Withdrawal
Q. Is it possible to take time out from my degree? I’ve got various problems which are affecting my studies and I am concerned that I may not be able to finish the year.
A. It may be possible to take temporary withdrawal (also referred to as ‘intermission’) during the academic year (or between academic years) but every situation is different and there may be other options worth considering. It is essential that you contact the Student Life Centre in the first instance so that you can talk through your options and the implications of temporary withdrawal.
Q. Where do I go to start the process – are there forms to fill in?
A. You should make an appointment, without delay, with a Student Life Advisor (in the Student Life Centre) who will advise on the process which ALL undergraduate and post graduate students on taught courses, including E.U. and International students, must complete. The advisor will check that you are fully aware of the wider implications of this important decision and may refer you to specialist services for advice about possible effects on your finances (including student loans/grants/bursaries), or housing, visas, and personal life. It may also be necessary for the Student Advisor to arrange for the completion of a return to study plan. This will ensure that you are able to return to the correct modules and obtain the required number of credits. The return to study plan is signed off by your School's Director of Student Support.
Q. Do I need to tell my department or my tutors?
A. Part of the process involves contacting your Academic Advisor to let them know that you are requesting intermission. This person is your source of useful information and guidance about your degree and may be able to advise you about future choices of modules, as well as indicating how you might address any study-related issues that contributed to your decision to temporarily withdraw.
Q. Once I have signed the form, what happens?
A. The form goes to your School of study to be checked and signed off by the Director of Student Support. The School will send it to the Student Progress and Assessment office (SPA) who will check that the dates of your last date of attendance seem correct, before notifying external agencies, such as Student Finance England.
Q. How do I keep in touch with the university once I have withdrawn?
A. You retain access to the library and to your email account while you are intermitting. The Student Life Centre will keep in touch with students who are taking time out. We always suggest that students keep an eye on their School’s website, and respond to emails from the Student Progress and Assessment office without delay.
Q. Can I access University support services when on intermission?
A. Your access to most university support services will be altered by taking temporary withdrawal. While you are on temporary withdrawal we do encourage keeping in touch with the Student Life Centre to help you prepare for your return to study. However we will limit the number of visits available to students on temporary withdrawal in order to prioritise our work with fully registered students.
You will usually be asked to terminate your housing contracts within 4 weeks of taking temporary withdrawal and will need to contact the Housing Office to determine arrangements.
If you receive special needs support from the Student Support Unit, funded by Disabled Students’ Allowance, this support will be suspended when taking temporary withdrawal.
If you are using Psychological and Counselling Services you will usually be offered one session after you go on temporary withdrawal and two sessions on your return to study.
Q. I am an international student so I have visa queries and need to talk this over before I sign anything – where should I go?
A. The international student advisors in the International and Study Abroad Office will offer you their advice and guidance. The form you will need to sign, however, is held at the Student Life Centre so please make an appointment without delay if you have made the decision to request temporary withdrawal. As with any student, this will then be signed off by your School Director of Student Support. The form then goes to the Student Progress and Assessment office and the UK Border Agency will be informed, as appropriate.
Q. I think I want to leave Sussex permanently – do I need to fill out forms?
A. Ideally, we’d suggest that you come and speak to a Student Life Advisor in the first instance. This allows us to advise you on your options and also helps us understand the factors which have influenced your decision, particularly where they relate directly to your academic and social experience at Sussex. We also suggest that you let your Academic Advisor know, for the same reasons – s/he may be able to help you if the issues are course/study-related.
If you know this is the right decision, however, there is a form to be completed. Please contact the Student Life Centre without delay and we will help you do this. Your School’s Director of Student Support signs this off, and it then goes to the Student Progress and Assessment office (SPA). They inform external agencies, e.g. Student Finance England, and you may be entitled to a refund of fees.
Q. I am in receipt of an American Federal loan. What affect would withdrawing have on my loan entitlement?
A. Federal loan is awarded under the assumption that you will attend university for the entire period for which funding was granted. If you withdraw or take a break before completing 60% of a payment period, the university will inform the Department of Education and calculate the amount of funding that has been earned (the portion that you are entitled to) based on your period of attendance. If more financial assistance has been received than was earned, the excess funds must be returned to the Department of Education.
A student in receipt of Federal funds who takes temporary withdrawal/intermission will be classed as withdrawn for financial aid purposes. Under Federal funding rules, students cannot apply for retrospective temporary withdrawal. Therefore, any period of intermission must be requested and approved in advance (once a loan has been disbursed for a given term, intermission cannot be approved after that point).
If you decide to withdraw / intermit you should notify your Student Life Advisor that you are in receipt of an American Federal loan at your appointment.