Interruption of Studies
If circumstances are making it difficult for you to continue with your course, you can make a request to interrupt your studies.
An interruption of studies involves taking a temporary break from your studies for an agreed period of time, usually for up to one academic year, and is most often needed for health, financial, personal, or work-related reasons.
Whatever reason you have for interrupting your studies, it is really important to think about what you will do during the interruption and what will be different or better about your situation when you return.
Postgraduate Research students who wish to interrupt their studies should contact the Graduate School for guidance on this process.
Do I really need to interrupt my studies?
If your current situation is impacting your ability to perform in assessments, but you feel you can continue your studies for the rest of the term / year, you might want to apply for Extenuating Circumstances instead of interrupting your studies. Guidance on submitting a claim is available on the Extenuating Circumstances webpage.
When can I interrupt?
Deadlines for requesting an interruption of studies are usually set around 4 weeks before your final assessment board each year. These deadlines will be published here when they become available.
Before re-enrolment
‘Out of year’ requests can only be made at the end of an academic year and prior to the date you are expected to re-enrol for the new academic year. Applications for an interruption of studies for a whole academic year must be submitted before the re-enrolment date for the new academic year.
After enrolment
If your request is made after re-enrolment, and is accepted, you will be allowed to take time off and resume your studies either at the start of the next academic year or at the beginning of the corresponding term in the following academic year.
Important Dates
Please be aware the deadline for submitting Interruption of Study forms for all standard courses (September 2024 - June 2025) is Wednesday 16 April 2025. Online forms and evidence will need to be completed and submitted by this date.
Funding Implications
You must carefully read the guidance on the Are your circumstances changing? webpage to ensure you understand the financial and other implications of interrupting your studies. You are also advised to book an appointment with a Student Money Adviser to discuss how your individual circumstances and study history will affect your funding entitlement.
How to interrupt
If your current situation is impacting your ability to perform in assessments, but you feel you can continue your studies for the rest of the term / year, you might want to apply for Extenuating Circumstances instead. Guidance on submitting a claim is available on the Extenuating Circumstances webpage.
If you are thinking about interrupting your studies, you must first discuss your request with the appropriate Course Leader(s) before submitting it to ensure you fully understand the practical considerations of taking a break.
Your Course Leader will also need to confirm that your course will be available in the next academic year and approve your decision to interrupt your studies.
If you have completed modules in your current year of study, your Course Leader will decide whether you should retain the marks or not. If marks are retained, you'll keep the grades you've earned up until the point of your interruption. If not, you'll need to start fresh with new assessments the next academic year.
If you are interrupting your studies after re-enrolment, you will need to provide evidence of the circumstances that are impacting your studies. Forms of evidence that are typically accepted are listed in the table:
| Letter from Medical Professional or Counsellor | Letter / evidence from an independent professional | Death Certificate | Obituary / order of service | News / Media report | Official witness report / police report which details information related to the offence | Letter from bank / debt letters | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serious illness / accident | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| Serious ill-health of a significant person or bereavement | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Significant worsening of an ongoing health condition | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| Pregnancy related illness or childbirth | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| Significant adverse personal / family circumstances, including unexpected caring responsibilities for a family member or dependent | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| Significant financial problems | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Victim of, or witnessing, a crime, which has substantial impact | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
International students
Students studying on a Tier 4 visa must obtain the signature of a USW International Student Adviser to confirm that advice has been sought and given.
Submitting your request
Requests for Interruption of Studies can be made through Advice Zone Online:
- Log into Advice Zone Online
- Select ‘Pathways’
- Choose ‘Interruption of Studies’
- Read the ‘Overview – About this Pathway’ information and select ‘Continue’ to begin the process
- Complete the online form
- Upload any relevant evidence to support your application, then select ‘Submit’ to finalise your request
Notification of the outcome of your request
Requests to Interrupt Studies are considered under the University’s Extenuating Circumstances Regulations. The Regulations are available here.
Once you have submitted your request to interrupt your studies, you will receive notification of the outcome and advice on what to do next via Advice Zone Online. This will normally be within 5 working days of the decision being made by the Extenuating Circumstances panel.
Important information
- Once your Interruption of Studies request has been approved, the process of removing access to your IT account will begin. This means you will no longer have access to your Email, Blackboard, or Library Services until you re-enrol on the course.
- When you resume, your studies will take on the regulations for the cohort you are joining.
Request for Review
A Request for Review can be made if you feel that there was a procedural error with your claim or if you have new evidence to support your request that was not known or available at the time of your original request.
Requests for Review must be submitted no later than 10 working days from receiving notification of the outcome of your request to interrupt studies. The Request to Review Form is available here.
Advice and support
You can use Advice Zone Online to ask a question or browse the FAQs. If you need further guidance or support, please contact the Advice Zone directly.
Resuming your studies
After the interruption period, you will usually resume your studies at the start of the next academic year or the corresponding term. For example, if you interrupt your studies during the autumn term, you will be required to return at the beginning of the following autumn term.
For more guidance and support on resuming your studies, visit Returning to Study Following Interruption.