University Calendar 2008/9
Section IV : General Regulations


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  1. The majority of students will enrol with the University on-line via the web. On the final enrolment screen, students are required to read the following declaration before enrolment can be completed:

    "I hereby acknowledge that, as a student of the University of Southampton, I am bound by all the requirements in force under the Charter, Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations of the University. I understand that these include the requirement that all outstanding debts to the University are paid before an award can be confirmed and that, for serious breaches of regulations, the penalties may include termination of enrolment. I confirm that the information on these pages is correct to the best of my knowledge.

    I consent to the University processing this information as described in these pages. For the purposes of the Data Protection Act 1998, the data controller is the University of Southampton.

    I acknowledge that the University may disclose to third parties, in hard copy or electronic form, any piece of assessment work that I may have undertaken as a requirement of my programme of study where, in the University's view, this is necessary for the conduct of academic business and quality assurance. This may include assessment items being stored by third parties.

    This enrolment is subject to me satisfying any outstanding requirements resulting from the admissions process, previous assessment, or any other stipulations required by my programme of study.

    I confirm that I wish to enrol for the 2007-2008 Academic Session. I understand that, by clicking the Enrol button below, University fees become due and I agree to pay in accordance with the University's fee payment policy."

  2. All University regulations applicable to students may be enforced under the Regulations for Discipline.

  3. Every student must notify the appropriate School Office or equivalent (eg: through updating their personal information in Self-Service) of any change of home or local address, whether permanent or temporary.

  4. The regulations set out below are not intended to absolve the University from complying with its obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act, and its duties not to discriminate and to make reasonable adjustments.

Attendance and Completion of Programme Requirements

  1. Unless admitted to a part-time or distance-learning programme of study, students are required to attend for the three University terms (two semesters) each year in full and to attend for such additional periods of study as may be required by the regulations of the programme of study for which they are enrolled.

  2. While the University recognises that many students combine study with paid or voluntary work, it is the responsibility of students to organise their time in ways which allow them to participate in required teaching and learning activities and complete assignments and examinations at the appropriate time. Students must also abide by any condition of their studentships which include a restriction on part-time work as a condition of their award. Persistent absence from required teaching and learning activities may constitute grounds for termination of their programme of study. Students experiencing illness or other personal difficulties which may affect their attendance or performance should discuss this with their personal tutor or other appropriate member of staff, or main supervisor for postgraduate research students, as soon as such difficulties occur. In the event of poor academic or clinical performance, no student may cite as an extenuating circumstance that their study was adversely affected by any period of paid or voluntary work.

  3. Schools have procedures for students wishing, in exceptional circumstances, to request an extension to an assignment deadline or the deferral of examinations, or to lodge a request for 'special considerations' where the student is concerned that their performance may be affected by adverse personal or medical circumstances. Students are encouraged to familiarise themselves with these procedures, and with the University's Regulations Governing Special Considerations, at the beginning of their programme of study. Students experiencing difficulties are also encouraged to seek advice from the Students' Union Advice and Information Centre.

  4. Students who are experiencing illness which they feel may be affecting their studies, but who are able to continue with their studies, should complete a self-certification form and return it to their School Office or equivalent. For periods of illness longer than five days, students must discuss the impact of the illness on their studies with their tutor or other appropriate member of staff or main supervisor for postgraduate research students. Where students are unable to attend the University for medical reasons they must obtain a medical certificate confirming this, submit the certificate to the School Office or equivalent, and discuss the impact of the illness on their studies with their tutor or main supervisor. Students holding awards from public funds who are absent through illness for 28 days or more must arrange for submission of a medical certificate. Separate requirements may apply for students funded by the NHS; where this applies students should enquire of the relevant School Office or equivalent.

  5. Students must present themselves at such examinations or other summative assessment tasks as may be required by programme regulations but, if students have not satisfied the programme requirements or paid the fees prescribed, their scripts and other work may not be marked (see Ordinance 7.3.6).
Transfer, Suspension, Withdrawal and Termination

  1. An undergraduate student may be allowed to transfer between programmes within the same School (subject to agreement within the School), or from one School to another with the agreement of the two Schools concerned. Students seeking transfer must obtain from the School in which they are now (or were last) enrolled a transfer form for the present tutor's approval and must return this to the same School Office.

