Satisfactory Academic Progress for Federal Aid Recipients

All students at the School are required to make satisfactory progress through their academic programme. In registering, students agree to be bound by the Academic Regulations and associated policies and procedures. These Regulations incorporate the key progression criteria and are summarised below. Full Regulations are available in the Calendar|.

Quantitative Requirements

Students are expected to be in attendance at the School for the full duration of each term of their programme. All seminars, tutorials and other small-group classes are compulsory. Any student who wishes to be away for a short period and for a good reason during term time must first obtain the consent of their academic advisor. Students away through illness must inform their adviser and each member of academic staff leading the compulsory sessions from which they are absent.

Students who miss two consecutive occasions, or are regularly absent without prior approval / evidence of illness, will be reported to their academic advisor. A warning will usually be issued to enable students to seek support or improve their attendance patterns. If attendance continues to be unsatisfactory, the School may require a student to interrupt their studies or the opportunity for assessment may be withdrawn. This will result in the student being suspended for Federal Aid.

Qualitative Requirements

All students are expected to maintain satisfactory academic progression throughout their programme.

Undergraduate students must achieve a minimum pass mark of 40% for each course unit (module) taken in each year of their programme. 

BA/BSc students must pass at least three of four course units (or their equivalents) taken in year one to progress to year two. BA/BSc students must pass at least seven of eight course units (or their equivalents) taken by the end of year two in order to progress to year three. Students who fail one unit at either progression point are permitted to progress but are required to resit the failed unit at the next available attempt. 

Bachelor of Laws (LLB) students must pass each of the five course units taken in year in order to progress to year two. LLB students must pass two of four course units (subject to up the failed course units being condoned) to progress from year two to year three. Students who do not meet the progression requirements are required to resit the failed units at the next available attempt.

Students who are unable to meet the progression criteria are deemed unable to progress and will be suspended for the purpose of Federal Aid until they have met the progression requirements at the next available attempt. Students who meet the progression criteria are placed in good standing for Financial Aid.

Postgraduate students are expected to maintain satisfactory progress throughout their programme, including prompt submission of all formative and summative coursework. Students must achieve a minimum pass mark of 50% for each course unit taken in each year of their programme. Some postgraduate programmes which run for longer than twelve months have progression criteria which each student must meet before being permitted to continue their studies. These criteria are specified in the programme regulations.

Recording Satisfactory Academic

Students who fail to make satisfactory academic progress will have their electronic record amended accordingly throughout the academic year. These records are referred to before each Federal Aid disbursement. The table below shows the status codes that may be used on the enrolment record and the implication for eligibility for Federal Aid.

 

Status Code	Progression Status	Eligibility for Federal Aid
R	Registered	Good standing
RRT	Registered, repeat tuition and exams	Ineligible
BF	Break for academic failure, not registered	Ineligible
BP	Break for personal reasons, not registered	Ineligible
BU	Unauthorised break, not registered	Ineligible
URE	Unregistered, repeat exams	Ineligible
W	Withdrawn	Ineligible

 

Financial Aid Warning

Students that fail to make Satisfactory Academic Progress will firstly be issued with a ‘Financial Aid Warning’. This warning will last for 1 payment period (ie until the next disbursement), during which time a student can still receive Financial Aid. Students that fail to regain Satisfactory Academic Progress by the next disbursement will no longer be eligible for Aid, unless they are successful in an appeal (see below)

 

Appeal Procedure

To appeal the financial aid suspension, a student must, within 14 calendar days of notification, submit to the Fees Office a signed and dated letter of appeal explaining why he or she shouldn't have Financial Aid suspended. A student may appeal due to an emergency condition (e.g., health, family, catastrophe, etc.) and state what has changed in their situation that will allow them to meet Satisfactory Progress at the next evaluation date. Documentation verifying the situation may be requested.

The Federal Aid Committee will consider the appeal and render a decision, which the Head of Fees, Income and Credit Control will convey in writing to the student within two weeks of the student’s appeal.The Federal Aid Committee will consider the appeal and render a decision, which the Head of Fees, Income and Credit Control will convey in writing to the student within two weeks of the student’s appeal.

Please send your appeal to:

Fees Office fees@lse.ac.uk|  C/o: Linda Sclanders Fees Office Coordinator

All decisions made are final.