Attendance and participation

All students must use the VLE regularly and as an approximate guide we would suggest logging on to read the discussion and to check other forums and blogs etc 3-5 days per week. As a participatory approach to learning, all students must post at least once per week in the weekly online discussions or group work. The optimal approach for you and your group is for students to contribute regularly using brief/concise postings (150-200 words). We do not want to use mini-essays or long statements as contributions. They are designed to be ‘discussions’ and therefore need to be interactive and collaborative and demonstrate the value of listening.

Assessments are compulsory. You must complete all assessments by the published assessment date unless there are exceptional reasons why you cannot. Please see the University policy on Exceptional Circumstances where the details on acceptable reasons for deferring an assessment are made clear. 

Absence

If you are ill during teaching weeks, please notify the University via your e:Vision account (in the "Your Support" section). You can self-certify for a maximum of ten days in any one academic year, with a maximum of seven days for any one period of illness.

An absence of over seven days, but no longer than four weeks, can be approved by the Chair of the Postgraduate Teaching Committee. Any longer absence requires the approval of University Special Cases. See the information on taking a Leave of Absence

If you stop attending scheduled teaching sessions without saying you are withdrawing and do not respond to our efforts to make contact with you within a specified time-scale, the Board of Studies will assume that you have withdrawn from your studies. This is known as ‘assumed withdrawal’.

Special leave, compassionate leave and carer's leave

If you need special, compassionate or carer’s leave, you should request approval for absence from your personal supervisor. If you require additional or more protracted leave for the circumstances, you should contact your programme leader.

Illness & assessment

If your illness interferes with your studies, please see the Exceptional Circumstances section of the Handbook.