SMS MSc Student Handbook 2021/2022 (Sep 2021 Start)

Markers of student engagement

The School of Mathematical Sciences uses the following markers of student engagement to ensure that you are well supported and given every opportunity to progress with your studies and to achieve to your full potential whilst here.

1. ATTENDANCE

You are expected to attend all scheduled taught sessions including lectures, practical classes, group work, workshops, tutorials, computer lab sessions, problem-solving classes, exercise classes, project meetings, and other events associated with the modules for which you are registered as part of your programme of study. If you are absent from Queen Mary for more than a day then please always let your academic adviser know (preferably by email) at the earliest opportunity. Attendance is important; failing to attend usually leads to failure in assessment, and persistent absence may result in deregistration (see the section entitled, "Deregistration" below). Reading lecture notes is not a satisfactory substitute for attending lectures.

Online Attendance:

If you attend an online scheduled taught session then your attendance will be automatically recorded and you will not need so anything else to record your attendance. Please make sure you attend the scheduled taught session on your timetable. If you attend a session not on your timetable your attendance will not be recorded.

Face to Face Attendance:

 We may collect evidence of attendance using card scanners (in lecture rooms), hand-held barcode scanners or registers. It is your responsibility to scan your Queen Mary student identification card with the card scanners in lecture rooms, hand-held barcode scanner supplied or sign the register.

2. Coursework submission

You are expected to submit any reports, exercises, essays, and other pieces of coursework associated with each module for which you are registered as part of your programme of study, by the individually advertised deadlines and methods of submission.

3. Participation in formative assessments

You may be expected to participate in a range of activities (with or without the allocation of marks) that help to inform teaching and learning during the learning process. Examples of such activities are any subject-related quizzes and exercises linked to module materials on QMplus.

4. Marks from summative assessments

You are expected to participate in a range of activities assessing the outcomes of a learning process. Marks allocated from such summative assessments, e.g. coursework, and examinations, contribute to your overall module grade and degree classification.

5. Other student engagement activities

You may be expected to participate in a range of formal or informal activities that signify continued engagement with your programme of study. Examples of such activities are scheduled meetings with your academic adviser and group work

Action following identification of students who may require support

1. Actions taken by the School of Mathematical Sciences are designed to support students to engage or re-engage with their study programme. The underpinning principles are that the School, once it has admitted a student to a programme of study, has a duty of care to that student, whilst in turn the student has a responsibility to engage with the available support. In such cases, support will be designed by the School around the needs of the individual student.
2. If you are identified as approaching or falling below the requirements of engagement set by the School an email will be sent to your Queen Mary email account alerting you to this and outlining the support mechanisms available to you to deal with the issues that may be contributing to this. Please be aware that if you do not reply to our email within seven days, we will put a record of your poor engagement in your file. This information may be passed on to your funding body or used in any references from the School.
3. Once you are identified as in need of support in order to re-engage with your studies, you will be invited to a meeting with the Student Support Officer to discuss any issues that might be affecting your studies, and for the provision of encouragement and advice (with possible referral to Queen Mary support services if necessary). The Student Support Officer may liaise with your advisor or Programme Director. In exceptional circumstances, a senior member of the School team, such as the Head of School, may be involved in this process.
4. The School of Mathematical Sciences will always try to help you if you are experiencing problems, but we cannot do so if we are not kept informed of them. If there are factors making engagement with your study programme difficult, it is essential that you discuss these with your Advisor, your Programme Director or other appropriate person in the school at an early stage. This will give us the opportunity to intervene and provide the necessary support.

Reporting Absence

Students cannot be absent from Queen Mary University of London during term-time without obtaining written agreement in advance from the School of Mathematical Sciences.

If you are unable to attend any scheduled teaching or Advisor meetings then please notify the School of Mathematical Sciences of your absence via email prior to the scheduled activity -  maths@qmul.ac.uk. 

You need to include the scheduled teaching activity/s and/or meeting/s you are missing including the reason for your absence. A member of the Education Services Team will notify you if your absence has been approved.

This is underpinned by the School of Mathematical Sciences Student Engagement Framework and you may be de-registered for poor or non-engagement.

In advance of deregistration you will be sent a formal, written warning and a specified period in which you must improve your attendance, participation, or submission of assessment before deregistration from your programme of study occurs.

Further information can be found in the Academic Regulations (point 2.55 onward).

If you are absent for more than 5 weekdays you may be asked to provide supporting documentary evidence such as a letter from your GP.

Should you not meet programme requirements for attendance or for submission of coursework, you may be deregistered from your programme of study. You will be given warnings before deregistration occurs, and you will have the right to represent your case to the School of Mathematical Sciences.