Satisfactory Academic Progress for Federal Aid Recipients

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

The US Department of Education requires Goldsmiths, University of London, to check the student’s progress at intervals and to ensure that they are meeting both the Quantitative and Qualitative requirements below. The Financial Aid Office will receive confirmation of SAP from Registry prior to disbursement of funds.

SAP is evaluated at the end of each term for undergraduate students and twice a year for postgraduate students. Students will be notified in writing if they have not met SAP requirements.

Quantitative requirements

Students are expected to be in attendance at Goldsmiths. Students may not receive aid once they have taken more than 150% of the normal duration of the program to complete their studies. This applies to both Undergraduate and Graduate students. Periods of interruption will not count towards this calculation.

If a student has attended part of the programme below full time, then this calculation will be based on the Full Time Equivalent of their studies (eg two years at 50% will count as one year FT study). Goldsmiths considers each year of FT undergraduate study to equal 120 credits and 180 credits for postgraduate taught programmes according to the Higher Education Framework for England.

For undergraduate programmes, students are required to be enrolled on a minimum of 60 credits to still be eligible. For postgraduate taught programmes, they must be enrolled on a minimum of 90 credits to still be eligible. Students enrolled on postgraduate research programmes in part-time attendance meet the requirements for Direct Loan funding.

Degree and course length	Credits to complete	Maximum Timeframe
Bachelors (3 years)	360	4.5 years
Bachelors (4 years)	480	6 years
Masters (12 months)	180	1.5 years
Masters (15 months)	210	22.5 months
Doctoral (3 years)	N/A	4.5 years
Doctoral (4 years)	N/A	6 years

Qualitative requirements

Undergraduate students

Undergraduate students are expected to maintain satisfactory progression through their course of study. If a student’s average marks drop below an equivalent of 2.0 GPA (assessment mark average 40%), the Student will be given a Financial Aid Warning until the next SAP assessment, by which time their grades will be expected to be at the required level.

If the student achieves the required standard, they will be placed in good standing for Financial Aid. If the marks do not meet the required standard at the next attempt, the student will be suspended for the purpose of Financial Aid. If the student fails at the next attempt and does not proceed on their course of study, then Financial Aid will be suspended. If the student subsequently meets the requirements for progression on the course of study, they will be placed in good standing for Financial Aid.

Providing the student has not exceeded 150% of the normal duration, an Examination Result of ‘Proceed’ (assessment mark average 40%) 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 programme of study.

Postgraduate students

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 towards a good pass in the required time frame and verify attendance before Financial Aid cheques are due. An Examination Result of ‘Proceed’ is sufficient for disbursements 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 programme of study. If the student is not progressing, then the student will be given a ‘Financial Aid Warning’. At the time of the next request the student is not progressing then the student’s Financial Aid will be suspended.

See Regulations for Taught Programmes for the Goldsmiths’ assessment regulations.

Other requirements

If it is stated by the department that the student is not attending at least 50%, or time put into the research is felt by the department not to be equal to 50% or above, 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.

Pace of completion

Under Goldsmiths regulations, students are expected to successfully complete 75% of course credits for each year of study in order to progress to the next year of study.

Students must maintain a minimum cumulative completion rate of two thirds of credits attempted, which equals 67% in order to meet the SAP maximum completion timeframe. For example, a student on a full time three-year undergraduate degree would be required to pass 40 of the 60 credits taken in the first term to maintain SAP.  A minimum of 80 of the 120 credits at the end of the second term to meet SAP requirements.

Under Goldsmiths regulations, undergraduate students are required to have successfully completed 90 of the 120 credits sat in an academic year to be permitted to proceed to the next year of study. A student can meet the 80 credit SAP requirement of the Federal Aid policy but not be allowed to proceed to the next year of study under Goldsmiths' regulations.

Students who fail to meet the requirement to proceed under Goldsmiths regulations will be required to re-sit the year in the next session, dependent on the outcome at the Exam Board, either in full-time attendance, part-time attendance, or in non-attendance. Federal loan eligibility in the next session would then be dependent on whether the student has met SAP under Federal Aid policy and their mode of study in the new session.

For postgraduate taught degrees where the requirement is to take 180 credits over one academic year, a student must complete a minimum of 120 of the 180 credits an academic year to meet SAP requirements.

Students failing to meet the SAP requirements will be issued with a ‘Financial Aid Warning’.

If a student transfers from another institution, then credits or courses that will count towards the student’s final degree will be used to calculate a student’s ‘Pace’.

If a student transfers to a new programme of study, where modules from the old programme contribute towards the new programme, then the credit hours completed will count towards student’s final degree will be used to calculate a student’s ‘Pace’.

If a student interrupts or withdraws in the middle of a term, any credit hours completed will be used to calculate a student’s ‘Pace’ on return to study.

Students repeating credits need to pass at the next available opportunity. For example, an undergraduate student who has taken 60 credits in term one must complete 40 credits to maintain Pace. The remaining 20 credits will be taken at the next resit opportunity. To maintain Pace in term two the student must pass 40 of the 60 credits taken, the remaining 20 credits will be taken at the next resit opportunity.

If a student fails to progress to the next year of study under Goldsmiths regulations, a Financial Aid Warning will be issued. If a student fails to pass the outstanding credits at the next assessment opportunity, Financial Aid will be suspended.

Students will be informed by email if they are given a ‘Warning’ or if Financial Aid is probated or suspended.  Students may appeal for extenuating or unforeseen circumstance. Verification will be required.

Financial Aid Warning

Students that fail to make Satisfactory Academic Progress will firstly be issued with a ‘Financial Aid Warning’. This warning will last for one payment period (ie until the next disbursement), during which time a student can still receive Financial Aid. Students that fail to regain Satisfactory Academic Progress by the next disbursement will no longer be eligible for Aid, unless they are successful in an appeal (see below).

Appeals procedure

To appeal the Financial Aid suspension, a student must, within 14 calendar days of notification, submit to the Financial Aid Office a signed and dated letter of appeal explaining why he or she shouldn't have Financial Aid suspended. A student may appeal due to an emergency condition (e.g., health, family, catastrophe, etc.) and state what has changed in their situation that will allow them to meet Satisfactory Progress at the next evaluation date. Documentation verifying the situation may be requested.

The Financial Aid Committee will consider the appeal and render a decision, which the Director of Financial Aid will convey in writing to the student within two weeks of the student’s appeal.

Please send your appeal to:
Financial Aid Officer
Goldsmiths, University of London
London
SE14 6NW

All decisions made are final.

If the Financial Aid Committee determines that the student will not be able to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards, then the student will be ineligible for further disbursements of US federal aid until they are able to take action that brings them into compliance with the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards. If a student who has lost federal aid eligibility and subsequently meets the requirements of Satisfactory Academic Progress, they would be placed back into good Financial Aid Standing.

Financial Aid probation

If a student’s appeal against suspension is successful, then the student’s good standing 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, or receive loans.

Students that fail SAP after a period of probation cannot receive aid unless they are successful in a further appeal and develop an academic plan approved by their supervisor.

Students that have exceeded the 150% time limit on their programme cannot receive Federal Aid and cannot be reinstated at any point.

Important information

Please note that Students undertaking any part of their course in the USA or drop below 50% FTE are not entitled to Federal Aid. This regulation is not covered by the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy above and therefore is not subject to a Financial Aid Warning, Probation or Appeal. 

Financial Aid warnings, probation and suspensions related solely to students’ eligibility to receive Federal Student Aid from the US Department of Education and will not affect enrolment status.