official communications from the University. If we find that you have not engaged with your programme of study, we will withdraw sponsorship of your Student visa and report to the Home Office (UK Visas and Immigration). You will be withdrawn from the programme and you may be required to leave the UK. Clearly, this is an outcome we all wish to avoid, and can be avoided by full participation on your academic programme and engagement with all scheduled points of contact.

When you are required to attend a visa checkpoint event, you will receive an email to your University email account inviting you to attend.

Points of Contact for Taught Programme Students - Autumn Starts

Point of Contact

When

What does it Involve?

ENROLMENT 

September 

 

1st of each month (RPG)

Complete online enrolment.  Upload colour photo/scan of your passport and visa through link on your Student Portal.  Attend ID check event with immigration documents as required.

AUTUMN MODULE ENGAGEMENT

Through Autumn semester

As outlined in your Module Descriptor/Module Handbook. This includes submission of coursework and other forms of assessment.

AUTUMN STUDENT VISA CONTACT POINT EVENT

Set in Autumn semester

Keep your contact details up to date.  You will receive an email in your university email account if you are required to attend. (Undergraduate and taught Postgraduate)

EXAMS/COURSEWORK 

December (UG)

January (TPG)

Attend examinations or complete set alternatives (or complete module coursework if no exam).

SPRING MODULE ENGAGEMENT 

Throughout Spring

As outlined in your Module Descriptor/Module Handbook. This includes submission of coursework and other forms of assessment.

SPRING STUDENT VISA CONTACT POINT EVENT

Set in Spring semester

Keep your contact details up to date.  You will receive an email in your university email account if you are required to attend. (Undergraduate and taught Postgraduate)

EXAMS/COURSEWORK

April/May

Attend examinations or complete set alternatives (or complete module coursework if no exam).

SUMMER STUDENT VISA CONTACT POINT EVENT

Set in Summer semester

Keep your contact details up to date.  You will receive an email in your university email account if you are required to attend. (Postgraduate Taught, Undergraduates registered for the summer academic programme only and pre-registration Nursing students)

DISSERTATION ENGAGEMENT

Throughout Summer semester (TPG only)

Dissertation engagement as detailed in your Module Descriptor/Module Handbook.

 

Points of Contact for Taught Programme Students - Spring

Point of Contact

When

What does it Involve?

 ENROLMENT 

January 

Complete online enrolment.  Upload colour photo/scan of your passport and visa through link on your Student Portal.  Attend ID check event as required.

SPRING MODULE ENGAGEMENT

Through Spring semester

As outlined in your Module Descriptor/Module Handbook. This includes submission of coursework and other forms of assessment.

SPRING STUDENT VISA CONTACT POINT EVENT

Set in Spring semester

Keep your contact details up to date.  You will receivean email in your university email account if you are required to attend. (Undergraduate and taught Postgraduate)

EXAMS/COURSEWORK 

April/May

Attend examinations or complete set alternatives (or complete module coursework if no exam).

SUMMER MODULE ENGAGEMENT (Postgraduate)

Through Summer semester

As outlined in your Module Descriptor/Module Handbook. This includes submission of coursework and other forms of assessment.

SUMMER STUDENT VISA CONTACT POINT EVENT

Set in Summer semester

Keep your contact details up to date.  You will receive an email in your university email account if you are required to attend. (Postgraduate Taught, Undergraduates registered for the summer academic programme only and pre-registration Nursing students)

AUTUMN MODULE ENGAGEMENT 

Throughout Autumn

As outlined in your Module Descriptor/Module Handbook. This includes submission of coursework and other forms of assessment.
AUTUMN STUDENT VISA CONTACT POINT EVENT

Set in Autumn semester

Keep your contact details up to date.  You will receive an email in your university email account if you are required to attend. (Undergraduate and taught Postgraduate)

EXAMS/COURSEWORK 

December (UG)

January (TPG)

Attend examinations or complete set alternatives (or complete module coursework if no exam).

DISSERTATION ENGAGEMENT

Throughout Autumn semester (postgraduate taught students only)

Dissertation engagement as detailed in your Module Descriptor/Module Handbook.

If any student undertakes a period of placement or fieldwork, please email the Student Immigration Team at studentimmigration@stir.ac.uk who will advise you if there may be additional engagement requirements.

The dates and frequency of the visa checkpoint events (previously called re-registration) are subject to ongoing review change.

 

Last updated 5th December 2022

Your Immigration Responsibilities Concerning Your Academic Studies:

  • Ensure you complete administrative enrolment and module registration on time when requested by the University. Attend ID check events when requested.
  • Upload your passport and current visa or Biometric Residence Permit 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.