ABSENCE

There are various things you need to do in case of absence to make sure you do not get an academic alert. If you feel like a personal or medical issue will affect your study for a long time you can also make changes to your studies to deal with that.

Missing a component of your course (like a tutorial or lecture)

If you need to miss a component of your course, submit a self-certificate of absence as soon as possible online via MySaint. you should also contact the school (tutor, module coordinator, or Director of Teaching) to advise them of the situation and get alternative arrangements. You may be required to provide evidence relating to your absence (e.g. a medical note) - contact Student Services if this is the case.

Missing an exam

If you need to miss an exam due to illness or another unavoidable reason:

submit a self-certificate of absence online via MySaint (notify the Examinations Officer ONLY if you have trouble doing this by calling 01334 464100)
contact the school to make alternative assessment arrangements
you may also want to contact Student Services for support and advice on deferring assessments

Not sure what to do?

If you are ever not sure what you need to do regarding an absence, you can contact the Student Health Hub for advice by calling 01334 465777. They will treat your information confidentially, assist you with any medical evidence you need to acquire, and refer you within Student Services to get help in your course. Not all medical situations require a doctor’s note so speaking to the Student Health Hub first may save you time.

Other changes to your studies

If you’re unable to continue with your current studies, or think you might need to take a longer period of time off, then you may wish to consider requesting a change to your studies. In some cases, students may be recommended to do this (for instance, if they are admitted to hospital).

Some of the available options are:

Leave of Absence: a leave of absence is a "break" in your studies. You can take a leave of absence for a single semester or a full academic year, subject to the approval of the Registry Support Officer and the Pro-Dean. When you take a leave of absence, the clock is stopped on your studies and nothing will appear on your degree transcript from that time. Taking a leave of absence does mean you will lose access to certain university facilities (like student residences and your library account), and it can affect your student loan or visa. Additionally, you cannot take any credit-based courses in St Andrews or at any other institution. You can take a leave of absence for personal or medical reasons. At the end of your leave of absence, you can decide whether to continue your studies, extend your leave of absence, or withdraw from your studies. In some cases, the university may impose requirements on your re-engagement, like getting a medical letter confirming your fitness to study or attending a Student Services appointment. They will let you know what process you need to go through to re-engage with your studies in an email at the end of your leave of absence.
Change of Mode of Attendance: if you feel you cannot study a full-time programme, you may be able to switch to a part-time programme. Many courses are available part-time, however, the structure of some courses may make it difficult. Part-time students are expected to complete their degree in double the time it would take a full-time student (about 60-80 credits a year for undergraduates). You should make sure you are taking all your required modules, because many aren't available every year. Students with a Tier 4 Visa need to study full-time. Switching to a part-time course can affect your tuition fee status, eligibility for student loans and scholarships, and you will be required to pay council tax. Your eligibility for some parts of Disabled Students Allowance may change.
Change of Location: All students usually have to remain within commutable distance of the university during their studies unless they have special permission. In some exceptional cases, it may be possible to live away from the university with support available from your school to continue your studies.
Withdrawal from your Studies: the university would prefer to support students to continue their studies as much as possible, however, if you do need to withdraw from your studies then the university can offer guidance on what you need to do. You may be able to continue your studies at another institution, although you would have to apply there and be accepted. You can take a leave of absence before you decide to withdraw, if you would like.

More information on this is available on the university website here.

All of these options can affect your financial status, visa status, or accommodation. It is highly recommended that you speak about these options with Student Services to understand how these changes will affect you, the processes you need to go through, and what the university can offer to help. You can book appointments online here, call them on 01334 462020, or email them on theasc@st-andrews.ac.uk.