SMS MSc Student Handbook 2017/18

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.

Markers of student engagement

1. Attendance

   You are expected to attend any and 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 de-registration (see the section entitled, 'De-registration' below). Reading lecture notes is not a satisfactory substitute for attending lectures. We will collect evidence of attendance using the card readers just inside the doors of larger teaching rooms, or from (paper) registers. It is your responsibility to touch your Queen Mary student identification card to a card reader 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 minimum 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 first port of call is the Student Support Officer, who in turn may liaise with your academic adviser 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 academic adviser and 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

If you wish to be absent for more than a day then you must have a good reason and you should seek the permission of your Programme Director in advance.

If  something  serious  (such as illness) prevents you from attending an assessment (such as an exam or test) or submitting assessed work (which counts towards your overall module mark) you should report this to us using the appropriate form. See "Extenuating Circumstances" for details.

If you are absent for more than 5 days you must provide supporting documentary evidence such as a letter from your GP.

De-registration

You must attend a minimum of 50% of your tutorial classes or computing lab sessions for each of your modules in order to remain registered on each of your modules. In cases of persistent absence, we may de-register you from a module. De-registration withdraws you from the module. You may not attend any further lectures or classes, submit any further exercises, or sit the examination. You are not permitted to replace this module.

The module will appear on your transcript with a mark of '0' (Fail) and you may not register to resit that module later. Once we have de-registered you from a module, you may not register for additional modules during that or subsequent years.

If we de-register you from more than 30 credits (normally two modules) during an academic year, we will normally terminate your enrolment at Queen Mary.

If you fail to attend a sufficient number of tutorial classes or computing lab sessions for any particular module without good reason the Student Support Officer, PGT Programmes officer or your Programme Director will send a notice to your Queen Mary email address. If you fail to respond and adequately explain why you failed to attend, or you continue to be absent or fail to submit exercises, we will de-register you from the module. Registry will send you a letter informing you of this and we will place a copy in your file. This information may be used in any references from the School.