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Further particulars of offers

• Learning and teaching at St 糖心logo

  Our approach to learning and teaching is a little like the University itself: a mix of very traditional and very new. In every subject, we take care to cover all the bases, on the one hand familiarising our students with the knowledge and theories that are essential to understanding the discipline; and on the other, giving you a chance wherever possible to develop practical uses for the expertise you acquire. From this starting-point, we expect our students increasingly to design their own studies, by selecting options and undertaking research-based activities that they devise by themselves, with support from academic staff.

  All teaching and learning is organised through one of the University’s Schools, which have a director of teaching who oversees the delivery and development of teaching and learning. These all work with the coordinators of individual modules and with programme or year coordinators (where appropriate) to ensure that teaching and learning provision is carefully planned and delivered, and that new developments and changes are channelled for approval to the appropriate committees. Directors of teaching, programme, year and module coordinators are all established members of academic staff – such as teaching fellows, professors and lecturers.

  Students put together their programme of studies by selecting a combination of compulsory and optional modules from our module catalogue. The catalogue describes each module and gives information about the learning, teaching and assessment methods used.

  We know that every student has a slightly different way of learning so, while we make use of some tried-and-tested methods that we believe should be part of any good university education, we also have a wide variety of complementary approaches that will enrich your experience and ensure there is an approach that suits.

• Degree and module information statement

  Information about the University’s curriculum (modules and degree programmes) can be found in several places on the University’s website depending on the level of detail you are looking for. The module catalogue is the primary sources of information if you want to learn about the modules that may be available to you in the academic year and the combination of modules that are required to progress from year to year on your chosen degree programme.

  Modules

  In the module catalogue, you will find information about all the modules that are available in the current academic year. These modules are published in numerical order by the administering academic School. The modules are divided between 1000 and 2000 level modules (sub-Honours) and Honours level modules for undergraduate programmes. There may be constraints on a module such as a pre-requisite that will restrict the actual modules available to you depending on the degree programme you are studying. Postgraduate module information is published by programme for postgraduate taught programmes.

  The module catalogue is updated and published online each year and is available as a PDF file. Hard copies are available for consultation in the University Library. It may be necessary to update the module catalogue after it is published, and these updates are published on the same web page at the very top of the catalogue listings under the heading “Stop Press”.

  Degree programmes (also called courses)

  The University offers a wide variety of degree programmes in many different academic subject areas. 

  The list of currently available undergraduate degree programmes that you may study are listed in the module catalogue. Each degree programme requires certain combinations of modules to be taken in each academic year of study for you to progress from year to year on your way to your final examinations and ultimately graduation. These requirements are published in a similar way to the modules, that is, under each academic School they are listed in alphabetical order by degree type (single Honours, joint Honours, major and minor, triple) and academic subject. The University’s advising process will help ensure that you are on track to meet the requirements that are necessary to finish your degree programme. 

  You can review these two parts of the catalogue manually online or using one of the printed copies of the catalogue that are available in the Library.

  Postgraduate degree programmes are listed within the postgraduate module catalogue.

  Senate Regulations

  The University Senate oversees the awarding of degrees to students upon successful completion of a programme of study and the regulations that govern the requirements for success are laid out in the  and postgraduate Senate Regulations; you can also access these regulations as printed copies in the University Library.

  The regulations are published annually in advance of the beginning of the academic year. Changes to the Senate Regulations may be necessary from time to time, but these are uncommon and are always published online as a PDF titled “Summary of changes”. In most cases, you are unlikely to need to refer to the Senate Regulations as your Advisers of Studies and the University’s advising system will guide you in relation to your approved pathway of study.

• Curriculum revision

  The main aims of the curriculum at the University of St 糖心logo are to foster flexible, independent thinkers who have both subject-related and generic skills in readiness for work or further study. The curriculum portfolio is developed on research-led teaching, guided by cutting-edge researchers and delivered by outstanding teachers from around the world. Embedded in the core curriculum are principles of research methodology, ethics and responsibility as well as insight into global and cultural issues. The University teaches not only skills and flexible thinking, but a belief in the ability to use these beyond graduation.

