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Intermission, Re-sits and Withdrawing from the University

During your time at Sussex you may want to take a break from your studies for a variety of reasons. You may also need to re-sit certain parts of your course, or exams that you have failed. If you are here on a Tier 4 visa there are added implications that you need to consider.

Is it possible to take time out from my degree?

It may be possible to take temporary withdrawal (also known as intermission) from your degree. The Student Life Centre will be able to advise you on whether this will be possible and explain the academic implications, but you will also need to consider the immigration implications before making your decision.

After you have made initial enquiries with the Student Life Centre, you will need to see an International Student Adviser to discuss the immigration implications. The university has an obligation to report any period of intermission to the UKBA when a student holds a Tier 4 student visa which was issued on the basis of a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance to Study). Once the university has made this report the student's visa will most likely be cancelled, so it will be necessary to leave the UK and apply for a new visa (from your home country) when you are ready to resume your studies. You should not attempt to re-enter the UK on your current visa.

I have to repeat or re-sit part of my course. What are the implications for my visa?

Full details on re-sits can be found in the Examination and Assessment Handbook via the Student Progress and Assessment website. If you are offered the option to repeat or re-sit part of your course, the advice differs depending on what type of course you are on:

• Undergraduate students - please refer to our UG Resit Policy [DOCX 43.46KB] for full detilas and FAQs. If you have been offered a repeat of the entire year you may be able to do this on your current visa. However, you will then need to extend your visa at some point as your course end date will have changed. If you decide to sit/resit the failed assessments only, then you will be required to intermit from your studies and will need to leave the UK
• Postgraduate students (MA/MSC/PG Dip) - please refer to our Post Graduate Resit Policy [DOCX 43.27KB]. If resitting an exam you will normally be required to return home before your current visa expires, and return for the exam on a student visitor visa