Attendance and checking in to class
Attending your classes helps you succeed academically and build a learning community with other students on your programme. If your attendance drops, it can be an early sign you need support. We can offer that support or point you in the right direction.
Our student check in system allows you to register your attendance at all timetabled learning events.
Check in - how does it work?
Check in links the Edinburgh Napier app to your personalised timetable and will alert you via your mobile device that you need to check in at the start of each teaching session.
You can also check in via a laptop through My Account, but you will not receive notifications of your upcoming timetabled events.
You can only check in for classes that you are timetabled for so you must attend the classes as per the timetable.
Check-in is the quick and easy way to register your attendance at any lectures, tutorials or learning activities on campus or online, all on the Edinburgh Napier app or at myaccount.napier.ac.uk.
Simply open the app, click the check-in button, select the event you want to check into and enter the unique code provided by the host of your learning activity.
To remind you, if you have app notifications switched on, you'll be sent a message just before your events or activity begins and you can check in through that.
If you are studying on an international visa, remember using check-in is part of your conditions of studying with us.
Your check-in data feeds into our student engagement reporting initiative, which supports all our students at Edinburgh Napier.
For more details go to my.napier.ac.uk/check-in
What is expected of you
As a student, you must attend all timetabled sessions, such as lectures, tutorials, labs, workshops, exams, placements, and online sessions.
You should arrive on time and take part in your learning, whether in person or online via Moodle or virtual classes.
How your attendance is monitored
Attendance is reviewed regularly during the trimester. If your attendance drops, we will contact you to understand what’s going on and may refer you to support services, e.g. wellbeing, academic support.
The University has to monitor attendance for funding, regulatory and visa requirements. Continued non-attendance without a valid reason can lead to issues with your funding or visa. If you are studying on a Student Route visa, using check in is part of your study requirements.
Occasional absences are usually fine, but it's a good idea to let your tutor know. If you're unwell or need support, you can make use of our Fit to Sit processes. Longer absences may require a formal break in studies.
If you're struggling, we will work with you to remove barriers and help you stay on track. Reasonable adjustments are available for disabled students or those with ongoing conditions.
Read our student attendance policy (PDF) Find out more about student engagement reporting
How to check in to your classes
If you're studying on an Undergraduate or Taught Postgraduate programme, you should check in for all your timetabled learning events, whether they're on campus, at another teaching location, or online.
You can check in via the Edinburgh Napier app, or by visiting myaccount.napier.ac.uk
- Open the Edinburgh Napier app. If prompted, log in using your student email address and password (your email address format is: 4XXXXXX@live.napier.ac.uk).
- Select the 'Check in' button on the app home screen.
- Click the 'Check in' button for your current learning event.
- Enter the unique code provide by the host of your learning event.
- After a few seconds, your check in will be validated and you can click the 'Finish' button.
If you have notifications switched on, you will receive a reminder to check in 5 minutes before your timetabled event is due to start. If you click on this, it will take you straight to the check-in screen in the app.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I have to check in and how will you use the check in information?
We use check-in information to help identify students who may not be engaging in their learning so we can offer support. By providing check-in data to our academics, we can help them understand how you are engaging with teaching, as we know students who engage are more likely to do well in their learning.
We are not currently using the data to support any decisions on assessment, progression or funding.
If you are studying on an international visa, you must use check in as part of your conditions of studying with us, and we use the data to monitor attendance as part of the visa requirements. We review location data, captured at the time of check in, to confirm you attended in-person learning events.
Which teaching sessions should I check in for?
You should check in for all centrally timetabled teaching sessions taking place on campus, at one of our other teaching venues or online. This includes lectures, seminars, tutorials, practicals and workshops.
You will be notified of these via your individual timetable.
When can I check in for a teaching session?
The academic leading the event didn’t share a code so I couldn’t check in
If the academic doesn't share a code with you, please ask them if they can.
Let them know they can access it by going to the 'Check In' tile on the Edinburgh Napier app or myaccount.napier.ac.uk.
