Terms and conditions of study

• 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 Andrews, 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 Andrews, 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 fee setting protocol). 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 accommodation web pages. 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 graduation web pages.

  Visas and immigration requirements

  • The University has a duty to monitor student engagement in accordance with the UKVI Tier 4 guidance 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 undergraduate and taught postgraduate students privacy notice and the postgraduate research students privacy notice.

  Complaints

  • The University is committed to deal with complaints as timely, effectively and fairly as possible, and will handle complaints in accordance with the complaints handling procedure, 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 MySaint portal.

  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 Andrews 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 Andrews, 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 Andrews student portal, MySaint, are official forms of University communication. All students are therefore required to check their University email account and their MySaint 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 UK Visas and Immigration pages.
    
    
  • 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 Andrews. 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 Andrews, 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 Andrews. With that in mind, I will behave responsibly and appropriately on all occasions in and around the town of St Andrews 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.