• Reasons for being required to withdraw
• Exit awards
• Access to University services

The faculty exam board may require you to withdraw from your course if:

• you do not attend lectures or seminars as required by your programme and the Student Agreement
• you do not engage with educational activities as required by your programme and the Student Agreement
• or you are not able to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress.

You may receive an exit award if you have achieved enough credit.

If you are required to withdraw, an academic member of staff from your school will contact you to discuss the exam board's decision. Your faculty will provide written details of the reasons for the decision.

As well as speaking to your tutor, it is important to talk to friends and family about this outcome; they can give you valuable support.

You might also find it helpful to speak to a student wellbeing adviser about how to raise the news with your family, or about how it is affecting you.

You can also contact the Bristol SU team for free and confidential academic advice.

You can appeal this decision.

Reasons for being required to withdraw

Undergraduate students

When the exam board considers whether you can progress to the next year of study, you will be required to withdraw, if*:

• You have not achieved at least 40 credit points for the year of study at your first attempt at assessments (30.6 in the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes).
• Following a re-sit (second attempt) of assessment in any outstanding units, you have failed more than 40 credit points for the year of study.
• Following a re-sit (third and final attempt) of assessment, you have failed any outstanding units.
• You have not obtained enough credit points for the award of the qualification, according to university regulation (see 30.18-21).

Undergraduate students on the Dentistry, Medicine and Veterinary Science programmes

• If you have not achieved the pass mark following a re-sit (second attempt) of assessment in a unit, except in competency-based assessments where additional attempts are allowed (31.9).

Detailed information on the standards required for progression and the award of the degree is provided in the Standing Orders or Student Progression Requirements for the relevant programme.

Postgraduate taught students on a Master’s degree programme

When the exam board considers whether you can progress to the dissertation stage, you will be required to withdraw, if*:

• You have failed more than half the credit points for the taught component at the first attempt of assessment. For example, you need to achieve at least 60 of 120 credit points in the taught component (38.7).
• If you have failed a unit following a re-sit (second attempt) (38.16).
• If you have failed the dissertation unit and not met the threshold for re-submission (38.19-38.20).

*Subject to any mitigation applied by your exam board to account for the impact of exceptional circumstances

Full details are provided in the regulations. The academic reason/s for being required to withdraw may vary in a small number of programmes that have their own specific regulations for progression and awards.

Exit awards

Students who have achieved credits by passing units in one or more years of study, but who have not completed the full qualification, may be awarded an exit award.

For example:

Undergraduate students who are required to withdraw from a bachelor’s honours degree programme may receive:

• a Certificate of Higher Education if they have completed 120 credit points, or
• a Diploma of Higher Education if they have completed 240 credit points.

Postgraduate taught students who are required to withdraw from a taught master's degree may receive:

• a Postgraduate Certificate if they have completed 60 credit points, or
• a Postgraduate Diploma if they have completed 120 credit points.

Access to University services

After you are withdrawn, your UCard will no longer give you access to buildings and your University IT account will be shut down. You will receive notifications about this so you can move any files or emails you might need before your account is shut down.

Careers Service

You can use our Careers Service for up to three years after you leave.

Tuition fees and funding

Tuition fee refunds

You may get a refund for some of your tuition fees. This will depend on the date you leave your course. Speak to your faculty office about the refund amount.

For more information, find out how we calculate tuition fee refunds and read our tuition fee refund policy.

Funding and student loans

Withdrawing can affect your eligibility for funding and student loans if you go on to study at another university. You may also be required to pay back some or all of your student loan.

Find out more about the financial considerations of withdrawing from study or speak to a Money Adviser.

Visa

For students on a Student visa, we are required to notify the UKVI that you have withdrawn from your studies. The UKVI will curtail your visa and you will have to leave the UK. Please read the visa information about withdrawing from your studies.

Accommodation

If you are in private-rented accommodation

It may not be possible to end your tenancy agreement early if you are in private accommodation.

After you are withdrawn you will not be eligible for a council tax exemption.

You can get help and advice from our private sector housing team.

If you are in University accommodation

Normally, if you are no longer a student you cannot remain in University accommodation. Please speak to your local ResiLife team for advice and support.

You will be required to pay up to two weeks' rent from the date you inform us of your intention to leave.