Withdrawals, deferrals and changes in immigration status

Disruptions during your studies

If circumstances prevent you from engaging with your studies for too long your visa could be affected. You should contact your school for support. If the disruption lasts more than 2 weeks you should contact the Immigration Compliance team for advice. Your school may also choose to contact the team for guidance. The disruption to your studies will be discussed and you may be offered the option of a break in studies or deferral.

Breaks in Studies

Your Student visa has specific rules governing breaks in study set by UKVI. The criteria for a break permitted on a Student visa are:

• The break can be a maximum of 60 days
• You must still be able to complete your studies before your current Student visa expires
• You will be able to return to full-time study, including on-campus teaching, at the end of the break period

If your break in studies does not meet the above criteria your Student visa be cancelled. You will need a new visa to resume studies. Please consult the Immigration Compliance team as soon as you can if you are considering a break in studies. The rules covering breaks in studies apply regardless of the reason for the break, including pregnancy and maternity. 

Returning to studies

Taught programmes have specific rules for when you can return to studies after a break. If you miss a too much of a semester, you will not be permitted to return at the end. You will need to rejoin at the start of the next semester (usually January or September). This is to give you a reasonable chance to pass any assessments required. Research based programmes will often have more flexibility to accommodate breaks in study.

The Immigration Compliance team will email you once you have deferred your studies. The implications for your Student visa will be explained in this email. Students have 60 days to leave the UK from the date that their Student visa is withdrawn. We will also provide information on when and how to request a CAS. You will need this to apply for a new Student visa application to return to studies. 

Withdrawal from studies and early completion

The University must notify the Home Office in the following circumstances. 

• If you withdraw from your studies
• If you are withdrawn by the University
• If you complete your studies earlier than the course end date on your CAS

Once we notify the Home Office of the above circumstances they will cancel your visa. The Immigration Compliance team will email you when the report is made to the Home Office. Students usually have 60 days to leave the UK from the date that their Student visa is withdrawn. Any correspondence from the Home Office supersedes visa advice given by the University.

If you complete your course earlier than stated on your CAS, the University is required to report this to the Home Office. Your Student visa may be cancelled to the standard post-study period following the end of your course (see your Student visa after completing your studies). 

If you leave the UK after your visa has been cancelled, or are already outside the UK when it is cancelled, do not re-enter the UK on your Student visa.

Change of immigration status

If your passport, address, or immigration status change you need to inform the University and Home Office. The process for each change is outlined below.

• If you get a new passport or visa you must provide it to the Immigration Compliance team. This can be either in person or via email. You can present your documents in person at the Global Room during Immigration Compliance drop-ins:
  • Tuesdays and Thursdays – 10am– 12.30pm
  • Wednesdays 2.30pm to 4.30pm
• If you switch from a Student visa to another visa category or no longer require a Student visa, you must tell us within 7 working days. You will need to provide a share code if you have a new visa. The University is required to report this change to the Home Office.
• If you move house you should update the Home Office of a change in address via your UKVI account. You should also ensure that you update your semester study address on eVision. You should live within a 90-minute commute of campus to ensure you can access teaching and support services.

How to report changes to UKVI

If you have an eVisa you can report many changes using your UKVI account, see the eVisa guide for details.

If you do not have an eVisa, you will need to update the Home Office on these changes using the change of circumstances form at GOV.UK.

If any of the below changes occur, you need to report them to the Home Office using the change of circumstances form at GOV.UK. regardless of the visa type you have:

• criminal convictions
• you separate from your partner
• any of your children stop living permanently with you