Regulations for Associate Students

1.1

These regulations are relevant to students pursuing taught undergraduate or postgraduate modules but who are not enrolled as students pursuing a programme leading to an award. Associate students shall not be eligible to be considered for any award from Swansea University but will be awarded credit for any modules which have been successfully completed.

1.2

An associate student shall be defined as a student who is not pursuing a named programme of study but is studying a single module or a limited number of modules, either as a career development opportunity, a taster for further study, or for interest.

1.3

All associate students must enrol with the University and pay the appropriate fees prescribed by the University.  

1.4

Full-time candidates enrolled on an undergraduate initial degree or postgraduate taught programmes may concurrently be enrolled as an associate student with the express permission of the relevant Faculty(ies)/School(s). Such candidates should note that module(s) pursued as an associate student may not be used as substitute module(s) to replace modules from the degree programme.

2.1

An Associate Student shall be classified as:

• An Undergraduate Associate Student (Levels 3, 4, 5, 6);
• A Postgraduate Associate Student (Level 7).

2.2

All potential candidates must apply to the Admissions Office in the first instance. In the case of students pursuing continuing professional development modules the admissions process may be delegated to the Faculty/School.

2.3

Normally candidates shall be required to demonstrate that they meet the minimum entry and admission and matriculation requirements for the undergraduate or postgraduate programme to which the module(s) they wish to pursue are related. These requirements are outlined in the Academic Regulations and Procedures for Undergraduate Awards General Regulations. Candidates must be able to demonstrate to the relevant Faculty/School, an appropriate level of knowledge and/or experience prior to being permitted to pursue the module(s) in question.

2.4

 As enrolled associate students, candidates must comply with the University’s academic and general regulations. 

2.5

Prior to enrolment, Faculties/Schools must ensure that an associate student can communicate effectively in English, in both speech and writing and meet the IELTS score (or equivalent) for the programme of study.

3.1

The University expects all candidates to enrol in order to be recognised as a student of the University. All candidates shall enrol in accordance with the enrolment instructions for the particular programme of study and within the prescribed enrolment period as outlined in the Academic Regulations and Procedures for Undergraduate Awards - General Regulations. (Regulation 4) or in the Postgraduate Taught General Regulations (Regulation 4).

4.1 

Having satisfied the admission criteria, and having enrolled as a student of the University, candidates will be required to select the module(s). It is only with the express permission of a Faculty/School that a student can enrol on a module as associate student. A Faculty/School may preclude candidates from enrolling to pursue certain modules as Associate Students.

4.2

Offers to students shall state that acceptance onto such modules shall only be confirmed when the availability of places on particular modules has been determined. Priority may be given to students enrolled on an award bearing programme.

5.1 

Details of the content, learning outcomes and assessment requirements of modules shall be made available to associate students by the appropriate Faculty/School. 

6.1  

Associate students shall be permitted to transfer from one module to another provided that the transfer is allowed within the regulations and is approved by the relevant Faculty(ies)/School(s) within the appropriate time-scale.

6.2  

Only in exceptional cases and with the approval of the Chair of the Faculty Education Committee or a nominated Faculty/School Officer, will transfers outside the time-scales be approved.

6.3  

Associate students shall be expected to follow the procedures for transfers in force at the time and adopted by the Senate of the University.

7.1 

The University expects students to adhere to the engagement requirements as outlined in the University’s Statement on Engagement.

8.1 

The engagement of candidates shall be monitored in accordance with the University’s Engagement Monitoring Policy. 

8.2  

Progress shall be monitored through personal tutoring arrangements, regular discussion and feedback from tutors and through Examination and Progression Boards.

9.1 

It shall be the candidate’s responsibility to inform the relevant Faculty(ies)/School(s) of any disability or of any special circumstances which might require special provision for assessment. Candidates shall be required to produce appropriate documentation in support. All requests, whether resulting from long-term disability or short-term circumstances, shall be set out on the appropriate form and supported, where possible, by written evidence. Any request must be submitted to the Faculty/School as soon as practically possible and certainly before the examination or assessment in question. 

9.2 

Further details and guidelines on special examination arrangements shall be found in the Policy on Extenuating Circumstances.

