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Applying for withdrawals and change of study location

Temporary Withdrawal

A temporary withdrawal is an approved period of time when a student is not studying for their award and is governed by University Regulation 36.1. Students may request periods of temporary withdrawal for the following reasons:

  • Financial (Student proactively seeks a period of temporary withdrawal in order to make arrangements to cover tuition fees and maintenance for the remainder of their period of study.);
  • Medical (e.g. long-term illness, including depression; surgeries that prevent a student from attending their course of study for an extended period of time);
  • Personal (non-exhaustive list):
  1. Family circumstances (including childcare, care for a family member);
  2. Work/Other commitments (often result of appointments to new roles and/or significant changes to a job description, resulting in the student being unable to dedicate required time to their studies);
    • Visa (for overseas nationals who fail to obtain a visa in good time to attend their course).

    Students may request a period of temporary withdrawal from their course of study. Only the Academic Registrar may approve requests for temporary withdrawal. Students requesting temporary withdrawal on medical or health-related grounds must supply a recent medical note in support of their request.

    Students deemed to be temporarily withdrawn must not undertake any formal study for the period of the temporary withdrawal and must cease to receive instruction from their Department. However, students will retain their IT access and library access and borrowing rights during a period of temporary withdrawal. Students may, of course, choose to undertake relevant reading during a period of temporary withdrawal but this is a decision for the individual to make and cannot be a requirement.

    How to apply for a period of temporary withdrawal:

    1. Students should consult with their personal tutor or a member of the University’s Student Support Services before completing this form. Students requesting temporary withdrawal must complete the electronic request form, available at Student Records On-line.
    2. The request will require the support of the Director of Graduate or Undergraduate Studies in the department department.
    3. Once the request is approved, Student Administrative Services will notify the student and their department by email, confirming last date of attendance, date of expected return and new expected completion date.

    Research council funded students requesting temporary withdrawal for maternity should also complete the RCUK maternity leave form and upload a copy of their MATB1 form to their request.

    Home and EU students should be advised to contact the Student Loans Company for advice as to how a temporary withdrawal may affect their student loan, maintenance grant or other student financial support. Students can also make an appointment to consult the University’s Student Financial Advisor by emailing studentfunding@warwick.ac.uk.

    Students who withdraw for medical or health-related reasons will be asked to supply a medical note confirming they are fit to resume their studies approximately eight weeks prior to their expected return date. The University reserves the right to request a second opinion on such medical notes so it can satisfy itself fully that the individual is indeed well enough to resume their studies. In all such cases Student Administrative Services will ensure that the University's Wellbeing Support Services are engaged in the process of enabling a student to return from a medical temporary withdrawal in order that any appropriate adjustments can be made in support of the student.

    If you are considering withdrawing from your studies (permanently or temporarily) and are contracted to a Warwick Accommodation managed property, please contact them as soon as possible at accommodation@warwick.ac.uk, they will then be able to inform you of the correct procedure to follow. Students will not be eligible for residence on campus during their period of temporary withdrawal.

    Students who are temporarily withdrawn retain their classification as a student of the University and continue to be exempt from paying Council Tax. (This is based on an expectation that you will return to your course. If you do not, the Council may require you to pay in retrospect.) 

    If you are in privately rented accommodation, you will need to speak to your landlord or agent to check your obligations. If you need advice, then contact the SU Advice Centre at advice@warwicksu.com 

    Students may request a second consecutive period of temporary withdrawal of 12 months, but any such request must be accompanied both by the support of the Department and by evidence as to the reason for the request.

    A third consecutive period of temporary withdrawal will only be permitted in the most exceptional cases and will be considered by the Academic Registrar/Chair of the Board of Graduate Studies. Students are normally permitted no more than two years (individually or consecutively) of temporary withdrawal during their course of study.

    For PGR students who consider that they may not be able to return to their studies within the short term, may wish to consider withdrawing from the University with the opportunity to request a return at a later date, using the remaining period of registration. PGR students will need to discuss this with their supervisor in the first instance.

    Students funded directly by one of the UK Research Councils will not normally be permitted a period of suspension without the prior approval of the Research Council. If you are considering requesting a period of withdrawal as a Research Council funded student, you should review the information for Research Council funded students and ask your department to contact Student Records in the first instance for advice.

    Permanent Withdrawal

    We hope that you will want to complete your course at Warwick and before choosing to withdraw there are other avenues you may wish to explore. These include the possibility of changing course, restarting, taking a temporary withdrawal or a voluntary year out. Permanently withdrawing from your studies means that you have decided to stop studying at the University of Warwick and that you have no intention of returning to continue your programme of study in the future.

