Attendance and Assessments

1. Attendance

In order for you to gain the maximum benefit from your learning experience, you are expected to participate in 100% of teaching and learning activities, such as personal study, reading, residential seminars, intensives, online discussions and web activities, reflective journals, and other formative activities. 

Although learning patterns vary between modes of delivery, part-time students should expect to be involved in an average of 15-20 hours a week of study. To be successful and get the most from the programme, full time students should plan on 30-40 hours of study a week.

Participation and Attendance Regulations

You are expected to participate in 100% of the teaching & learning activities in your modules, even those not explicitly linked to the summative assessment. Activities are outlined in the module descriptors. 

• For on-campus modules, participation is primarily measured by session attendance and will be marked on a register.
• For online modules, attendance is measured by participation in the required online activities (usually discussion forums).

Although 100% attendance / participation is expected, we recognise that matters out of your control, such as illness or difficulties with transportation or internet, may sometimes occur. Please let your tutor/lecturer and Registry know if you anticipate an absence of more than one week.

2. Assessments

This page gives a summary of the Assessment Regulations available in the programme handbooks, which should be consulted for further detail.

Our modules include two types of assessments - formative and summative.

• Formative - activities during the learning process to support teaching and learning (no impact on final module grade).
• Summative - assessment which contributes towards the final grade for the module.

The pass grade varies between programmes. At undergraduate level this is 40.

Submitting your assessment

• Coursework (Essays, Portfolios, Research Papers and Placement Administration Requirements) must be submitted by 4.00pm on the deadline date (more on submission on the next page). 
• Examinations will take place on the timetabled date, the exact time and place for onsite students to be confirmed by Registry. 
• Other types of assessment, such as presentations and recitals, will have separate arrangements confirmed by the module leader.

The Assessment Board

This is the meeting at which marks are confirmed, progression agreed, and awards made. 

You can find more information about this meeting in the Programme Handbook. 

Key information and Terms

• Late submissions - work which is not submitted by the deadline - unless there are approved Extenuating Circumstances - will be given a mark NS ('Non-Submission'), which is 0.
• Word counts - this includes footnotes but not the bibliography. 
• Failures and non-submissions - students will be given a single reassessment opportunity (second assessment or exam resit). The maximum mark for second attempts is a pass grade (i.e. 40 for BA modules).
• Extenuating Circumstances - see information.
• Progression - students need a certain number of credits in order to progress to the next level of study. Programme Handbooks should be consulted for exact details.
• Compensated marks - in certain situations an assessment board may agree that a module grade falling in the 35-39 range may be 'compensated' by a sufficient module average in other modules. Regulations on this vary between the programmes and details are in the Programme Handbook. 
• Academic Misconduct - e.g. plagiarism. See information.
• Appeals - these must be sent in writing to the Academic Secretary (copy to Assistant Registrar). [Ask Registry whether you should use this new form.] Note that there are strict deadlines for appeals - noted on the linked form.

2.1. Online Submission

Almost all of our programmes require assignments to be submitted online through the VLE.

Both online and on-campus modules will have online areas where you will upload your assignments and receive your marks.

Please read through the Assessment Instructions page to ensure you are aware of the requirements and instructions. You may want to bookmark this page for reference when you come back to complete your assignments.

2.2. Academic Misconduct

This section summarises information from the Academic Misconduct policy, which should be consulted for more detail (the latest version can be found on the Key Documents page). More information can be found in the Study Skills courses, which are part of the online induction.

WHAT COUNTS AS ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT?

• Plagiarism - presenting another's work as their own (that is, without accurate use of quotation marks, detailed referencing and a full bibliography)
• Copying the work of another student.
• Obtaining material from an essay website or other person / company.
• Arranging for another person to complete an assignment or exam, or being part of such an arrangement.
• Breaking Examination Room rules; not complying with invigilators’ instructions.
• Seeking access to examination papers prior to the examination
• Being party to an arrangement intending to break or avoid the regulations.
• Offering a bribe or inducement to any staff or persons connected with the assessments.
• Self plagiarism - submitting material which has already been submitted for any other assessment within LST or elsewhere.
• Obtaining research data by unfair means. 
• Presenting unauthorised group-work as the work of a single candidate.
• False declarations with regard to extenuating circumstances applications, deferrals and requests for exemption from work.
• Any form of unfair or dishonest practice which attempts to contravene LST’s assessment regulations or arranges with others to do so.

