Student attendance and absence

The Student Attendance Policy applies to all taught students registered on a campus-based (not wholly online) academic programme at the University.

Student Attendance Policy - updated for the 2024/25 academic year 

The Policy (PDF, 235KB) sets out how the monitoring of student attendance is a supportive measure designed to enhance student welfare, engagement and success, and has been updated for the 2024/25 academic year. 

Why do we monitor attendance?

Regular attendance at teaching and learning activities is recognised as being linked to successful student retention, progression, achievement and employability. Conversely, poor attendance can help identify cases where students may be experiencing difficulties – academically and/or personally – and might need particular support. 

A unified and consistent approach

The Student Attendance Project was set up as part of the Student Data Systems Programme, to establish a unified and consistent approach for collecting and reporting on both UK and international student attendance data in line with our Student Attendance Policy and to ensure we meet our academic, legal and contractual requirements in respect to student attendance monitoring.

New tools were developed and rolled out to support attendance and absence monitoring and reporting, with new ways of working being adopted across the majority of the University's taught programmes during 2022/23. 

Following consultation with academic areas and central student administration, the Student Attendance Policy was reviewed. The updated policy, approved by Senate in summer 2023, sets out how academic areas are now expected to use attendance data to support students whose attendance level is below expectations. 

Monitoring attendance and absence

Attendance monitoring functionality is integrated into the University’s central timetable system, and attendance data can be collected for any scheduled timetabled session. The process for collecting attendance data is very simple; a member of staff generates and shares a unique code with students, which students then use to register their attendance via their laptop/mobile device. 

The University's absence system similarly provides a consistent and simple way for students to request absence from their studies outside scheduled vacation periods.  

Guidance for monitoring attendance

Student guidance

The following guidance sets out the steps that student need to follow in order to register their attendance at timetabled activities using the unique 6-digit code provided for a specific timetabled activity. 

Videos
Step-by-step guides (PDFs for download and print)
Staff guidance

The following guidance sets out the steps that staff need to follow in order to generate a unique 6-digit code for each timetabled activity (on-campus and synchronous online).

Videos
Step-by-step guides (PDFs for download and print)

Guidance for managing absence

Student guidance

Students can access the absence system via the student intranet / browser and the MyLiverpool mobile app. 

  • Students can self-certify certain requests up to 7 days
  • Approval required for absences greater than 7 days
  • Easy to submit required documentation
  • Students will have easily accessible record of their approved absences

The following guidance sets out the steps that students should follow to let us know if they are unable to attend the University.

Videos
Step-by-step guides (PDFs for download and print)
Staff guidance

Nominated staff access to the absence administration system is via staff intranet. The following guidance sets out how staff should manage absence requests from students. 

Staff video
Step-by-step guides (PDFs for download and print)

Further advice and information

  • Please raise any queries you have via this staff teams site, which is managed by colleagues tasked with attendance monitoring. 
  • Technical issues should be raised via IT Service Desk. 

 

Back to: Student Life (previously Student Administration and Support)