  2. A student wishing to suspend his/her programme of study temporarily (eg: because of personal, medical or financial difficulties, or to facilitate a change of programme) should discuss the matter with their tutor or other appropriate member of staff, or main supervisor for postgraduate research students, in the first instance and must apply in writing to the relevant School Office or equivalent. Once the decision has been taken to suspend the programme of study, the student should follow the procedures required by the School in which they are enrolled. Suspensions will normally be granted for a defined period not exceeding twelve months.

  3. In determining the duration of any suspension and the most appropriate time for the student to return to study, due account will be taken of the structure of the programme as well as the student's needs. Where suspension is agreed for medical reasons, Schools may require a student to provide medical certification of fitness to return to study or to attend a Fitness to Practice Panel before allowing re-enrolment to occur. Students may apply to extend a period of suspension for further periods of up to twelve months at a time; however, suspensions covering periods greater than twenty four (24) months continuously will normally be granted only under the most exceptional circumstances. Students unable or unwilling to return to study after twenty four (24) months in suspension may be recommended for termination of programme.

  4. Termination of programme on the basis of regulation 12 shall be notified to the student by the designated officer in the relevant School. A student so recommended for termination of programme will have the right of appeal. For some programmes opportunities for suspension, and the duration of suspensions permitted, will be governed by Professional or Statutory Body requirements. Where this applies students will be advised of the requirements by the relevant School.

  5. A student who withdraws permanently from the University not having completed their programme must inform the relevant School Office or equivalent in writing. Where a student ceases without notice to attend the University or participate in scheduled learning and teaching activities, or fails to return from an approved period of suspension without notice, the School shall take all reasonable steps to contact the student to confirm his/her intentions. Should the student fail to respond to such contact from the School, the School may, with reasonable notice, deem the student to have withdrawn from the University. A person deemed to have withdrawn ceases to be a student of the University.

  6. Senate reserves the right to terminate at any time the programme of a student whose academic work proves unsatisfactory or whose level of attendance is unacceptable. Termination of programme shall be notified to the student by the designated officer in the relevant School. The student may appeal against the decision by following the procedures set out in the Regulations Governing Academic Appeals by Students. Students making an appeal must do so within 20 working days of notification of the decision giving rise to the appeal. If a student wishes to appeal against the results of supplementary examinations, the request must be returned within 5 working days of the publication of the results.

  7. No prize or other University award shall be given to any student who is not in good academic standing. Good academic standing is defined as:

    1. meeting all the academic requirements to continue to study at the current year of the programme without any need to repeat any assessments or catch-up with attendance requirements for formal learning sessions (eg: hours spent on clinical placement, attendance at laboratory sessions); or

    2. meeting all the academic requirements to proceed to the next year or stage of the programme of study; or

    3. having satisfactorily completed the award on which the student is enrolled.

Academic Integrity

  1. All students are required to complete their work, and where relevant their professional practice, in accordance with the principles and practices set out in the Academic Integrity Statement for Students. The Academic Integrity Statement for Students is published in student handbooks and the University Calendar.

  2. A student who is suspected to have committed a breach of academic integrity, including assisting another student to commit or attempt to commit such a breach, shall be subject to the implementation of academic procedures as detailed in the University's Policy and Procedures for Handling Suspected Breaches of Academic Integrity. Breaches of academic integrity include such practices as plagiarism, collusion and cheating which are explained in Appendix 1 of the Academic Integrity Statement for Students.

  3. A student who is found to have committed a breach of academic integrity will incur a penalty in accordance with the penalty guidelines listed in the University policy. The severest breaches may result in the reduction of class of degree award, deprivation of a University qualification, termination of programme and/or the implementation of disciplinary procedures.

Use of University Property

  1. Students are required to pay the reasonable costs of damage done by them to any University property.

  2. Except where specified opening times apply, University and Students' Union buildings are normally closed to students on Bank Holidays, at weekends, during official closure periods and from 23:00 hours to 06:00 hours at other times. Between the hours of 18:00 and 23:00 and 06:00 to 08:00, use of buildings may be restricted. Postgraduate research students may seek permission under the Out of Hours Working Policy to work in University buildings during times when buildings are otherwise closed to students, subject to such permission being granted by the Head of School on completion of a health and safety assessment.

  3. Smoking is not permitted in or immediately outside any University buildings on the University campuses. Separate arrangements may apply in halls of residence in respect of individual study bedrooms designated as smoking rooms, or in any external smoking areas provided by the Students' Union.
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Submitted by the Secretariat
Last reviewed: 31-Jul-2008
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