    However, if you do decide to withdraw you are strongly advised to consult your Personal Tutor/Supervisor in the first instance. The Student Funding team will be able to give you advice regarding the implications for any student loans/bursaries/scholarships you may have. Once a decision to withdraw permanently is made, you should complete the form on the Student Records Online system, which will submit it to your department. You will need to provide your last date of attendance and select a reason for your withdrawal.

    Your department will confirm the last date of attendance and this will be processed by Student Records. You will be notified in writing.

    Students are advised to read carefully through the permanent withdrawal form guidance section before submitting their request.

    Issues to note:

    Accommodation

    If you are considering withdrawing from your studies and are contracted to a Warwick Accommodation managed property, please contact them as soon as possible at accommodation@warwick.ac.uk, they will then be able to inform you of the correct procedure to follow. Students will not be eligible for residence on campus once permanently withdrawn.

    If you are living in University Managed accommodation and have any questions about your departure, please email Warwick Accommodation at accommodation@warwick.ac.uk.

    If you are in privately rented accommodation, you will need to speak to your landlord or agent to check your obligations. If you need advice, then contact the SU Advice Centre at advice@warwicksu.com

    Finance
    Student Finance will calculate any fees that you are owed using the last date of attendance given on this form. Students who withdraw after an advance maintenance payment has been made will be asked to repay any funds no longer due. You can call Student Finance on +44 (0)24 7652 8103 or +44 (0)24 7652 3872. You can find further information at: go.warwick.ac.uk/studentfinance

    Council Tax
    If you withdraw from your studies, you are strongly advised to contact the relevant local authority's Council Tax office for guidance regarding Council Tax. Please also note that if the local authority determines that you must now pay Council Tax you may be eligible for a discount if all other residents do have student exemption. You must make those you share with aware of this change to your status as it may also affect any student disregard they have applied for.

    International students
    If you require student entry clearance or leave to remain (a ‘visa’) to study in the UK, permanent withdrawal from your course is likely to affect your permission to remain here in the UK. Furthermore, if you are a sponsored student, i.e. you were issued with a CAS by Warwick that you used to obtain your Tier 4 visa, and you decide to stop studying, the University is required to stop sponsoring you. We are required to withdraw your CAS, and report your permanent withdrawal from your course to the Home Office – Visa & Immigration.
    As you would no longer have a valid Tier 4 sponsor, you would then be required to leave the UK. In order to return to the UK to resume your studies, you would need to apply to us for a new CAS in order to apply for a new Tier 4 visa. If you were to try to return to the UK on your old visa, you would be likely to encounter problems on re-entry. If you are intending to switch to another Tier 4 institution within the UK, you must inform the University so that we can let the Home Office – Visa & Immigration know that you intend to continue studying elsewhere. Switching to another Tier 4 institution may mean that you are not required to leave the UK once you have withdrawn from Warwick and this is something that you should discuss with an immigration adviser at the University.
    All international students who wish to withdraw permanently from their course are strongly advised to make an appointment to discuss their individual situation with the University’s Immigration and Compliance advisers: +44 (0)24 7657 5229 or immigrationservice@warwick.ac.uk.

    Centre for Student Careers and Skills
    Students withdrawing before the completion of their course are entitled to use the Centre for Student Careers and Skills for three months from their formal date of withdrawal from the University. For further advice, please contact by phone: +44 (0)24 7652 4748 or by email on careers@warwick.ac.uk

    Dean of Students Office
    The Dean of Students promotes the academic welfare of students and is a sympathetic person to whom students can turn in confidence for support. The Dean of Students' Office is located on the Second Floor of Senate House (Room SH2.17). Normal office hours are Monday - Thursday 9.00 am to 5.00 pm and Friday 9.00 am to 4.00 pm.

    For general enquiries the Dean of Students' Office can be contacted on:

    Email: DofSResourcePA@warwick.ac.uk; Tel: 024 7652 2761

    The Dean of Students can be contacted on:

    Email: DeanofStudents@warwick.ac.uk; Tel: 024 7652 2429

    Wellbeing Support Services
    If you have issues which are not directly academic-related, please contact Student Support Services on +44 (0)24 7657 5570; studentsupport@warwick.ac.uk

    Student Advice Centre
    The Students’ Union offers a free, confidential and independent advice and representation service which provides support for a variety of issues, including housing, immigration, money, academic, health, legal issues, consumer rights and employment: http://www.warwicksu.com/contact/advice/

    Change of Study Location (CSL)

    For more information see the Student Records page on CSL.