Interruption of Studies

If you are experiencing extenuating circumstances that temporarily prevent you from continuing your studies, you may apply for an Interruption of Studies. This involves taking an agreed temporary break, usually for up to one academic year.

First Steps & Key Contacts

Speak with your Course Leader first to discuss your options and confirm that your course will run in the upcoming academic year. You can also consult your Student Success Officer (SSO) for guidance. They can guide you to decide whether an interruption of studies is the right option for you. For example, if your circumstances are impacting your ability to perform in assessments, but you feel able to complete the rest of the term/year, Extenuating Circumstances may be a more suitable option for you. Guidance on submitting a claim is available on the Extenuating Circumstances webpage.

International students studying under a Student Visa route (previously Tier 4) must contact the USW Immigration Advice Services before applying. An interruption means university visa sponsorship will cease, and you will be required to leave the UK and reapply for a visa before returning.

Postgraduate Research Students should contact the Graduate School directly for guidance on interrupting their studies.

Duration and Returning to Study

The maximum interruption period is usually one academic year. Depending on when you apply, your resumption timeline works as follows:

In-Year Requests (during the academic year): If approved, you will resume studies in the following academic year—either at the start of Term 1, or at Term 2/3 (matching when your break began). You must re-enrol at the start of that academic year regardless of your return term.
End of Year Requests (‘Out of year’): If you apply at the end of the academic year (prior to re-enrolment), you will interrupt for the entire following academic year and return the year after.

Note: When you resume, you will be subject to the academic regulations in force for your new returning cohort, not the regulations from when you began your break. Failure to return at the agreed date without an approved extension will result in withdrawal from the university.

Will I keep my marks?

If your request is approved, one of two outcomes will apply to your academic record for the current session:

You retain all marks achieved up to the agreed interruption date (including individual assessment marks);
You forfeit all module marks achieved in the current session, even if the marks may have resulted in modules being passed.

Partial options (retaining some marks, while forfeiting others) are not permitted.

Your Course Leader will decide whether you should retain marks or not. Any grades for previously completed years will not be affected.

Deadlines to Apply

In-Year Requests: Applications received within six weeks of the start of assessment boards are not normally considered.

Standard courses (September to June): The deadline for the upcoming academic year is published here once confirmed. All application forms and supporting evidence must be submitted by this deadline.

End of Year Requests (‘Out of year’): Applications must be received before the expected date of re-enrolment.

Financial Implications

Interrupting your studies impacts your funding, tuition fees, and financial support. Review the guidance on the Are your circumstances changing? page and book an appointment with the Student Money Advice Team to discuss your situation.

How to Apply

Ensure you have discussed your request with your Course Leader before submitting. You will need to provide written confirmation from them that the course will be running the following academic year and whether you will be retaining your marks.

All in year requests require evidence from an independent source of the circumstances that are impacting your studies. Forms of evidence that are typically accepted are listed in the below table:

To complete a request:

Go directly to the Interruption of Studies Pathway on the Advice Zone
Read the ‘Overview – About this Pathway’ information
Select ‘Start’ to begin the application
Complete the online form and upload your supporting evidence
Select ‘Submit’ to finalise your request

Outcomes and Review Process

Notification: Requests are considered under the University’s Extenuating Circumstances Regulations and Procedure. You will receive an outcome and next steps guidance via the Pathway on Advice Zone Online, typically within 15 working days of submitting a complete application.
IT Account Access: Once approved, your IT account access (including Email, Blackboard, and Library Services) will be temporarily suspended until you re-enrol.
Request for Review (Appeals): If you disagree with the decision, you can submit a Request for Review within 10 working days of receiving your outcome. Grounds and forms are available in Section B12 of the Extenuating Circumstances Regulations and Procedure.

Advice and support

For full regulatory details, review Section B11 of the Extenuating Circumstances Regulations and Procedure. If you have questions or need support, you can raise a question via Advice Zone Online. If your query is complex, it will be forwarded to your SSO. You can also contact the Advice Zone for telephone or in-person queries.