You must always carry your student ID card with you when you are on campus.
Attendance at on-campus classes can only be recorded by swiping your student ID card on the card reader in the teaching space. You can register your attendance:
- No earlier than 15 minutes before the class start time, and
- No later than 16 minutes before the class end time.
If you do not swipe your ID card within this time window, your attendance will not be recorded, and you will appear as absent for that class.
Temporary campus access passes
If you forget your ID card, reception may issue you with a temporary paper pass to allow access to campus. However, please note that:
- A temporary paper pass cannot be used to register attendance.
- Attendance can only be recorded by swiping your student ID card in the teaching space within the required time window.
If you forget, lose, or have not yet received your ID card
If you are unable to swipe into class because you have forgotten your ID card, lost it, or have not yet received it following enrolment, you should add an absence note in your SEA calendar explaining why you appear as absent.
To add an absence note, select the ‘Add Absence’ button in the Student Engagement and Attendance (SEA) system. Guidance on how to do this is available in the guide below.
Please note:
- An absence note does not change the event to attended, only a swipe as per the above class time window registers attendance. However, the note provides context to staff reviewing your engagement record about why you are showing as absent.
- If there is an issue with your attendance record that you would like investigated, please contact the University's Student Centre Team.
Impact on your attendance record
If you forget your ID card on a single occasion, the impact on your overall attendance record is likely to be minimal, as it will normally affect only that day's classes.
Receiving or replacing your ID card
You will receive your student ID card when you enrol. If you need a replacement card, please visit the Student ID cards page for information on obtaining one.
Attendance at off-site classes
For classes that take place off-site, such as field trips, your teacher will take a manual register and update your attendance. This may take a few days to show on your attendance record.
If you are unable to attend a scheduled class because of illness or other unforeseen circumstances, you should record your absence in SEA using the ‘Add Absence’ button and provide the reason for your absence.
Logging your absence helps the University understand the reasons for missed classes and provides important context when reviewing your engagement record.
Short-term absences
If you are unable to attend an individual class or are absent for a short period, you should:
- Log into SEA.
- Select the scheduled class you will miss.
- Use the ‘Add Absence’ button to record your absence and provide a brief explanation.
Please note that adding an absence note does not register attendance for a class. It simply provides information about why you were unable to attend.
Longer-term absences
If you expect to be absent for an extended period, for example due to bereavement or
serious illness, please contact your Course Leader and/or Personal Tutor as soon as possible.
You should also notify the University's Student Centre Team or raise an enquiry on Compass.
If your circumstances affect assessments
If illness or personal circumstances affect your ability to complete coursework, attend assessments, or perform to your usual standard, you may need to submit a mitigating circumstances claim.
Need support?
The University can only provide appropriate advice and assistance if we are aware of your circumstances, so please let us know as early as possible if you are experiencing difficulties that may affect your attendance or studies. Please see our Wellbeing pages for information on support the University can provide.
For your attendance to be recorded successfully, you must swipe your student ID card within the attendance window for your timetabled class.
- A successful swipe will display a green tick on the card reader, and your student ID number.
If you saw a green tick and your student ID number
If you saw both the green tick and your student ID number when you swiped, and you swiped within the required attendance window, your attendance should have been recorded.
If your attendance is still showing as absent, please contact the University's Student Centre Team or submit an enquiry through Compass so that the issue can be investigated.
If you did not see a green tick and your student ID number
If the card reader did not display both a green tick and your student ID number, the swipe was unsuccessful, and no record of your attendance will exist.
In this situation, you should:
- Open SEA and locate the affected class in your calendar.
- Select ‘Add Absence’.
- Add a note explaining that you attended the class, but your swipe did not register successfully.
Please note that the class will continue to appear as an absence because attendance can only be recorded through a successful swipe.
Can a tutor confirm my attendance?
You may wish to contact your class tutor and ask whether they can confirm your attendance and update the record manually. However, please be aware that it is not always possible due to time constraints and class size. For this reason, it is important to check that your swipe has been successful at the time.
Please make sure you have followed all the steps for registering online attendance found on the SEA page.
If you have followed the guidance for online attendance registration but your attendance is still not showing, please contact our Student Centre Team, or raise an enquiry on Compass.
The SEA Team will then investigate and either update your record or notify you if no record of your Blackboard activity login or engagement can be found. If this happens you will then need to add an absence note to your attendance record. This note will explain to staff reviewing your attendance record why you are showing as absent, but it will not change you to attended.