For a full-list please see the Academic Misconduct Policy.

Understanding Plagiarism

This short video gives an overview:

Turnitin has also produced a very helpful visual guide to types of plagiarism - please have a look through this.

Note that most of our assignments are submitted through Turnitin, which is excellent at detecting plagiarism and highlighting material which is not properly referenced. Be careful - plagiarised work is certain to be caught!

What happens if a Marker suspects me of Academic Misconduct?

(Below is a brief summary of the Academic Misconduct process, and the full document should be consulted where there is any doubt.)

1. Minor errors

If you've made just a few minor mistakes in your referencing or punctuation, this may be reflected in your overall grade (as English writing style and referencing is covered in the marking scheme).

2. Poor academic practice

We know that students who are new to higher education may make some mistakes in their referencing through carelessness or inexperience. You may have tried to reference the source but not done this properly. Or perhaps you missed quotation marks or didn't paraphrase very well.

When this happens the Programme Leader will be informed and may advise the marker to make a small mark deduction. You will also be informed in your feedback, and may receive a letter. An internal record will be kept but this will not go on your transcript.

3. Academic Misconduct

For more serious cases, or where a student has already been warned about poor academic practice twice before, or is no longer a new student, 'Academic Misconduct' will recorded against your transcript and various penalties may be given depending on the seriousness of the offence. 

Sometimes this will mean a mark deduction, sometimes you'll get a written warning, sometimes it may mean writing an entirely new essay. You may also be asked to meet with the Programme Leader. See the Academic Misconduct Policy for more details about the procedure and penalties.

In all cases you have the right to appeal, and to do so you should write to asdas@lst.ac.uk within five working days of hearing the outcome by email.

2.3. Marking Criteria and Feedback

Assessment feedback is a very important part of the process of teaching and learning. You will receive formative feedback as you go through your studies and each piece of summative work will also include written feedback returned to you with your grade. Make sure you carefully read your marker's comments.

Each module assessment will have a set of marking criteria. For example, see this document with the Marking Scheme for our undergraduate programmes. 

In addition, feedback for our undergraduate written assignments will usually also include feedback on the below general criteria, which should help to give you an idea of what is expected in an essay:

2.4. AI Guidance

This page replicates the October 2024 'Use of AI Tools: Interim Student Guidance' document.

What are AI tools?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used to enhance the capabilities of the software and digital platforms that we interact with every day. In recent years the biggest AI development has been in Large Language Models (LLMs), which are something like a huge predictive-text engine, able to synthesise data and text from multiple sources. LLMs lie behind chatbots such as Chat GPT, Microsoft CoPilot and others. AI has also been integrated into tools used by students such as Grammarly, Microsoft Office and Perlego.

What does AI have to do with study?

AI tools can be used to support many areas of study, such as research, planning and proof-reading. This might be using chatbots like ChatGPT, or an integrated tool such as Grammarly. We will be covering some of these uses in Study Skills and making guides available on the VLE. However, AI tools must be used wisely.

What are the dangers of using AI in study?

Although they can be useful, AI tools cannot be fully relied upon to produce accurate information. They often ‘hallucinate’, that is produce text that gets facts wrong. And in general they don’t provide references so that you can look up the source.

Another danger in using AI is that you might not fully exercise your own research, planning and writing skills, or engage fully with learning content. Instead of developing your own skills, knowledge and character during the course of your study, it may be tempting to rely too heavily on AI help or even cheat.

At LST, what am I allowed to use AI for?

Here are some examples of things you could use AI tools for in preparing assignments:

• Assistance in finding online resources;
• Help understanding the headline assessment task or key terms;
• Preparing revision materials from your notes;
• Drafting an initial set of headings for your essay;
• Proof-reading your essay.

Do I need to say what I’ve used it for?

