Change of Programme, Pause in Study, Withdrawal, and Termination of Study Regulations

1. Change of Programme 

1.1 An undergraduate or postgraduate taught student may be allowed to change their programme of study with approval from all Schools involved.  

1.2 Undergraduate and postgraduate taught students wishing to change their programme of study should first seek advice from their Personal Academic Tutor. All students wishing to change to a programme in a different School are recommended to speak to the Admissions Tutor, or Programme Lead, for the new programme of study to ensure it is suitable for them given their qualifications and experience. 

1.3 Undergraduate and postgraduate taught students must then complete a form to apply to change their programme of study. Academic approval from the new School will be required. Students will be expected to have met the minimum entry requirements for the new programme. Approval will also only be granted if there is space on the new programme of study and students have met all pre-requisite academic and other conditions. Only if all criteria are met may a student change their programme of study. Depending on the nature and timing of the request to change, students may be required to pause their studies and recommence the new programme at the start of an academic year.  

1.4 As set down in the Regulations for Research Degrees, a postgraduate research student in candidature for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy may be permitted, at any time prior to the submission of the thesis, to request a transfer to a programme leading to the degree of Master of Philosophy. The period spent in candidature up to the point of transfer will be counted towards the period of candidature required for the degree to which the transfer is made. Details of the permission required to transfer to other programmes will be included in the Academic Regulations.

1.5 All students who are sponsored by the University to enter the UK under the points-based visa system and who want to change their programmes may face visa implications (see?Regulations and Definitions Applying to Progression for all Credit-Bearing Programmes). Advice must be sought from the Visa & Immigration Student Advice Service. 

2. Pause in study

2.1 An undergraduate and postgraduate taught student wishing to pause their programme of study temporarily (e.g. because of personal, medical or financial difficulties, or to facilitate a change of programme) should discuss the matter in the first instance with their Personal Academic Tutor or other appropriate member of staff, or, for postgraduate research students, their main supervisor. They must then complete the Pause in Study form. A Pause in Study must be approved by the University and may be refused.

2.2 Each School will nominate one or more members of academic staff to review requests for a Pause in Study from an undergraduate and postgraduate taught student. This would usually be the DHoSE, Director of Programmes, Programme Lead or similar. In determining the most appropriate time for the student to return to study, due account will be taken of the structure of the programme as well as the student's needs. If the student wishes to return to their studies in under 12 months and have previous assessments disregarded, staff must follow the University procedure for disregarding assessments in the event of a student pausing their studies with an upheld request for special consideration.  

2.3 As set down in the Regulations for Research Degrees, a postgraduate research student must continue in registration for their research degree until such time as they submit their thesis or withdraw, except where a pause in study is permitted in accordance with the Regulations Governing Special Considerations and Pause in Study for Postgraduate Research Students. In the case of a funded student, due regard should be given to funder rules governing pause in study. Periods where study is paused shall not count towards the maximum period of candidature and a student who pauses their study is expected to pause work on their research project (or other work associated with their programme of study) and should not receive supervision. 

2.4 Any Pause in Study must be approved by the University and may be refused.  

2.5 A pause in study will normally be granted for a defined period not exceeding twelve months.  

2.6 All students will be contacted by the University before their expected return. Students may at this stage apply to extend their pause of study by a further period of up to twelve months. All requests to extend a pause in study must be reviewed by the nominated academic staff. Pauses in study periods should not be greater than twenty four months continuously. Students unable or unwilling to return to study after a pause in study of twenty four months may have their programme of study terminated. 

2.6 For some programmes, opportunities for a pause in study, the duration of pauses permitted and the terms under which they return, will be governed by Professional, Regulatory or Statutory Body requirements. Where this applies students will be advised of the requirements by the relevant School or Faculty.

2.7 Where a pause in study is agreed for medical reasons, students may be required to provide medical certification of fitness to return to study or to attend a Fitness to Practise Panel or Student Support Review meeting before allowing re-enrolment to occur. 

2.8 All students returning to their studies after a pause, which is not due to a change of programme, must be provided the opportunity to speak to a member of staff, usually their PAT or programme lead, to discuss their academic support needs for reintegration to their programme of study. 

2.9 Student guidance on the Pause in Study process is available on our Pause in Study webpage. PGR students can find guidance on the pause in study process within the PGR Student Handbook. 

3. Termination of Study 

3.1 Senate reserves the right to terminate at any time the programme of a student whose academic work proves unsatisfactory or whose level of attendance does not meet the expectations of the Attendance and Completion of Programme Requirements. 

3.2 Students will be informed in writing of any decision to terminate their study on the basis of paragraph 3.1 above.

3.3 If the student has successfully met the criteria, an exit award will be made. 

3.4 The student may appeal against the decision to terminate their study by following the procedures set out in the Regulations Governing Academic Appeals by Students. 

4. Withdrawal 

4.1 A student who withdraws permanently from the University not having completed their programme must formally notify the University on the appropriate form.  

4.2 Where a student ceases without notice to attend the University or participate in scheduled learning and teaching activities, or fails to return from an approved pause in study period without notice, the School will take all reasonable steps to contact the student to confirm their intentions. Should the student fail to respond to such contact, the School may, with reasonable notice, deem the student to have withdrawn from the University. A person deemed to have withdrawn ceases to be a student of the University. 

4.3 If the student has successfully met the criteria, an exit award will be made.

4.4 No prize will be given to any student who is not in good academic standing. 

5. Good Academic Standing