If you are a postgraduate research student then you will find additional guidance on the PGR absences webpage.

On this page:

• When you can request a suspension of studies
• Get advice
• Implications of suspending your studies
• How to request a suspension
• During your suspension
• Returning to your studies

When you can request a suspension of studies

A suspension of studies will pause your progress on your programme, so it will only be approved if you have strong reason. You may need to provide supporting evidence.

You can request to suspend for one of the following reasons:

• you cannot engage effectively with your studies because of medical reasons, disability, bereavement, sole caring responsibilities, financial problems, mandatory military service, or if you are working part-time and your employment pattern has changed
• you can demonstrate that it is in your best academic interests. For example, to take up employment or other activities that will contribute to your academic development; or where you are transferring to another programme.
• Other reasons to suspend for PGR students are listed in the PGR Code.  

The start date of your suspension and last date of attendance will be recorded once your request is approved. Your start of suspension date cannot be backdated more than one month.

Get advice

Talk to your senior tutor, personal tutor, or another member of your school (UG/PGT) or your supervisor/supervisory team (PGR) before you submit your request. They will be able to help you make an informed decision, including when you can return, and help you consider any other academic support that may be suitable.

There is support and guidance available through the support services that can help you manage your studies. You can also request wellbeing supportwhile at the university. The Students’ Union Academic Advice Service webpages have further information and you can contact them for further advice and support.

If you are thinking about suspending your studies for financial reasons, contact the Money Advice and Funding team to find out about the support they can offer. 

Implications of suspending your studies

Study and unit choices

For undergraduate students

You will join the next year’s cohort of students and all your teaching and assessment will be with this year group. We cannot guarantee that you will be able to take the same units that you were taking the previous year, as they may not be running. The content, assessment and delivery of units may also have changed.

For postgraduate taught students

You may only suspend for a number of months or a Teaching Block within the same academic year and so would return to the same cohort. Where programmes or periods of suspension exceed 1 year, you may be required to join the next year’s cohort.

Your school will help you to understand how you will re-engage with your programme following your suspension, including which units you will take and when you may be likely to progress to the next stage of study or graduate.

When you return, we cannot guarantee that you will be able to take the same units that you were taking previously as they may not be running. The content, assessment and delivery of units may also change.

For postgraduate research students

If you are a PGR student completing a taught first year, depending on your programme structure and the length of the suspension, you may be required to join the next year’s cohort if returning to complete units.

Placements

If you wish to suspend studies in advance of, or during, a placement (i.e. in industry or studying abroad) and take the placement in the next academic year, we will try to allocate a placement to you with the next cohort of students, but a placement cannot be guaranteed.

Fees and funding

Your suspension may affect your funding and any tuition fees that you owe. However, if compelling personal reasons affected your studies, you may be able to apply to Student Finance for additional funding.

PGR students should discuss funding arrangements with their faculty office before suspending.

Find out more about the financial considerations of suspending your studies or speak to a Money Adviser.

Accommodation

Living in University accommodation

If you suspend your studies, you will need to move out of your University accommodation as you will no longer be classified as a student.

You need to inform your student accommodation that you have suspended your studies by completing the intention to leave form via the Accommodation Portal. If you do not complete the intention to leave form, you will remain liable for the rent of your room.

Find out more about your rent responsibilities after suspending your studies.

Living in private-rented accommodation

If you suspend your studies whilst living in private-rented accommodation, this will impact the council tax for your household.

Returning to University accommodation

If you want to live in University accommodation once you return from suspension, you will need to apply for returner accommodation prior to the relevant deadlines (select the link for confirmation of specific dates). It is important to note that returner accommodation is very limited.

Visa

If you are a student visa holder, find out how suspending your studies may affect your visa.

How to request a suspension

Talk to your senior tutor, personal tutor, or supervisor for advice first, there may be other options available to you other than suspension. During this conversation, you will also have the opportunity to consider when you want to pause studying, and when you will be able to return.

