Anglia Ruskin University is required by US regulations to ensure that all students applying for, or receiving, Federal Aid (subsidized, unsubsidized and PLUS) are making satisfactory academic progress (SAP) in order to remain eligible to receive US loan support.
Students are expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress throughout their course of study. If you are receiving a US Direct Loan and you don't make satisfactory progress in your studies, your loan payments may be suspended.
The SAP review will be conducted once annually, at the designated progression point for each course (e.g. progression decisions for students on a course commencing in Semester 1 are made at the end of the Semester 2; progression decisions for students on a course commencing in Trimester 1 are made at the end of Trimester 2). Any student not meeting the SAP standards at that point will lose Title IV eligibility.
For new undergraduate students about to start a course as above, SAP is met by being accepted to Anglia Ruskin. For current undergraduates, on submission of an application for Federal Aid we will confirm that you are making satisfactory academic progress. In order to be making satisfactory academic progress we will confirm that your progress to date is anticipated to be sufficient for you to obtain a pass when you take your exams.
For new graduate students about to start a course as above, SAP is met by being accepted to Anglia Ruskin. For current graduates on submission of an application for Federal Aid we will check your student record for progression. In order to be making satisfactory academic progress we will confirm that your progress to date is anticipated to be sufficient for you to obtain a pass when you take your exams.
Qualitative (grade based) standard:Students must achieve minimum standards as required by their supervisor/tutor, Academic Department/Faculty, equivalent to the pass mark for modules which are fine graded at 40%, however students must also achieve at least 30% in each item of assessment within a module. In the case of research students, they are expected to be making steady progress, as outlined in the Research Degrees Regulations. Postgraduate research degrees candidates are required to attend an annual review meeting by the anniversary of their registration. This is taken from the University’s Regulations.
Students who fail a module at the first attempt are permitted one further opportunity to pass the module. The maximum combined value of retaken and replacement modules taken by a student cannot exceed 30 credits at any one level; and 60 credits in total for the course.
Quantitative (time-based) standard: Students must progress through their programme at a pace which ensures that they will graduate within the maximum timeframe. The maximum timeframe for completion is 150 % of the standard published timeframe for a course in credit hours (for example, completing the program after attempting a maximum of 180 credits for a 120-credit program). This equates to a minimum cumulative completion rate of two-thirds of credits attempted (67%) prior to reaching the maximum timeframe allowed to receive Title IV aid. A student must also remain at least half time in order to be eligible for Federal Aid.
Both the Qualitative and Quantitative SAP standards are reviewed at each evaluation point, for Anglia Ruskin University this is undertaken annually.
A student who fails to meet SAP standards will be notified that they are ineligible for further disbursements of US Federal Aid. A student who fails to meet the SAP standards may appeal on the following:
Evidence should be submitted where possible (e.g. medical notes or death certificates). Appeals must be in writing to [email protected] using the appropriate proforma. Written letters are to be sent as e-mail attachments. Communication is not conducted via postal services except for the final outcome.
Receipt of the appeal will be acknowledged within 7 working days, and the panel will aim to hold a review within 30 days of the date of acknowledgement. The student will be notified within 7 workings days of the review. The Appeal Panel has the right to call for additional written evidence from the appellant and/or Anglia Ruskin University staff and to include any such additional evidence as he/she thinks is conducive to a better informed judgement, in which cases these timescales may be extended. The decision of the Appeal Panel is final.
If the Appeal Panel determines that the student should be able to meet the SAP standards by the end of the subsequent payment period, the student will be placed on probation. The student’s progress will be reviewed at the end of the payment period, as probation is for one term/semester only. If the student is not meeting the SAP standards at this point, then they will not be eligible for further disbursements of US student loans until they are able to take action that brings them into compliance with the SAP standards.
If the Appeal Panel determines that the student will require more than one payment period in order to meet the SAP standards, the student will be placed on probation and an academic plan will be drawn up, in collaboration with the student’s supervisor, tutor and/or department. The student’s progress will be reviewed at the end of the payment period to determine if the student is meeting the requirements of the academic plan. If the student is meeting the requirements of the academic plan, the student is eligible to receive US student loans as long as they continue to meet those requirements. If a student needs to change their academic plan, then they must submit another appeal, explaining what has happened to make the change necessary and how they will be able to make academic progress. If the student fails to meet the requirements of their academic plan or their appeal to change their academic plan is unsuccessful, then they will not be eligible for further disbursements of US student loans until they are able to take action that brings them into compliance with the SAP standards.
If a student have been placed on Financial Aid Probation and subsequently meets the SAP requirements in the next term they will be placed back into good Financial Aid Standing (SAP).
Any student who has been placed on probation and does not meet the requirements applicable to degree level will be suspended and ineligible to receive aid until such a time as they achieve the required standard. Reinstatement of eligibility for these loans is not automatic. A student can regain eligibility only by taking action that brings them into compliance with the SAP standards or submitting a successful appeal.
Students who transfer into a new academic programme will also transfer with any SAP warning or sanction and will still need to meet the specified criteria in the new programme before re-establishing eligibility to receive aid.
The University’s Academic Regulations are available electronically:
Please also refer to the University's ‘Rules and Regulations’ which outline a series of regulations which will affect your time at Anglia Ruskin. It contains all the relevant rules and regulations that should be observed over the course of a student or staff member's involvement in the University community. Copies of our Student Rules and Regulations are made available to new students on registration and all existing students when re-registering.
Periods of interrupted study, including maternity/paternity/adoption leave, are not included in the calculation of Quantitative (Pace) Requirements.
Any previous attempted or completed period of study taken at another institution for the same programme will be included within the calculation of Quantitative (Pace) Requirements.
Any attempted or completed credits transferred from other credit sources will count towards the calculation of Quantitative (Pace) Requirements. However, these will not be included in calculation towards Qualitative (Grade) Requirements.
Where students are either resubmitting assessments or resitting exams but they are not in attendance at the University, then these students are not eligible to receive FSA.
If students are required to repeat their year of study and are in attendance at the University for at least half of the year, then these students are eligible to receive FSA subject to meeting Quantitative (Pace) and Qualitative (Grade) Requirements and any Financial Aid Warning requirements as detailed in section 4.
Where students do not submit assessments or attend examinations they may have their FSA withdrawn as they may no longer meet the Quantitative (Pace) and Qualitative (Grade) Requirements necessary for receipt of FSA.
An unofficial withdrawal or University led withdrawal is one where a student has ceased attending their programme of study at the University but has failed to officially notify the University of this via the policy outlined above, and so the University will therefore undertake the withdrawal process on the student’s behalf using the last recorded date of attendance.
The University will follow its procedures for processing a University Led withdrawal as set forth in the withdrawal process as specified above.
Also see other relevant regulations, policies and procedures, as made available to students.