  The University provides an exceptional breadth and opportunity of choice, with a large range of subjects that can lead to joint degrees – you will be encouraged to try new disciplines while following your own established academic interests. The University will ensure that relevant information and advice is available when students are deciding to make such choices: to complement the key information contained in the module catalogue, each student has a dedicated Advisor of Studies who is available for consultation in a process overseen by Pro Deans who can also provide expert guidance to students.

  In order to achieve this, and to ensure that its teaching incorporates the research and related interests of its staff, the University reviews its curriculum portfolio on a regular basis including programmes and modules. Changes are made with due consideration to minimising impact, safeguarding academic standards and assuring the quality of the learning experience. These may include any of the following:

  • Changes to the timetable, location, number of classes and method of delivery of modules and programmes of study, provided such alterations are minimal.
  • Reasonable variations to the content and syllabus of modules and programmes of study (including in relation to placements or study abroad) to ensure that teaching is research-led, current and relevant. 
  • Suspension, discontinuation or combining of modules or programmes of study (for example, because a key member of staff is unwell or leaves the University). 
  • Changes to ordinances, regulations, policies and procedures which the University reasonably considers necessary (for example, in the light of changes in the law or the requirements of the University's regulators, or for the benefit of its students and staff). 
  • Not providing programmes of study or modules or combining them with others if the University reasonably considers this to be necessary (for example because too few students are admitted to them to provide the required learning experience). 

  As part of any such changes the University will:

  • Endeavour to minimise impact for current students and applicants by communicating at the earliest opportunity, offering reasonable alternative options or cancellation with no detriment and timing the changes sensitively.
  • Introduce major changes normally in such a way that these come into force at the beginning of the following academic year (if fundamental to the programme, major changes will normally come into force with effect from the next cohort of students).
  • Apply changes to policies, regulations and procedures with no academic or financial detriment to current students.
  • Be cognisant of students on leave of absence and ensure that any changes to the curriculum are communicated clearly and suitable pathway options are available on return to study.
  • Ensure that the portfolio of modules available for students to choose from delivers the published learning aims and outcomes of the programme for which students are enrolled. 

  Lectures, seminars and tutorials

  Most subjects use lectures, especially in the first two years, referred to as sub-honours. Students can use their first two years to discover their own specific strengths before finalising their degree intentions at Honours level. Lectures are a good way to ensure everyone in the class receives the same key information, and they help students develop note-taking and summarising skills. The material covered in lectures is generally followed up in smaller seminar groups (around 15 to 20 students) or tutorials (around 5 to 10 students), where there might be a structured open discussion, a general debate, a presentation by students, or a series of questions, exercises or examples to be worked through with the tutor. Owing to the relatively small undergraduate student body in comparison to some universities, St 糖心logo is in the enviable position of offering small group teaching in many subjects.

  Laboratories

  In addition to lectures and seminars or tutorials, some subjects require laboratory sessions. These take place in custom-designed labs, where students carry out practical tasks, following a programme of work devised by their lecturers and directed by experts during the session. Labs allow you to put theoretical knowledge into practice, perfect your skills and develop into competent, well-trained and highly-skilled specialists. Lab sessions are not just for science: Economics, Modern Languages and others use them too.

  Other learning and teaching activities

  One-to-one

  Some academic Schools also offer ‘surgery’ hours, where students can drop in to speak with a tutor about a particular module. Our welcoming environment and relatively small size allow students to approach individual tutors for assistance in this way or via email.

  Learning in the field

  Many subjects include compulsory or optional fieldwork from an early stage. Students may investigate a site of particular scientific, historical, artistic or cultural interest; or they may carry out experiments or surveys by observing or interviewing the occupants of a particular location.

  Learning from each other

  Not all learning takes place in the physical presence of the tutor, of course. We also arrange student-led tutorials (real or virtual) in which students drive the discussion. And although we are an ancient university, our state-of-the-art facilities support learning through blogs, chat-rooms, podcasts, project forums, wikis and other forms of collaborative and independent learning.

