Every ELC course has a minimum attendance requirement of at least 80%. This allows for unavoidable absences for reasons such as illness, transport problems and clashes with other commitments.

Students who do not meet the 80% attendance requirement automatically fail the course and are not permitted to attend the exam.

Lateness counts as non-attendance. Students who arrive 5-15 minutes late for a class are marked 15 minutes late; 16-60 minutes’ lateness is marked as an hour’s absence.

Classes cancelled due to adverse weather will not be made up and will not count as non-attendance.

Students who know in advance that they cannot meet the attendance requirement can apply to drop a course after the end of the add/drop period. Students who have already failed by attendance, cannot apply for a late drop.

Students can also request that the attendance requirement be waived in exceptional circumstances, such as prolonged serious illness. Requests for a late drop or a waiver of the attendance requirement must be sent in writing to the ELC Head.

Exams

Students who do not turn up for an exam automatically fail.

Students who arrive

More than 30 minutes late to a written exam, or

More than 10 minutes late for the University English Spoken Language exam are not permitted to enter the exam venue and automatically fail.

Students who believe they have a valid reason for missing an exam should inform the ELC by calling 2788 7607 before the exam or as soon as possible afterwards. Supporting documentation, such as a medical certificate, should be provided.

If an exam is missed for a valid reason, the result will be recorded as I (incomplete) rather than F (fail), and the student will be allowed to sit the exam again at the next opportunity.

Students who have a valid reason to defer an exam can write to the ELC Head to seek approval. If they do not get a reply within two working days, they should contact the ELC General Office.