As a Student Visa holder, one of your visa conditions is that you maintain regular full-time engagement and attendance on your course.
The University is required to monitor the attendance and engagement of all students sponsored under the Student Visa route. This helps us meet our obligations as a Student Visa sponsor and identify students who may need support.
If your attendance becomes a concern
If you miss classes or your engagement falls below expected levels, the University's Visa Compliance Team will contact you by email and/or telephone and may ask you to come in for an attendance review meeting.
It is important that you respond promptly to any communication from the University so that we can understand your circumstances and provide help where needed.
If you do not engage with your classes or respond to the University
If you continue to miss classes and do not respond to attempts to contact you, the University may be required to take further action. This could ultimately result in:
- Withdrawal of the University's sponsorship of your Student Visa.
- Notification to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).
- Cancellation of your Student Visa by UKVI.
- Withdrawal from your course and the requirement to leave the UK.
For this reason, it is essential that you attend your classes regularly and respond to any communications regarding your attendance or engagement.
How to safeguard your visa status
- Attend all scheduled lectures, seminars, tutorials, and other teaching sessions.
- Ensure your attendance is recorded correctly at each class.
- Swipe your student ID card within the required attendance window.
- Engage with any required online attendance activities where applicable.
- Check your university email regularly and respond to any requests for information.
- Inform the University if circumstances are affecting your ability to attend.
If you need to be absent from University
If you are going to be absent from University for more than a day, please contact our Student Centre Team or raise an enquiry on Compass to let us know why.
If you are unable to register your attendance, for example because you forgot your student ID card and could not swipe into class, you should add an absence note in SEA using the ‘Add Absence’ button.
If you have missed a number of scheduled classes, your Academic Personal Tutor may contact you to check on your wellbeing and discuss any challenges that may be affecting your attendance or studies.
The purpose of this contact is to offer support and help you access the services and advice that may be beneficial to you. Depending on your circumstances, your personal tutor may:
- Discuss any academic concerns you may have.
- Help you develop strategies to improve your engagement and attendance.
- Signpost you to relevant University support services.
- Put you in contact with specialist teams who can provide further assistance, such as the Wellbeing Team, Disability Learning Support or the Student Funding Team.
What happens if my attendance continues to be low?
If attendance concerns continue, your engagement record may be reviewed by:
- Your Academic Personal Tutor.
- Members of your course team.
- The University's Student Engagement and Attendance Team.
- The Visa Compliance Team, for students on a visa.
These reviews help the University understand whether you are actively engaging with your studies and identify any support you may need.
Could I be withdrawn from my course?
Under the University's regulations, students may be considered for withdrawal if they are absent from their studies for a prolonged period. This may apply if you have been absent for at least two weeks (10 consecutive working days) without appropriate engagement or communication with the University.
If your attendance reaches this stage, the Student Engagement and Attendance Team will make several attempts to contact you via email to request information about your absences. They will also explain the withdrawal process and what you are required to do.
If you have a Student Visa
If you are notified by the Visa Compliance Team that you have been withdrawn from your course due to non-attendance and failure to meet the conditions of your Student Visa, you should contact the Visa Compliance Team as soon as possible to discuss your situation and the options available to you.
As withdrawal may affect your immigration status and visa sponsorship, it is important that you engage with the University promptly and follow any guidance provided.
If you do not have a Student Visa
If you are notified by the Student Engagement and Attendance Team that you have been withdrawn from your course due to non-attendance, in accordance with University regulations, you may submit an appeal against the decision. Details of the appeals process will be included in the withdrawal notification email.
All appeals must include a written statement explaining the circumstances that affected your attendance and any relevant supporting evidence. This information must be submitted to the Student Engagement and Attendance Team within 10 working days of the date of the withdrawal notification email. Late appeals will not be considered unless a student can demonstrate good reason and provide evidence as to why the appeal has been submitted late.
Tuition fees and student funding
Please note that withdrawals are processed in accordance with the University's standard procedures for interruption of studies and withdrawal. As a result:
- Your tuition fee liability will be based on your official withdrawal date.
- Any outstanding fees may still be payable.
- The University will notify Student Finance England (where applicable) of your withdrawal.
- Your withdrawal may affect your student funding entitlement.
Further information about the implications of withdrawal, fee liability, and interruption of studies can be found on the Interrupting or withdrawing from studies.