  Extracurricular activities

  Extracurricular lectures and seminars in every School are open to students. Some student societies are linked to academic Departments and are an excellent way to expand understanding and appreciation of the subject. Societies organise talks, social events and other informal activities to support learning.

  Internships and work experience are available in some areas as part of the degree programme, whether simulated or real: Medicine, for example, places emphasis on simulated doctor-patient consultations, while teaching abroad placements are routinely available in Modern Languages with Integrated Year Abroad programmes. Competitive extracurricular summer research internships, supported by the University, are available in all subjects to supplement scheduled learning and teaching.

  In the final year, a flagship module, distinctive to St 糖心logo, allows selected students to obtain credits for teaching their subject of study in local schools, under the joint supervision of a teacher and a university academic. The Careers Centre supports students arranging their own vacation internships for work experience.

  Further personal and professional development opportunities are available, for example through the St 糖心logo Award, administered by the Careers Centre; and the Certificate in Professional Skills run by the Centre for Academic, Professional and Organisational Development.

  Individual and group work

  As students progress through their programme, they are expected to undertake work in groups or pairs. This is a good way of sharing work in order to learn more about the subject; but learning to be part of a team is also a key skill for employment and life in a community.

  At the same time, one of our chief aims at St 糖心logo is to enable students to become increasingly self-reliant, not only in the intellectual questions they ask and answers they give, but also in the way they manage their time, organise their work and achieve the high standards of professionalism prized by employers. Students are therefore expected to conduct much of their work alone, and the Honours project or dissertation in particular is the culmination of independent thinking and personal development: in this, a student selects a topic, defines a question, conducts the research necessary to explore it thoroughly and according to the norms of their discipline, and writes up the results of their enquiries. All this is done with readily available support and guidance from academic staff – but the burden of work, and the ultimate achievement, is entirely the student’s own. Thus, we support a gradual departure from a typical school or college environment where structures and schedules prevail, to a more scholarly approach where interaction is focused on support for autonomous learning, exchanging ideas and stimulating thinking.

  Workload, preparation and follow-up for learning and teaching

  Like other universities, we expect full-time students to put in a full week’s work on their studies, split between scheduled classes and private study. As a guide, each credit earned should be the result of about 10 hours’ work, so a full year’s credit load (120 credits) represents 1,200 hours of concentration and hard work.

  To get the most out of your studies, you need to prepare carefully for every class you attend, and to follow it up afterwards, whatever its nature. You may be asked to look carefully at specific material; in addition, you should independently use learning resources like the Library to ‘read around’ the subject, fill gaps in your knowledge and understanding, check the reliability of information you have discovered and feel confident that you have grasped what is being taught.

  To help in this, further module information is available, clearly showing the programme of study and assessment involved. Bibliographies of extra reading are provided at the start; further recommendations may be given during class, depending on what comes up. Many tutors post material on the web; others may conduct short ‘refresher’ tests during the class itself to check that everyone has reached the necessary level of understanding.

  Some subjects require a high percentage of scheduled learning hours, for example because a student can only make progress by attending a laboratory or carrying out supervised fieldwork. In other subject areas, a large amount of individual reading or practice is the only way to ensure adequate learning. In both cases, students must quickly develop time management skills to enable efficient use of the full-time study week.

• Fee setting

  See the fee setting page for more information.

• Essential terms and conditions

  1. All students are expected to behave in a responsible and appropriate manner during their studies, and are required to abide by the University Honour Code and Sponsio Academica throughout the duration of their programme of studies.
     
     
  2. All students will be required to matriculate at the start of their programme of studies. Where their programme of study is longer than one year, they will be required to matriculate during Orientation week each academic year. 
     
     
  3. All students will be required to abide by, and submit to the procedures of, the University’s Senate Regulations, as amended from time to time. A copy of the Senate Regulations is available on request from Registry, The Old Burgh School, Abbey Walk, St 糖心logo, KY16 9LB or via the University’s undergraduate Senate Regulations and postgraduate Senate Regulations web pages.
     