The code given to us by the academic doesn't work so I can’t check in
Let the academic know that the code they have shared doesn't work.
They can double check it by going to the 'Check In' tile on the Edinburgh Napier app or myaccount.napier.ac.uk.
I forgot to check in, what should I do?
If you have forgotten to check in, please contact your lecturer/module leader. As check-in codes are time sensitive, they should be able to check you in manually if your attendance has been accounted for.
Please make sure you check in for future teaching sessions - it's really important as we use the data to support you in your studies and welfare.
We also look at check-in data at a module and student level to understand how you are engaging with teaching, Many academics find this helpful in targeting support where needed.
I cannot see the check in button on My Account
If you can't see the check-in button, there are a few steps you can try:
- Occasionally, the buttons are re-ordered on the app home screen, so try looking further down.
- Try signing out of the app via the settings menu and then sign back in
- Make sure the app is up to date if using a smartphone or tablet – this will ensure the check-in button will appear and work correctly. To do this, you need to check the App Store or Play Store for the Edinburgh Napier app and see if it says "Open" or "Update". If it says "Update", then click on that to make sure the app is updated to the latest version on your phone.
If you're still having issues, please contact the IS Service Desk.
Can I see my check-in history?
If you click on the 'history' button at the bottom of the check-in screen in the app, you will see lists of all events you have been due to attend over the last four weeks and what your check-in status is for each of them. This data is provided for your information only.
I have not registered yet so cannot check in for any timetabled events
Registration is an important stage in accessing University services, support and your studies. Please complete the registration process at the earliest opportunity and you will then be enrolled on your modules.
In the meantime, don't be concerned - speak to the staff member leading your timetabled event and they will be able to assist.
If you are studying on an international visa, please speak to the International Support team.
I can't pick up Wi-Fi, can I still check in?
Yes. If there is no access to Wi-Fi or mobile data signal, the check in will be stored and uploaded next time the phone has an internet connection. You can also check in via myaccount.napier.ac.uk if you have access to a PC or laptop.
Eduroam Wi-Fi should be available in all campus teaching spaces, so please use this on your mobile devices. If you need guidance on setting it up, visit our University Wi-Fi page.
What if I don't have a mobile device or a laptop that will allow me to check in?
Why am I not getting reminders to check in?
What should I do if my timetable is wrong or not up to date?
Make sure your timetable is up to date on the Edinburgh Napier app. To do this, you should regularly pull down on the timetable screen to refresh the data.
The "data downloaded" text at the bottom of the screen should then change to "a moment ago", indicating the feed was recently refreshed.
If there is a problem with your timetable or you want to request a change, refer to the My Timetable page for more information.
Which operating system is needed to access the check in service on my mobile device?
If your phone is running an older version of Android or IOS, this may impact on the reliability of the check in service. We recommend that you do not try to use a mobile device with Android version 6 or lower, or IOS version 10 or lower.
If you are unable to upgrade to a newer version of the operating system on your device, we recommend you access My Account using a laptop to check in instead.
I have the correct operating system but I still can’t check in
Try to uninstall and reinstall the Edinburgh Napier app on your device. App updates and system improvements may have been introduced that need to be updated on your phone. App updates can happen throughout the year. Also make sure you have notifications turned on.
If you are still unable to get check in to work, please contact the IS Service Desk for technical support.
What data is collected and how is it stored?
When you check in to a session, the app records your name, email address, location at time of check in and IP address. It also records how you checked in, e.g. through the app or on your desktop. The data is stored securely in the University's check-in system.
If you are studying on an international visa, we review location data in conjunction with your check-in details to confirm you attended in-person learning events.
What about data protection?
What other systems is student engagement reporting looking at?
Student engagement reporting looks at Moodle, library loans, library reading lists and Resource Booker as well as check in.
Your PDT will be in touch if you stop engaging with all these systems. You won't be in any trouble – it's all about helping to support you.