Campus Central
Campus Central

Attendance and Engagement

The University lays down formal regulations about attendance (see the ‘University Regulations’ - https://www.mdx.ac.ae/about-us/university-regulations).

Middlesex University Dubai is keen to ensure all students enhance their academic potential. One of the ways we do this is by monitoring attendance, which allows us to work with students to resolve any issues that may prevent students from attending classes.

Students should attend all scheduled classes and prescribed activities. For each module, attendance requirements will be detailed in the Module Handbook. Students are generally expected to attend at least 75% of the scheduled taught sessions for each module; however, in many cases the requirements are higher.

Studies have shown that good student engagement has a positive impact on performance and therefore is an important factor in helping you to fulfil your academic potential. Engaging with on-campus or online and remote learning activities is integral to your success. In addition, for those who are on student visas, Dubai’s regulatory authorities require attendance to be monitored.

Middlesex University Dubai supports students, enabling them to achieve their full potential. We provide this support through a number of strategies, all of which provide our students with a supportive learning environment online, remotely, face-to-face, or blended. Online support material on MyUniHub is provided as a guide to the content of the class but is no substitute for interaction with your tutor and classmates. In accordance with University Regulation C2.1 for taught programmes of study, it is the responsibility of students to attend scheduled classes and prescribed activities for the modules on which they are registered.

Further information on engaging with your programme will be available at your Induction and updates online at UniHub at https://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/study/assessment/attendance

Your lecturers will maintain attendance records during scheduled teaching sessions using a variety of tools such as Microsoft Teams or Unihub lists. You are expected to follow any guidelines and instructions provided for proper recording of your attendance for online or face-to-face learning sessions.

If you experience difficulties beyond your control, which prevents you from engaging with your module, you should notify your tutor and CampusCentral, who may be able to offer support and guidance. The University Regulations (C2) state every student must attend the scheduled learning sessions and activities specified in the regulations governing the module/programme.

Where your attendance fails to meet the minimum required to meet the learning outcomes of the module (as published in the module/programme handbook), you may be excluded from the assessment. You may have the opportunity of taking the whole module again with permission from the Programme Leader, without grade penalty, though you will have to pay the relevant tuition fee for the module.

Things you should know about attendance

Your punctuality and attendance are important, not just for you but for your cohort and peers.

  • For all on-campus and online sessions, student attendance will be monitored via the Microsoft Teams or UniHub lists. For asynchronous online sessions, attendance will correspond to the level of interaction and involvement in formative assessments, online discussions forums etc.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure your attendance is recorded and as a professional courtesy you should let your lecturer know if you are going to be, or have been absent.
  • If you consistently miss sessions, you will be contacted by the CampusCentral or your tutor.
  • Students should make sure they have their student ID card when attending sessions.
  • If you are frequently late or your attendance falls below the required amount specified in your programme/module handbook, your record will be reviewed.

The ‘X’ assessment grade is applied to your module if you fail to participate in the learning processes of a module (as specified in the module/programme handbook) for which you are registered. It is not a 'punishment' for poor attendance but a recognition that you have not been able to prepare yourself for assessment in the content of the module. It is also given when you drop a module without formally removing it from your registered programme of study.

You must make yourself available to attend all formal assessments at the time given, including viva voce examinations. Failure to attend an assessment or submit coursework by the deadline without having obtained a deferral will result in failure in the module with a grade 20. Any resubmission or resit opportunities must be met at the next available opportunity. Administrative fees are applicable for each instance of resubmission or resit (see the ‘Tuition Fees’ section for details). You need to renew a deferral at every point.

Unsatisfactory attendance may affect your eligibility for scholarships and tuition fee payment plans. Interrupting or withdrawing may affect your fees or financial entitlements. Speak to the Finance Office for advice.

The University Regulations on attendance are detailed in Section C2: Attendance, under https://www.mdx.ac.ae/about-us/university-regulations.

Punctuality and Arriving Late to Class

You should arrive at your class on time. Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes and prescribed activities on time. Generally, students who arrive more than 10 minutes late may not be permitted to enter the classroom until the next available opportunity to ensure classes are not interrupted. Students arriving late will not appear as attended on the register for the session. If you arrive late for your classes, you may not be allowed to mark attendance for those classes. Please remember that your late arrival diminishes your own learning experience and disturbs your fellow classmates

Absence from the University

If students experience difficulties beyond their control which prevent them from attending class, it is their responsibility to:

  • report any period of absence for Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes, in the case of unavoidable circumstances, to your lecturer and to the CampusCentral within 7 (seven) calendar days of the absence period by filling the ‘Leave of Absence Application’ form.
  • report your absence within 1 (one) calendar day from the last day of attendance if you are undertaking the International Foundation Programme (IFP).
  • To fill the ‘Leave of Absence Application’ accurately and completely and to attach valid evidence as proof of excused absence.
  • To inform the CampusCentral immediately in writing if you are withdrawing / interrupting from a programme of study by filling the relevant form (see more information on ‘Withdrawal of Studies’ or ‘Interruption’).

As a matter of courtesy, if you cannot attend a scheduled class for any reason, you should email your tutor to explain your absence.

If you do not attend the scheduled classes for your modules for 3 consecutive weeks at any time during an academic year, and are not able to provide a satisfactory explanation to your Campus Programme Coordinator (CPC) and the CampusCentral, University Regulation C2.6 states that, under these circumstances, the University has the right to withdraw you from your programme.

Prolonged absence may put your Student Visa at risk, and you may be required to leave the country.

If you are absent due to illness, you should notify the CampusCentral. If you are having difficulties attending classes because of personal, financial or academic problems, please talk at an early stage to relevant professional staff – the Student Counsellor, your Campus Programme Coordinator (CPC), the Finance Office, your Module tutors, and so on.