Approved courses and attendance monitoring requirements

Introduction

This document describes the requirements and procedures that apply to Blake Hall College as an A-rated Tier 4 Sponsor and to all enrolled students. Where possible, references are made using direct links to official documents provided by the UK Border Agency (UKBA).

Approved study courses

Following are the list of courses which satisfy the UKBA requirement as a full-time course of study leading to a bachelor or postgraduate degree recognised in the United Kingdom:

BSc (Hons) Business Administration, delivered online by NCC Education, awarded by the University of Wales
BA (Hons) Business Studies, awarded by the University of Greenwich
BSc (Hons) Computing, awarded by the University of Greenwich
BA (Hons) Education with Psychology Studies, awarded by the University of East London
BSc (Hons) Business, awarded by the University of London
BTEC Advanced Professional Diploma in Management, awarded by Edexcel
Master of Business Administration (MBA), delivered through RDI

Following are the list of courses which satisfy the UKBA requirement as an overseas higher education course, at an overseas higher education institution, that is recognised as being equivalent to a United Kingdom higher education qualification:

Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGCE), awarded by the University of South Africa (UNISA)
BA (Hons) Education, awarded by the University of South Africa (UNISA)
BA (Hons) Psychology, awarded by the University of South Africa (UNISA)
BA (Hons) Educational Psychology, awarded by North-West University

Following are the list of courses which satisfy the UKBA requirement as a course of study below United Kingdom degree level that involves a minimum of 15 hours organised daytime study per week (daytime is 0800 to 1800, Mon to Fri):

Certificate in Business Management, awarded by the Association of Business Executive (ABE)
Diploma in Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Management, awarded by the Association of Business Executive (ABE)
Advanced Diploma in Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Management, awarded by the Association of Business Executive (ABE)
BTEC Higher National Certificate in Business, awarded by Edexcel
BTEC Higher National Diploma in Business, awarded by Edexcel
International Diploma in Computer Studies (IDCS), awarded by NCC Education
Advanced Diploma in Computer Science, awarded by the Association of Computer Professionals (ACP)

The above information is described by this UKBA guidance document about acceptable courses for general students.

Attendance reporting

Blake Hall College is required to track student attendance and report the following information to UKBA:

Students who missed 10 expected contacts without approval from Blake Hall College.
Students who failed to enrol by the end of the enrolment period set by Blake Hall College.
Students who voluntarily withdraw from Blake Hall College.
Students that Blake Hall College has decided to withdraw from the course.

The above information is described by this UKBA guidance document about reporting duties for sponsors.

In addition to the UKBA requirements, Blake Hall College will consider students who missed 5 expected contacts to have unsatisfactory academic progress and withdraw such students from the course.

Expected contacts and study hours

The primary form of attendance monitoring is by tracking expected contacts. This applies to all students at Blake Hall College. The following are a list of valid expected contact events:

attendance at a lecture, tutorial or seminar
attendance at a test or examination
submission of assessed or un-assessed coursework
submission of draft or interim dissertation or coursework
attendance at a meeting with an academic staff member
attendance at a workshop, field trip or conference organized by Blake Hall College
registration for a course of study

Study hours are no longer monitored separately. Instead, study hours are monitored as part of expected contact events such as lectures, tutorials and seminars. Students who are late to an expected contact event by 30 minutes or more are considered to have missed the event.

Following are some examples of expected contact events and study hours monitoring:

A student has a 4 hours lecture timetabled and is absent without an approved reason. This is 1 missed expected contact.
A student has a 4 hours lecture timetabled and is 35 minutes late. This is 1 missed expected contact.
A student has a 3 hours lecture timetabled on the same day as a coursework due date. The student does not submit the coursework and is also absent from lecture without an approved reason. This is 2 missed expected contacts.
A student has lectures timetabled for 3 different units on the same day. The student is absent from all 3 lectures without an approved reason. This is 3 missed expected contacts.

The above information is described by this UKBA guidance document about duties specific to Tier 4 sponsors.