Last date of engagement

Where a student interrupts, repeats, transfers their course, or decides to withdraw from the University, and stops engaging before their scheduled learning ends their last date of engagement will be required.

What does this mean and why is it important?

Accurately recording the last date of engagement is essential as it is used by the University to:

• calculate tuition fee liability for the academic session
• postpone/cancel any Department for Education ITT training bursaries the student may be in receipt of
• report to any external agencies such as: UK Visas and Immigration, Student Loans Company, Scottish Awards Agency for Scotland, NHS Business Services Authority, Department for Education, Island Government and HESA

The last date of engagement also determines student entitlement to financial support:

• Where students are in receipt of the NHS Learning Support Fund, the University will notify the NHS Business Services Authority and an assessment will be made on the account
• The University will also inform the Student Loans Company who will calculate the student’s maintenance loan entitlement on a pro rata basis, according to the last date of engagement provided. This means that if the last date of engagement is halfway through a term, students will be in overpayment by 50% of their maintenance instalment for the term. Students who interrupt usually have their overpayment amount deducted from their student finance payments when they return to study, but for students who withdraw the Student Loans Company will seek immediate repayment of any overpayment. For postgraduate taught and research students, the next scheduled instalment of postgraduate masters or doctoral loan will be postponed or cancelled.

Students are advised to contact the Fees and Bursaries Team to find out the financial implications of making a change to their study plans.

Informing your department

Your department is responsible for confirming your last date of engagement. We strongly recommend that you discuss and agree this date with your department before submitting any change request. This will help you to understand the financial implications when you contact the relevant Fees and Bursaries team.

How the last date of engagement is determined

The last date of engagement is the date the University can reasonably confirm that a student last engaged with their academic studies.

Departments determine the last date of engagement by looking at the student’s engagement as a whole, using relevant academic activity, rather than relying on the most recent interaction.

When considering this, departments may refer to some of the below list:-

• attending teaching activities such as lectures, seminars, tutorials, practicals, studios, workshops, group work, presentations, or guest sessions
• submitting coursework or attending examinations
• engaging with the virtual learning environment, including accessing Lecture Capture
• meeting or communicating with staff about course-related matters
• for research students, course-related contact with the Director of Studies
• attendance at clinical, sandwich, professional practice, or work placements
• studying overseas as part of an exchange or study abroad programme
• representing the Students’ Union at a course board or similar meeting

For students who interrupt their studies and then withdraw within the same academic year, the withdrawal date will be the last date of engagement recorded at the point of interruption.be recorded as the last date of engagement.