How is my Engagement Monitored?

Engagement monitoring of students holding a visa is achieved through setting a series of specific contact points which you must meet throughout the course of the academic year. These are as follows:

You will not be made aware which sessions have been set by your School as designated contact points. It is therefore imperative that you participate in all areas of your course in-person. Please note that virtual meetings will not count as a contact point met.

The QUB Engagement Monitoring App should be used to record your attendance at QUB lectures, tutorials, seminars. When you attend class, an academic member of staff will display a QR code for you to scan using your phone.

To use this service, you must be a current student at the University, with an active user account, and have a strong Wi-Fi or mobile data connection. Start by scanning the QR code and the Attendance Monitoring web page will be launched with the event details pre-populated.

Please Note: QR Codes will only be presented at sessions which have been set by your School as a designated contact point. In order to ensure that you do not miss a contact point, it is imperative that you engage with all areas of your studies and attend every class scheduled.

If you are a Postgraduate Research (PGR) student, QR Codes do not apply. It is therefore imperative that you upload your formal meeting records to the Queen’s Student Information System (Qsis) monthly, prior to the end of each month so that your engagement is logged.

All meetings must take place in-person. Meeting records logged as having taken place virtually will not be included and missed contact points will generate for students who log a ‘Virtual’ meeting.

Please consult the ‘training material and simulations’ section on the Qsis website for instructions on how to upload the reports.

Please Note: Your School of study will upload contact points on your behalf upon submission of your Thesis and when you undertake your Viva.

Please contact your School of study directly to request a Temporary Withdrawal / Leave of Absence (LOA) or to have an Authorised Absence form approved.

No missed contact points will generate for you during a period of approved Authorised Absence or on a Leave of Absence.

Please Note: the academic year runs from 1 September - 31 August for all levels.

• Official University Closure Days 
• Semester Dates

Please Note: The precise timetable of activity varies between programmes and, due to the nature of the course, some courses have additional teaching / placements / professional practice requirements which fall outside of the normal semester dates.

Student visa holders are granted permission to be in the UK to study. It is understood that on occasion you may need to remain registered but undertake a period of study outside the UK.

Off-Campus Study is only permitted in limited circumstances, as listed below:  

The maximum permitted overseas research period is normally 6 months in a rolling 12-month period.

Please be aware that your engagement will continue to be monitored whilst you are on any period of 'Off-Campus Study', therefore it is imperative that you maintain contact with your School and respond to any communications received.

Any period of Off-Campus Study should be requested using the below form:

• Off-Campus Study Form 

The Immigration Support Service must be able to confirm that it knows of a sponsored student’s whereabouts, and that the time spent off-campus has been authorised so that the relevant report can be made to UKVI regarding your change of location. Please submit the completed form through to your School well in advance of your period of Off-Campus Study.

The University has a range of resources to help you with your studies.

Please refer to the MyQueen’s webpage, to find out more about the range of support services available to you.

The services offered by the Student Wellbeing Service are free and available to registered students at the University.​​

Support is available at all levels of your student journey. ​

At the start of each month, ISS will contact any students with missed contact points via email regarding their lack of engagement across the previous month. 

If you miss 1 or 2 contact points

• ISS will be in touch via email to explain the implications on your student visa if you fail to re-engage with your course of study
• Your School will also follow up accordingly, prompting you to re-engage with your studies
• ISS will continue to contact you monthly until you successfully re-engage

3 or more Missed Contact Points
2 or more if you are a Postgraduate Research student
2 or more if you are a Postgraduate Taught student undertaking a research module or writing up your dissertation

• You will be invited to attend a student support meeting with your School
• If you fail to attend this meeting and do not successfully re-engage with your studies, you will receive one final opportunity to explain your lack of engagement to the Immigration Support Service

Please Note: Once a student misses 60 days due to unauthorised absences (30 days if outside the UK), the University must report them to UKVI as withdrawn and cease sponsorship of their visa.

If your visa is cancelled, you will be required to leave the UK within approximately 60 days from the date the UKVI report is made. It is therefore imperative that you actively and consistently follow your course of study.

Please contact your School and ISS if there is anything preventing you from doing so to make us aware of your situation. If you are unwell, please refer to the 'Absence from your Studies' section above.