Approved courses and attendance monitoring requirements

Introduction

This section describes the requirements and procedures that apply to Scott's College London as an A-rated Tier 4 Sponsor and to all enrolled students. Where possible, references are made using direct links to official documents provided by the UK Border Agency (UKBA).

Approved study courses

Following are the list of courses which satisfy the UKBA requirement as an overseas higher education course, at an overseas higher education institution, that is recognized as being equivalent to a United Kingdom higher education qualification:

• Post Graduate Diploma in Business & Finance Management, awarded by the Association of Business Practitioner(ABP)
• Post Graduate Diploma in International Tourism and Hospitality Management awarded by the Association of Business Practitioner(ABP)

  Following are the list of courses which satisfy the UKBA requirement as a course of study below United Kingdom degree level that involves a minimum of 15 hours organized daytime study per week (Daytime is 0800 to 1800, Monday to Friday)

  • Certificate in Business Management, awarded by the Association of Business Executive (ABE)
  • Certificate in Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Management, awarded by the Association of Business Executive (ABE)
  • Diploma in Business Management, awarded by the Association of Business Executive (ABE)
  • Diploma in Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Management, awarded by the Association of Business Executive (ABE)
  • Advance Diploma in Business Management, awarded by the Association of Business Executive (ABE)
  • Advanced Diploma in Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Management, awarded by the Association of Business Executive (ABE)

  The above information is described by this UKBA guidance document about acceptable courses for general students.

  Attendance reporting

  Scott's College London has strict policies on monitoring attendance of all its students. The college uses electronic finger print biometric recognition system, and students are required to register on the system when they enter and leave the building. This information then automatically updates attendance, which is verifiable by the class register.The finger print system generates information about the times at which the student entered and left the building.The attendance monitoring team of the college visits each classroom daily with attendance register to double check each student's attendance and to ensure that system is not abused.Any student found attempting to abuse the system gets immediately suspended followed by a disciplinary action. The system automatically shows absences, and a warning letter or an email is sent to a student who misses five expected contacts. If the student misses 10 expected contacts then his registration will be cancelled and the student's attendance will be reported to UK Border Agency.

  The college has zero tolerance for the students with poor attendance and poor academic progress.

  Scott's College Lonodn is required to track student attendance and report the following information to UKBA:

  • Students who missed 10 expected contacts without approval from Scott's College London.
  • Students who failed to enroll by the end of the enrolment period set by Scott's College London.
  • Students who voluntarily withdraw from Scott's College London.
  • Students that Scott's College London has decided to withdraw from the course.

  The above information is described by this UKBA guidance document about reporting duties for sponsors.

  In addition to the UKBA requirements, Scott's College London will consider students who missed 5 expected contacts to have unsatisfactory academic progress and withdraw such students from the course.

  Expected contacts and study hours

  The primary form of attendance monitoring is by tracking expected contacts. This applies to all students at Scott's College London. The following are a list of valid expected contact events:

  • Attendance at a lecture, tutorial or seminar
  • Attendance at a test or examination
  • Submission of assessed or un-assessed coursework
  • Submission of draft or interim dissertation or coursework
  • Attendance at a meeting with an academic staff member
  • Attendance at a workshop, Industrial visit or trip or conference organized by Scott's College London.
  • Registration for a course of study or Induction day.v

  Study hours are no longer monitored separately. Instead, study hours are monitored as part of expected contact events such as lectures, tutorials and seminars. Students who are late to an expected contact event by 30 minutes or more are considered to have missed the event.

  Following are some examples of expected contact events and study hours monitoring:

  • A student has a 4 hours lecture timetabled and is absent without an approved reason. This is 1 missed expected contact.
  • A student has a 4 hours lecture timetabled and is 35 minutes late. This is 1 missed expected contact.
  • A student has a 3 hours lecture timetabled on the same day as a coursework due date. The student does not submit the coursework and is also absent from lecture without an approved reason. This is 2 missed expected contacts.
  • A student has lectures timetabled for 3 different units on the same day. The student is absent from all 3 lectures without an approved reason. This is 3 missed expected contacts.

  The above information is described by this UKBA guidance document about duties specific to Tier 4 sponsors.