Interrupting your Studies

Sometimes students need to interrupt their programme because of medical or personal problems or due to work reasons. An interruption allows students to take a break from their studies for 1 or 2 terms. If you are thinking of interrupting, you should discuss your eligibility to interrupt with the Student Support Team before submitting an official request.

If applying due to medical or personal problems, the Student Support Team should be made aware of these problems as soon as possible, and evidence to request an interruption should be collected at that time. Delays in informing the Student Support Team will weaken your case.

The Process

If you are thinking of interrupting your studies, you must discuss your interruption eligibility with the Financial Management Student Support Team before submitting an official request. If you are eligible to interrupt, you can then start the application process.

Rules and Regulations

  • A single period of interruption cannot be for more than a complete year (12 months). If a student interrupts for six months and then wishes to interrupt for another six months, that is considered as a single period of interruption and combined time is used to calculate the overall time on interruption. After a continuous period of interruption of 12 months, the student’s circumstances and progression will be reviewed by the School and, following that, an exit award will be issued if appropriate.
  • Schools must ensure that sufficient measures are put in place to support students returning from interruption, including checking that students are deemed to be fit to return to study (for medical-related interruptions).
  • If a student’s application for interruption is declined by their School, the student has a right to appeal against this decision. In this instance, students should be advised to refer to the University’s Academic Appeals Procedure (General Regulation XIX): Academic Appeals Procedures (Regulation XIX).

 

Additional Resources

For further details on interruptions, you can refer to the following documents:

 

Documents & Forms

 

Interruption Approval Form

 

 

 

Guidance for Students on Interruptions

 

 

University Policy on Interruptions

 

 

 

The University of Manchester