Administration
How attendance is taken, combining work and study, and roles within the school.
Attendance
You are expected to attend all your classes to the best of your ability. We collect attendance to check that you are engaging fully with your studies in order to provide support promptly in case of any problems. Additionally, if you are an international student on a Tier 4 visa, UKVI require us to monitor your attendance regularly. More details on attendance for international students can be found on the international students' page.
International students rights and responsibilities
In classes, you will use your own wifi-enabled device (phone, tablet or laptop) to register your attendance through Top Hat.
Creating a Top Hat student account
Absence
If you will be absent for less than a week there is no need to inform the School unless you are going to miss a deadline, in which case contact the course secretary. If you require an extension for a deadline, then email the Course Organiser.
If you will be absent for more than a week from lectures for medical, personal, or other reasons, then contact your Personal Tutor or the Student Support Team.
Combining Work and Study
It should be stressed that the programme is full-time. It is not recommended that students take any employment. The University recommends a full time student not to work more than 16 hours per week during term or during the summer months when the MSc dissertation is prepared. You can take a part-time job only under the condition that such an activity will not adversely affect their performance on the MSc. Any part-time job which would exceed 16 hours per week needs special permission from the Programme Director.
Programme Director
The Programme Director is responsible for the smooth running of the programme, including promotion and admission, plus coordination of teaching delivery, examinations, programme evaluation, and curriculum development. It is also the Programme Director's role to act as arbitrator in the case of requests for deadline extensions and any other academic issues relating to individual courses that cannot be resolved between the student and the course lecturer.
Personal Tutors
Each student will be assigned to a Personal Tutor. Your Personal Tutor is available as a first line of advice for any academic issues which may arise whilst you are on the Programme. He/she is charged with facilitating your orientation and smooth progression through the degree, from initial induction to subsequent course choice, and the transition into the project/dissertation stage to successful completion. He/she is also available to provide first line pastoral support. You are strongly advised to inform your Personal Tutor immediately of any problems that are interfering with your coursework or progress through the Programme, including any religious or medical requirements that might affect your participation in any aspect of the Programme.
Representation and feedback
Student feedback and evaluation is a valued input to curriculum and programme review and development of the University of Edinburgh. Formally, students are asked to complete evaluation forms for each course they take, and to attend (or select representatives for) staff-student meetings. Representatives are also welcome to participate in the Edinburgh University Students' Association. Informal feedback is welcome at any time.