If you hold a Tier 4/Student Route visa, read more about how UAL will monitor your attendance and engagement with your course while you're away. Find out how to request authorised absence.
Engagement monitoring
As an Exchange student studying away from UAL, your attendance at your host institution will be confirmed each month using an Academic Engagement Form. You must ensure your host institution completes the form each month. You‘re responsible for returning the form to your College Mobility Officer by the relevant deadline (7th of the following month).
If you don’t return your Academic Engagement Form by the relevant deadline, you’ll be sent a warning email to both your personal and UAL email addresses. The email will ask you to respond within 7 calendar days.
If you return your Academic Engagement Form within 7 calendar days of the warning email no further action will be taken.
If you don’t return your form within 7 calendar days of the warning email you’ll be suspended from your course.
Course suspension
If you’re suspended from your course for non-engagement, you’ll be sent an email to both your UAL and personal email addresses confirming your suspension.
The suspension will mean your access to online College facilities (including your UAL email address, Moodle, and your timetable) will be removed until further notice. You won’t be permitted to attend any sessions or submit work whilst suspended.
If you don’t respond to the suspension email within 7 calendar days with the relevant documentation, your Course team will be asked to consider your overall engagement with your course so far. Your Course team will recommend either that you resume your study, take time out from study or are withdrawn from your course.
Course withdrawal
If you’re withdrawn from your course, your withdrawal will be reported to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), who will be instructed to cancel your Tier 4/Student Route visa. You’ll receive an email confirming this and outlining your next steps. Upon receipt of the withdrawal email, you’ll need to prepare to leave the UK within 60 days.
Planned absence
If there is an event that will disrupt your attendance you must tell us. For example, an appointment you cannot miss, personal circumstances, illness or a religious holiday. Depending on your course, you’ll need to tell your personal tutor, course director or course administration team.
Requesting authorised absence
In exceptional circumstances, you may need to be absent for a longer amount of time. You can apply for an authorised absence under 3 categories:
- Extended periods of illness. You must have evidence for this. For example, a medical certificate or doctor’s note.
- Attendance at appointments or commitments that you cannot miss. For example, hospital appointments, religious requirements or court attendance.
- Mitigating circumstances. For example, bereavement, serious illness of a close family member, childcare or technical issues related to online study.
All authorised absences will be considered on an individual basis. You must give evidence if your absence is more than 10 days. All evidence should be in English, signed, officially stamped and on headed paper. If the original documents are not in English, you must get an official translation.
Requests for authorised absence will be approved by your Course leader.
Authorised absence form
If you’re unable to engage with your studies at your host institution for up to 4 weeks, you must request and complete an authorised absence form from UAL. You must provide supporting evidence. You should continue to engage with your course until you receive the outcome of your request. You should also communicate with your host institution and ensure that you’re meeting their Student regulations.
Absences of more than 4 weeks
Absences of more than 4 weeks cannot be authorised. If you are absent for more than 4 weeks of term time, you will need to take time-out from your studies.