1. Contact your school office; they will produce a personalised suspension request form for you and let you know what evidence is required.
2. Complete the form and prepare your supporting evidence. Include a summary of the reasons for the request on the form. 
   1. If applicable, include your supporting evidence, for example, a medical note or a letter of appointment (for internships etc). All evidence must be provided in English.
   2. Include details of any previous suspensions or other extensions to your study period.
   3. For PGR students only: obtain the relevant approval from your supervisor/supervisory team.
   4. For PGR students only: if applicable, obtain the relevant approval from your funding body.
   5. If you hold a Student visa,you must contact Student Visa services about how suspending your studies would affect your visa. The advisor must complete the student visa holder section of the form with you.
   6. Send your completed and signed form and supporting evidence to your school office promptly. You will remain liable to pay for tuition fees and will still be expected to engage with your studies until the process is complete.

Once your school has approved, your request will then be considered by the Faculty Education Director (for taught students) or the Faculty PGR Director (for PGR students).

If you a taught student and you need a suspension of more than 12 months in total on your programme, this requires additional approval by the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students). This will only be granted in exceptional circumstances.

When your request is approved, you will receive a confirmation email from your faculty office. Until you receive written confirmation, you are still a registered student. This will typically take around two weeks, but at peak times this may take up for four weeks. This may take longer if a suspension of more than 12 months is requested, as this requires the permission of Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education and Students).

During your suspension

During a suspension of studies, you are not required or permitted to engage with your studies.

You will continue to have access to your University IT account, including your email, OneDrive etc, however you will not receive emails from the university specific to your course.

Depending on your individual circumstances, you may still have access to other university support services such as the university’s wellbeing services. We recommend that you contact the wellbeing team to discuss further.

You are still a member of the Student Union (SU) and can continue to access the Bristol SU Academic Advice Service while suspending, so any resources provided by them continue to be available to you, such as being part of student groups. Stay up to date with news and events through the Student Union website and contact Bristol SU Academic Advice Service for advice and support on a range of academic and complaint matters.

Find out more about how suspending your studies affects your membership and access to the university’s sports facilities.

Being required to suspend studies

In some instances, your faculty may require you to suspend studies. Examples include:

• Periods of time in which you are inactive on your programme (for example, on a supplementary year when your programme does not require you to undertake any units in one teaching block).
• Where you have been unable to arrive in Bristol in time to commence studies by the latest permitted arrival date.
• At the request of the Student Visas team for visa compliance reasons
• If required following the Fitness to study process.

Returning to your studies

Before your suspension ends, your faculty office will contact you via your home and university email addresses to start discussing:

• Whether you are able to return to your studies
• Any support that may help you to re-engage successfully with your studies.

You will need to:

• Make sure your contact information is kept up to date on StudentInfo
• Respond to your faculty office when they contact you to discuss your return to study
• Provide evidence of your fitness to return to study if you suspended your studies due to medical reasons
• If you are a PGR student, you will need to discuss your return with your supervisor/supervisory team.

Upon your return to study, you must be aware that:

• If you are not returning within the same academic year of your suspension, you will need to complete registration as a returning student.

See the section on implications for your study and unit choices for additional information.

Fees and funding

Your eligibility for funding and student loans may be affected. It can take up to eight weeks to notify the Student Loans Company of a change in your circumstances. It can then take some time for these changes to be processed by the Student Loans Company.

Find out more about the financial considerations of returning to your studies or contact a Money Adviser. 

Accommodation

On your return to study, you may need to apply for accommodation as a returning student, and university accommodation is very limited. If you are interested in university accommodation, you should refer to the accommodation guidance for returning students. Contact the Accommodation services team if you have any questions.

Visa

At least four months prior to your anticipated date of return, you must email the International Student Visa Advisers to see if you need to apply for a new Confirmation of Accepted Studies. Read our full guidance on what international students need to do to return to study after suspension.

See our guidance for returning students for more information.

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