The Professional Staff Study Assistance Scheme is designed to support continuing and fixed term professional staff who wish to undertake part-time study to improve their qualifications for their present or expected future position in the University.
This includes:
- reimbursement of the compulsory Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) - via the Professional Staff Study Assistance ServiceOne form
- time off during normal working hours necessary for attendance at lectures, practical classes or examinations - at the discretion of their line manager
The University will not reimburse tuition fees, late fees, graduation expenses, book or note fees or FEE-HELP costs under the Study Assistance Scheme. Staff may be eligible to seek financial assistance through the Professional Staff Development Fund or the Professional Staff Conference Scheme.
Reimbursement of fees
Professional staff members may apply for reimbursement of the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) for subjects undertaken as part of an approved course by submitting the relevant Service One form. Applications must be approved by the staff member's supervisor.
Once an application is received and approved by People and Culture, staff will be provided with further instructions.
Applications must be approved each year before the study is undertaken. No applications for fee reimbursement will be approved retrospectively.
To qualify for a refund of fees, a person must be a professional member of staff of the University at the time the subject results are published, and must provide:
- Evidence of having passed or otherwise satisfactorily completed the subjects concerned, and
- Original receipts for the fees actually paid.
Expense reimbursement is sought via Service One on the completion of the subject and within the same calendar year.
Guidelines relating to leave provisions
Leave of absence with pay may be granted by the staff member's supervisor for an approved course of study in accordance with the following conditions:
- Up to six hours in any week to enable members of staff to attend lectures and practical classes (online or in-person) which they are required to attend in connection with subjects in an approved course provided that the periods of leave so granted shall not exceed the periods, including travelling time, required by the members of staff to attend such lectures and practical classes.
- Up to a maximum of five days a year to enable members of staff to undertake examinations in subjects in approved courses, provided that such members shall only be granted sufficient leave to enable them to travel to the place of examination, complete the examination and return to work.
- Members of staff may apply to receive study leave in the form of block grants only where there exists a requirement of the course that cannot be fulfilled under the above conditions (eg field trips, block courses).
Any leave granted for the purposes of study assistance is subject to:
- The convenience of the work unit, and
- The staff member undertaking a satisfactory lecture, practical work and study load in their own time as subject timetables allow.
Leave with pay under these guidelines shall not be granted in respect of any subject being repeated.
These arrangements should be noted as part of PRD conversations.
