Satisfactory Academic Progress for Federal Aid Recipients

All students who are in receipt of US Federal Aid whilst studying at St George's, University of London (SGUL) are required to make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) on their course of study and to abide by all Ordinances and Regulations of the University.

The US Department of Education requires St George's, University of London to check the student's progress at intervals, and to ensure that they are meeting all requirements.

Students are expected to be in attendance and progress is measured by 'Academic Standing' and by maximum timeframe to complete the course.

'Academic standing' is measured according to the criteria below and the maximum timeframe stipulates that students may not take more that 150% of the normal duration to complete their studies.

Undergraduate students exceeding the 150% timeframe to complete their studies will make themselves ineligible to receive US Financial Aid.

Qualitative Standard

St George's, University of London does not use the grade point system (or GPAs) adopted by higher education institutions in the United States of America.

In terms of credit accumulation, each programme is based upon the accumulation of credit in each year of the programme, using the standard undergraduate UK framework. Credits will be awarded at the end of each year. Credits will not be awarded for completion of part of a year's study and assessment.

The assessments related to the modules take place throughout the year, but with the majority of assessments being in the summer term. Students will receive provisional results during the year for those assessments taken during the year. Students who are not successful at these assessments have an opportunity during the year to resit or resubmit. At the end of the academic year the Board of Examiners will ratify all student marks and confirm student progression to the next year of the programme. To progress to the next academic year students are expected to have attained at least the equivalent of grade C (satisfactory progression). This will be measured cumulatively.

On completion of the second academic year, all students must have attained satisfactory progression marks that is consistent with SGULs requirements for graduation (at least grade C). Again, this will be measured cumulatively.

It is only at the end of the academic year that this process will take place. Therefore all students are considered to be in good academic standing until the Board of Examiners ratifies progression to the next year or otherwise.

That said, student academic progression and attendance throughout the year is very closely monitored and followed up at the time if there are concerns. Remedial measures would be put into place immediately if necessary. Students would not be permitted to progress to the next year of the programme if there was still unsatisfactory attendance and progress.

Quantitative Standard

SGUL undergraduate programmes are integrated programmes and all students are required to complete all years and all modules. The modules taken each academic year are all compulsory. All federal aid recipients at SGUL on undergraduate programmes will be registered on full-time programmes. There is a notional 40 hour learning week for each student.

Postgraduate students will complete the programme within the specified time frame as indicated in the programme regulations for their particular course.

Pace

The evaluation process will ensure that a student is progressing at a pace such that they will complete their course within the maximum timeframe allowed. The maximum timeframe for completion is shown in the table below. A student becomes ineligible for FSA when it is no longer possible for them to complete the course within the maximum timeframe.

Pace is calculated by dividing the number of credits completed by the number of credits taken. 66.7% is the pace at which students must be successfully completing their courses to finish within the maximum timeframe and measured cumulatively.

Incompletes

St George's, University of London does not allow 'incompletes' on its programmes. Students must complete any incomplete work before they are permitted to progress to the next year of the programme. All attempts will be counted towards both the quantitative and qualitative measurement.

Withdrawals

If a student withdraws from a course/module with mitigating circumstances they would be required to retake/repeat the course/module at a later date. If a student withdraws from a course/module this would be counted as a 'course attempt'.

Students would not be allowed to progress on to the next year of their programme until the course/module had been passed.

Repetitions

St George's, University of London does allow its students to repeat failed courses/modules and any grade earned in a course/module will be counted toward the qualitative component. Students are normally permitted to repeat a course/module on one occasion; further attempts would be at the discretion of SGUL. Once the repeated course/module has been passed further repeats will not be allowed, but all attempts will be counted towards the 150% of the normal duration to complete studies.