     
  4. All students will be required to abide by, and submit to all relevant University policies and procedures, as amended from time to time. University policies and procedures are available on the University’s undergraduate rules and regulations and postgraduate rules and regulations web pages.
     
     
  5. All students will be required to abide by the specific requirements for their programme throughout the duration of their programme of studies.
     
     
  6. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure they are familiar with all relevant policies and procedures for the duration of their programme of studies.
     
     
  7. All undergraduate and taught postgraduate students must complete the relevant advising process at the start of each academic year in line with University policies outlined on the undergraduate academic advising web pages and on the taught postgraduate advising and matriculation web pages.
     
     
  8. All students are required to provide and maintain full and accurate personal and contact details throughout the duration of their programme of studies.
     
     
  9. All students are required to accept liability for the timely payment of tuition and any other fees for University services, throughout the duration of their programme of studies.
     
     
  10. All students must ensure they have the appropriate immigration status to study at the University of St 糖心logo, and that they comply with their immigration and visa requirements throughout the duration of their programme of studies.
      
      
  11. All students are required to read and not contravene the University’s policy on good academic practice and agree that the University may make work submitted available to plagiarism detection services outside the University, both for screening and for enhancement of the detection service database.
      
      
  12. All students are required to successfully complete the Training in Good Academic Practice module at the start of their programme of studies.

• Responsibilities of the University

  Programmes of study

  • The University will use all reasonable measures to deliver programmes and courses of study, as outlined at the time of offer. As a research-intensive institution, the University ensures that its teaching is based on and references the research and related interests of its staff; it is also mindful of the need to use resources effectively. As a result, programmes and courses are regularly reviewed with the aim of enhancing the student learning experience. Programme and course revision protocols are student-focused, transparent and time sensitive, and are described in the University’s course revision protocol.
    
    Any changes are made with due consideration to minimising impact, safeguarding academic standards and assuring the quality of the learning experience. 

  Fees and charges

  • The University will communicate details of all tuition and other charges at the earliest opportunity, and current and future tuition fees (where available) are set out in the University’s tuition fees table.
  • The University will clarify compulsory fees and charges it requires any student to pay at the time of offer. The offer will also clarify conditions for any variation of fees (these are described in the University’s fee setting protocol.
  • The University reviews its fees and charges annually (see approach to fee setting in the University’s postgraduate research students privacy notice). As part of this process, the University will keep within the expectations and boundaries referred to as part of the offer and will communicate all decisions in a timely manner.
  • A note of the rate for accommodation in University halls of residence and University owned flats and houses is available on the University’s undergraduate and taught postgraduate students privacy notice. Accommodation fees are reviewed annually in January.
  • The University will refund tuition fees in accordance with the tuition fee liability policy for undergraduates, the tuition fee liability policy for taught postgraduates, and the tuition fee liability policy for research postgraduates. 

  Teaching

  • The University will take all reasonable measures to ensure that teaching is delivered, that students are assessed and that any disruption to its business is minimal.
  • The University will publish, annually on the University website, key semester dates pertaining to the start and end of teaching, revision and examination periods and vacation dates.
  • The University reserves the right to perform its duties by scheduling non-teaching days in the academic calendar during the semesters. Such days are carefully planned within the academic timetable and should not affect learning outcomes. The University shall not be liable for non-performance of its obligation to its students where performance is prevented by unforeseen acts, events, omissions or accidents beyond the reasonable control of the University (a “force majeure event”) including, but not limited to: strikes or other industrial disputes; failure of a utility service or transport network; acts of God; compliance with any law or governmental order. The University will not refund tuition fees following a force majeure event.

  Examinations

  • The University will automatically enter candidates for eligible degree examination diets. For deferred and reassessment (resit) examination, the University will make students aware of their eligibility to sit these examinations. Responsibility for registering for reassessment and deferred examinations lies with the student. The University will publish timetables for all degree examinations on the University examinations web pages.

  Graduation

  • The University will contact all students who may be eligible to graduate in June by email in March. Students eligible to graduate in November will be contacted by email in October. This notification does not constitute successful completion of the programme of studies. The relevant regulations are available from the University fee setting protocol.

