Intercalation - Notes for Guidance
What is intercalation?
Intercalation is the term used when a student/trainee suspends their formal studies for an agreed period of time. Valid reasons for intercalation may be of a serious personal, medical or financial nature which prevents a student from continuing their studies for an extended period. Academic failure is not a valid reason for intercalation. The period of intercalation must be for a minimum of one semester and should not be for more than one academic year except in the case of Nursing students in the Faculty of Health where the period is individually negotiated. Requests for intercalation for longer than one academic year will not be normally approved although it is possible to make further application for an individual yearto the Academic Registrar.
Are there any restrictions regardingintercalation?
The main principle of intercalation is that the restart date allows the student/trainee to pick up at the next appropriate assessment point. It is not an opportunity to repeat periods of study or assessment already undertaken which could provide an academic advantage. Student/trainees who intercalate within the first 4weeks of a semester may be allowed to restart the semester at the next opportunity at the same point within the programme but, in general, repeating periods of study is not permitted.
Requests for intercalation after the mid-point of a semester are subject to individual consideration. Academic Registry or Faculty of Health and Social Care staff are available to discuss with the student/trainee whether intercalation or a repeat year is appropriate for their circumstances.
Students/trainees may not intercalate later than one calendar month before the end of teaching on the modules involved. Thereafter, if assessments are missed for valid reasons, student/trainees should submit an Exceptional Mitigating Circumstances (EMC) application where appropriate and their results for that period will be subject to consideration by the Assessment Board. Education trainees are not normally permitted to make a request to intercalate whilst on placement; if valid reasons exist and a trainee is unable to continue, an EMC form should be submitted.
Do I have to do anything before I return to the programme?
Students/trainees should be aware that changes to programmes or professional requirements for Education and Health and Social Care programmes may have an impact on when a student/trainee is able to return to their programme of study and this will form part of the discussion with their tutors.
Students/trainees who intercalate for a medical reason will be required to provide evidence that they are fit enough to return before they are able to continue with their
programme i.e. a letter from their doctor or other qualified professional. Students/trainees following a professional programme will also be referred to Occupational Health for clearance.
Intercalating students/trainees who originally required DBSor Medical clearance will also be referred to Admissions to obtain further clearance before they are allowed to continue with their programme.
Intercalating students/trainees who have outstanding assessment will normally be expected to complete them at the next available opportunity and before they return to study. Academic Registry will write to students with further details at the point which they intercalate. Failure to complete outstanding assessment by the relevant deadlines may lead to a student/trainee being failed and withdrawn from their programme.
Students are required to keep in touch with their Personal Tutor or a named contact during a period of intercalation. The frequency of this contact must be at least every 3 months. Such contact is agreed on the Intercalation and Support Agreement form.
Who do I contact if I wish to intercalate?
Faculty of Arts & Sciences programmesTel:01695 58 4803
Email:
Faculty of Education programmes Tel: 01695 58 4729
Tel: 01695 65 7370
Email:
Faculty of Health and Social CareTel:01695 58 4166
ProgrammesTel:01695 65 7369
Email:
Location: Academic Registry –1st Floor, Student Information Centre (SIC) Building, Ormskirk campus.
NB.The full Intercalation policy can be found on the Academic Registry wiki page at .