Change of major and transfer credits

All programmes that are offered by SGUL are 'Single Honours', so students would not have the option to major in any particular subject and all modules within programmes are compulsory. SGUL does not allow its students to transfer between programmes. However, students/applicants may be admitted to Year 2 (Transition (T) Year) of the four -year Graduate Medicine programme (MBBS) on the basis of a prior qualification or previous study in appropriate subject's equivalent to one years' study. Such applicants must demonstrate that the curriculum they followed during their previous study is equivalent to that of year 1 of the St George's, University of London four year MBBS stream.  Once registered at SGUL, all attempts will be counted towards the 150% of the normal duration to complete studies.

Additional degrees

Students on the MBBS (Medicine) programme would be able to earn an additional degree whilst studying at SGUL if they wish to.

All undergraduate students on the MBBS5 programme in Years 2, 3 & 4 who have passed years 1 and 2 have the right to apply to study towards an Intercalated BSc and then return to complete the MBBS programme. This BSc degree is studied over one academic year.

To be awarded the BSc degree, a student must reach the pass mark in modules to the value of 120 credits, all at the final year Honours degree level.

At SGUL, the degree awarded is BSc Hons Basic Medical Sciences. The degree title may be amended to reflect the modules taken by individual students, i.e. BSc Honours in Basic Medical Sciences with a particular subject where a student has undertaken a minimum of 75 credits in that subject area (e.g. Basic Medical Sciences with Physiology).

Undergraduate students are expected to maintain satisfactory progression through their course of study. If a student's performance drops below the equivalent of grade C (satisfactory progression), they will be placed on probation for Financial Aid and will also lose their Title IV eligibility unless they submit an appeal and the appeal is approved. The students' academic performance will be expected to be at the required level of SAP at the time the appeal is approved. If the student achieves the required standard they will be placed in good standing for financial aid.  If the student fails at the next attempt to meet either the qualitative (grade based) or quantitative measures of SAP, the student will be suspended for the purpose of financial aid. If the student fails at the next attempt and withdraws from their course of study then Financial Aid will be suspended. If the student meets the requirements for progression on the course of study they will be placed in good standing for financial aid.

An examination result of 'Proceed' is sufficient for disbursements made after results have been published and for the first disbursement of the following academic year. No progress confirmation is required for the first disbursement for a student's loan.

Postgraduate students are expected to maintain satisfactory progression through their course of study. Enquires will be made with the Department to check they are progressing in the required time frame and check attendance before Financial Aid payments are due. An examination result of 'pass' is sufficient for disbursements to be made after results have been published and for the first disbursement of the following year. No Progress confirmation is required for the first disbursement for a student's loan. If the student is not progressing satisfactory, then they will be placed on probation for Financial Aid. At the time of the next request for progress confirmation, if the student is not progressing then the student's Financial Aid will be suspended.

If the student meets the requirements for progression on the course of study they will be eligible to receive financial aid.

Appeal Procedure

To appeal the financial aid suspension, a student must, within 14 calendar days of notification, submit to the Academic Registrar, a signed and dated letter of appeal explaining why he or she should not be suspended. A student may appeal due to an emergency condition (e.g., health, family, catastrophe, etc.). Documentation verifying the situation may be requested.

If a student's appeal against suspension is successful then the student's good standing will be restored. If a student's appeal against suspension is successful then the student will be placed on probation for the payment period.

A student that has their Federal Aid suspended but continues the course under their own means and subsequently meets Satisfactory Academic Progress standards will be entitled to regain a probationary status and apply for loans.

The Academic Registrar will consider the appeal and render a decision, which will be conveyed in writing to the student within two weeks of the student's appeal.

If a student's appeal is not upheld, is unsuccessful or the student does not appeal, the student loses eligibility and has financial aid suspended.

Students that have exceeded the 150% time limit on their programme cannot be reinstated for financial aid.

Please send your appeal to:

The Academic Registrar
Registry, Hunter Wing
St. George's, University of London,
Cranmer Terrace, Tooting,
London, SW17 0RE

All decisions made will be final.