  Visas and immigration requirements

  • The University has a duty to monitor student engagement in accordance with the and to report unauthorised non-engagement or breaches to leave to remain conditions if aware to UK Visas and Immigration.
  • The University also has a duty to provide any relevant personal information to UK Visas and Immigration in line with condition 5(c) of Schedule 2 and 7(c) of Schedule 3 of the Data Protection Act.

  Access to the University computer network

  • The University will allocate to students a username and password for access to its computer and network facilities and to the internet, for academic and administrative purposes – for example, to enable students to handle their email, search for information, write assignments, etc, and to maintain contact with home.

  Privacy

  • The University is committed to managing student personal data in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 2018. Information about how the University collects, shares and uses personal data is detailed in the University student privacy notices which can be accessed from the complaints handling procedure and the graduation web pages.

  Complaints

  • The University is committed to deal with complaints as timely, effectively and fairly as possible, and will handle complaints in accordance with the accommodation web pages, in line with the Scottish Higher Education Model Complaints Handling Procedure, published by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO).

• Responsibilities of the student

  Personal information

  • It is the responsibility of students to keep their personal details up to date by making the appropriate changes online via the University’s .

  Advising

  • All students must take an approved credit load in each semester and must choose modules accordingly. The academic advising process provides students with the advice necessary to make appropriate academic choices. Students must complete the advising process every academic year by the end of Orientation week (or in January if not studying in St 糖心logo during Semester 1). The main point of contact for this process is the Adviser of Studies. Until your module choices are approved by your Adviser of Studies at this meeting, and validated in the academic advising system, you are not officially enrolled in those modules.
    
    
  • All undergraduate students in the Faculties of Arts, Divinity and Science must meet their Adviser of Studies in person at the appropriate time of year. Different support arrangements are made for students in the Faculty of Medicine, who do not need to make any module choices due to the prescribed curriculum structure.

  Attendance

  • All students must ensure that they are available to attend the appropriate advising session by the close of Wednesday of Orientation week as well as all lectures, tutorials, practicals, other classes and examinations for the full duration of each academic semester and each examination diet. Students should not leave before the official end of the diet to allow for a re-sit session to be arranged during this time in case of need, for example due to an unexpected absence. Students should check the University academic calendar for key semester dates and ensure that all leisure time and travel is arranged in such a way that they do not miss any of the required elements of their programme of study (this may include lectures, workshops, labs, practicals, class tests, oral assessments, exams etc).
    
    
  • All travel arrangements should be made to allow completion of matriculation (registration) and all academic preparations including academic advising by the end of Orientation week in time for the first day of teaching. No student will be given permission to matriculate late. Students who fail to register by the first day of teaching will be contacted under the terms of the failure to matriculate policy.

  Examinations

  • Candidates for the reassessment (resit) diet are required to register and pay appropriate examination fees in accordance with the process detailed on the examinations web pages.

  Fees and charges

  • Prior to the start of the academic session, payment of tuition and relevant accommodation fees, as well as other relevant fees should be made in full or an instalment plan should be agreed with the Advice and Support Centre (ASC), 79 North Street, St 糖心logo, KY16 9AJ.
    
    
  • Any tuition fees and academic-related charges notified to the student as part of the offer or subsequently incurred by the student through informed choice and not paid for by a sponsor will be the personal responsibility of the student. 
    
    
  • By order of Senate, no student owing money to the University will be permitted to graduate at the June or November ceremonies, and students are not normally allowed to matriculate for a subsequent year of study if they are in debt to the University. 

  Email and University communications

  • Email and the University of St 糖心logo student portal, , are official forms of University communication. All students are therefore required to check their University email account and their  portal at least every 48 hours and to respond to University communications as requested in a timely manner. Failure to do so may result in students not receiving important information at the appropriate time. 

  Access to the University computer network

  • The University allocates to students a username and password for access to its computer and network facilities and to the internet, for academic and administrative purposes – for example, to enable students to handle their email, search for information, write assignments, etc, and to maintain contact with home. Passwords must be kept secret and precautions taken against spreading viruses. Students hereby agree to abide by the regulations governing the use of University information and communications technology (ICT) facilities. 