Use of AI must be declared on the front sheet or contents page of your assignment using the following template:

I used AI in the following ways in preparing this assignment (delete any which don’t apply):

No use; Research; Outline; Paraphrasing; Proofreading; Other  

Details of AI use: …

Failure to declare use of AI tools will be treated as academic misconduct, being considered failure to credit a source appropriately.

What am I not allowed to use AI for?

Using AI tools to generate the actual text of your essay (or any other part of an assignment beyond section headings) is like asking someone else to write your assignment for you – this is cheating and will be treated similarly, in accordance with the Academic Misconduct Policy.

Why is it important to write an assignment myself?

We all rely on help from various sources, whether digital or personal. Your teachers may guide you appropriately; Learning Support meetings are available to assist you as required, and Study Skills sessions will steer you in the right direction – all within clear parameters established by the School. Beyond these formal provisions, friends and family may support you, and AI tools may provide assistance up to a point. But remember that the purpose of study is to learn and develop your own knowledge, skills and character.

Wrestling with an assignment, learning how to shape an essay and figure out the right words, absorbing new information and explaining it to others, are all hugely important aspects of your learning and formation here at LST. Taking shortcuts to get a better grade through misuse of AI or any other form of academic misconduct affects your own growth and development above all—and as emphasised above, will be subject to the penalties set out in the Academic Misconduct Policy.

We think it’s important for students to approach their studies with integrity, engaging wholeheartedly in the learning process, and approaching this investment of time, energy and money as an act of worship. These Guidelines are intended to help you do that; they will be accompanied soon by a more formal AI Policy, which a special AI Working Group has been established to produce. 

3. Extenuating Circumstances

This page summarises information from the Extenuating Circumstances Policy. Please refer to this for more detail. If there is any uncertainty the policy should be taken as the proper guide - it can be found on the Key Documents page.

What are extenuating circumstances?

If a sudden, unexpected, significantly disruptive event that is beyond your control interferes with your submission of an assessment, or impairs your performance, you may apply for Extenuating Circumstances. Successful application may result in a new deferred deadline being given (an 'extension'), a deferred examination, or else a note being made against your assessment mark.

For Extenuating Circumstances to be accepted you must be able to demonstrate that these circumstances are:

• Outside your control
• Unforeseen and unforeseeable
• Serious
• True
• Happened either at the same time as the assessment due date or during the preparation period immediately before the assessment due date

And you must be able to provide evidence, normally an official document, signed as appropriate and stating the dates during which the circumstances applied. 

Note that for the first time in 2024-25 we are allowing EC applications with self-certification (i.e. without evidence) for deferrals of up to 3 days. However this is not automatic and a form must be completed. Also the normal rules for what counts and doesn't count as EC are the same. Follow the link below to access the form.

Examples of Extenuating Circumstances (EC)

• Illness - serious enough to be covered by a doctor's note or other medical paperwork
• Bereavement - close family or friends
• Car accident or similar crisis

More examples are given in the table in the policy. Remember, you must be able to provide evidence of these events if your application is to be accepted. It must be in English and relevant to the period claimed.

What does NOT count?

• Pressure of work
• Failure to read exam timetable accurately
• Cold
• IT or printer issues

Key Information

• EC will not alter marks.
• However, EC may be considered by the Assessment Board in deciding on progression or awards.

How do I apply for Extenuating Circumstances?

You should apply using this online form. 

What happens if I am given Extenuating Circumstances?

A member of the Registry team will contact you by email to confirm your EC. 

If you are successful this will usually be that you are given a deferral of your assessment - either a new assessment date, or an opportunity to take an exam at another time. Alternatively, if you have submitted work that you wish EC to be considered for, this information will be considered by the Assessment Board.

For more information and details, please see the policy on the Key Documents page. Note that a new Policy will be issued for 2024-25.

4. Appeals

If you wish to make an Appeal to the Assessment Board, or against a decision of the Assessment Board you should make this in writing to the Academic Secretary (copied to Registrar). [Ask the Registrar whether you should use the new online Appeals Form].

Information about Appeals can be found in the Programme Handbook.