Attendance is monitored during classes, seminars and by submission of assessments.
You must keep your department informed of the reason for any absences so that they can update your attendance as required e.g. if you are ill it can be marked as absent with reason.
It is an exceptional circumstance for a student to require an absence from their studies during term time. However, should you face an issue where you need a leave of absence e.g. a genuine family emergency or a visa refusal where you need to apply overseas, you are permitted a maximum of three weeks absence. This covers week days, excluding Saturdays and Sundays. Overseas internships are not an exceptional circumstance and leave should not be granted to Student visa holders during term-time for this purpose.
An approved absence can only be granted by your department and will be dependent on your academic progress on your programme. The Student Advice and Engagement Team in the Student Services Centre will need to be informed of any approved absences for taught students and the PhD Academy for PhD students. Departments are able to turn down any requests for an absence duing term time, especially if they believe it will affect your studies.
If you have an approved absence, your department should mark you as 'Absent with Reason' on the registers so that you are not flagged as part of our Engagement Monitoring processes.