10.1 

All candidates must comply with the engagement and assessment requirements, which shall include submitting coursework by the deadlines set by the module leader, sitting examinations at the time and date stipulated by the University, and any other requirements as outlined in the Faculty/School's handbook. 

10.2 

The pass mark for modules shall normally be 40% for undergraduate students and 50% for postgraduate students. Credits will be awarded on the successful completion of a module. 

10.3 

Should an Associate Student fail a module, they shall normally be given one opportunity only and, normally, within the same academic year, to redeem the failure at the next appropriate opportunity. In accordance with the University’s practice, any attempt at redeeming the module shall be subject to the capping rules at all levels except Levels 3 and 4. In cases where students are prevented from re-sitting a module due to conditions of funding, this shall be made explicit to students by the Faculty/School concerned.  

10.4 

The following University and Faculty/School regulations, rules and procedures governing assessment, shall apply to associate students:

• Late submission of work;
• Academic misconduct;
• Accuracy of published marks;
• Special provision for assessment;
• Examination regulations, including absence and conduct.

10.5 

The results of associate students shall be confirmed and verified by the Faculty/School’s Examination Board and the University Progression and Awards Board. 

11.1 

Associate students shall be expected to complete the module(s) on which they have enrolled within the same session. 

12.1 

Regulations governing suspension of studies shall not normally apply to associate students. However, associate students shall be expected to comply with the University’s withdrawal procedures. 

13.1 

Students shall be permitted to remain enrolled as Associate Students up to the point of achieving the minimum exit qualification (as stated below)

• Certificate of Higher Education – 120 credits at undergraduate level;
• Postgraduate Certificate of Higher Education – 60 credit at postgraduate taught level. 

Thereafter, students have the following choices:

• Providing that they satisfy the requirements of the programme, and subject to the conditions of funding, students may transfer to an existing programme of study and exit with an award e.g. postgraduate certificate;
• Providing that they satisfy the requirements of the programme, and subject to the conditions of funding, students may transfer to an existing programme of study which leads to an award e.g. an undergraduate or postgraduate degree;
• Continue as an associate student. Students who choose to remain as associate students shall not be eligible for any further award. 

13.2

Students who decide to transfer to a recognised programme of study leading to an award shall be required to apply to the relevant Faculty/School in accordance with the University’s transfer of programme regulations.

13.3

In the case of International students sponsored by the University, a transfer of programme is conditional upon holding a valid Student Route (previously Tier 4) visa. At the point of transfer, an assessment will be made as to whether the transfer meets current Student Route (previously Tier 4) legislation before it is approved. The assessment will include reference to the level of the new programme, the student’s current period of leave, the current time limits governing Student Route (previously Tier 4) study, whether the new programme meets a student’s “genuine career aspirations” and any other requirements specified by the UK Visa and Immigration Service (UKVI). Where the new programme cannot be completed within the period of existing Student Route (previously Tier 4) leave, the student will be required to leave the UK to make an application for further leave to complete the programme. For programmes requiring ATAS Clearance, International students must obtain clearance and provide a copy of the ATAS certificate to the University, before a transfer can be approved.

14.1

All examinations shall be conducted under the jurisdiction of the University's Regulations and Procedures for the Operation of Examinations. The operation of Examination Boards shall be conducted in accordance with the appropriate assessment regulations.

14.2

External Examiners shall be nominated and appointed in accordance with the procedures detailed in the Swansea University Code of Practice for External Examiners.

15.1 

Associate students shall not be permitted to appeal against a module mark. 

15.2 

Associate students who wish to query the accuracy of a mark awarded shall be permitted to do so under the University’s Accuracy of Published Marks procedures.

16.1 

Allegations of academic misconduct shall be considered in accordance with the University’s Academic Misconduct procedures. 

17.1 

Allegations of fitness to practise shall be considered in accordance with the Swansea University Fitness to Practise regulations. 

18.1 

On an annual basis, an Associate Student shall be notified of their module(s) results via the individual’s intranet record and details of the procedure to transfer to a recognised programme of study leading to an award. Students may apply to the University for an official University transcript, if required.  

18.2 

Upon successful completion of a module which may be regarded as a professional training module, a Faculty/School may issue an associate student with a “Certificate of Completion”. 

19.1 

The regulations governing Posthumous and Aegrotat awards shall not apply to Associate Students.