  Terms of re-engagement

  • Students who re-engage at the University following a leave of absence will need to indicate that the circumstances for which they were granted the leave of absence have now been resolved. They must supply the University with evidence acceptable to the University that any medical or personal grounds for which the leave of absence was granted have been appropriately managed (and are now no longer a concern) and that they are fit to return to study and re-integrate themselves into university life as a whole.   
    
    This evidence can be in the form of, for example, a doctor’s note, a financial statement, evidence of employment or proof that the activity undertaken has been completed. The evidence will be forwarded to Student Services by Registry. Matriculation may be conditional upon making an appointment to meet a student adviser in Student Services (theasc@st-andrews.ac.uk). Students will also be expected to follow the advice of, and meet with, Student Services over the course of the academic year if advised to do so.

  Graduation

  • All students who are eligible to graduate will be contacted by the University in accordance with the relevant information on the University graduation web pages. Students who wish to graduate must submit their application to Registry by the published deadline.

  Freedom of speech and expression

  • The University believes in the right of all members of the University community to exercise the right to freedom of expression in a manner that does not bring the University, or anyone connected with it, into disrepute. The University has a Freedom of Expression Legal Framework detailing the University’s position on freedom of speech and expression, and further clarification can be sought from the Vice-Principal (Governance).

  Intellectual property

  • By matriculating, students agree to uphold the University’s policy on intellectual property rights. 

  Criminal proceedings

  • Where a student is under investigation by the police, or where criminal proceedings have been initiated, or where a student has been convicted, it is the responsibility of the student to report this to the University. Students are required to report criminal involvement when accepting an offer to study at the University, at matriculation every year, and at any point during the year that this involvement or investigation occurs. Details on how the University will use this information is available on the declaring criminal proceedings web pages.

  Student contract

  • Students agreeing to these terms are signing this contract with the University on their own behalf, and not with any third party unless they have power of attorney over their affairs.

  Social media

  • Social media is used within the University in a variety of formal and informal ways, and the University wants to encourage and support the responsible and creative use of this medium wherever possible. Students hereby agreed to abide by the published by the University.

  Visas and immigration requirements

  • Students have a legal obligation to adhere to any visa conditions set down by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and further information relating to these can be found on the information for Tier 4 students web pages and on the .
    
    
  • As part of the University’s obligations under the Tier 4 scheme, all students with Tier 4 visas are required to have their passport and visas checked twice a year to allow the University to reassure itself that they still have valid leave to remain and study in the UK, and to ensure the University fulfils its requirements regarding monitoring and record keeping with regard to UK Visas and Immigration.

• Honour Code

  The Honour Code is a statement that establishes the standards, behaviour and academic integrity expected of all matriculated students who form part of the academic community at the University of St 糖心logo. All students must agree to abide by and uphold the Honour Code in all of their activities.

  As a student and a member of the academic community of the University of St 糖心logo, I agree to the following:

  • To exercise my right to freedom of speech (about which I have been advised in the terms and conditions of study) in a way that does not:
    • bring the University, its staff, students and anyone associated with the University (e.g. visitors, contractors, and service providers) into disrepute
    • breach other obligations which I owe to the University, its staff, students and anyone associated with the University.
  • To be honest in submitting academic work for assessment. My work will be my own and completed without the unauthorised help of any other person. 
  • To take responsibility for my own learning and respond to feedback about my performance and achievements.
  • To treat everyone with fairness, to show respect for diversity and to help to foster an inclusive academic community, free from discrimination.
  • To be responsible for the ways in which I participate in extra-curricular, social and sporting activities and to ensure that my behaviour, and those with whom I share responsibility, reflects positively on the reputation of the University of St 糖心logo. With that in mind, I will behave responsibly and appropriately on all occasions in and around the town of St 糖心logo and elsewhere during my time as a student.
  • To have regard for my own human dignity and personal safety, and that of others, at all times.