Making changes to your enrolment status, interruption or withdrawal

If you decide to take a break from your course, this is known as an "interruption of studies". There are two types of interruption:

• Break (if you request the interruption after you have enrolled for that academic year)
• Dormant (if you request the interruption before you have enrolled for that academic year).

Either type of interruption requires approval from your Course Leader.

Please note that interruptions can only be requested before the end of formal teaching of a course. If you are unable to submit end of term assessment or sit examinations then you would normally need to apply for mitigating circumstances, see Mitigating Circumstances Regulations.

It is not possible to interrupt your studies for the reassessment period.

You should consider interrupting your studies if your circumstances are preventing you from fully engaging with your studies, for example you have not been able to attend classes because of illness or personal circumstances. If it is simply the case that you are not able to undertake a particular assessment then you should consider applying for mitigating circumstances.

An interruption of studies is when you take a temporary break from your course with the intention of returning at a later, specified, date. A withdrawal from studies is when you withdraw from your course with no intention of returning. 

The first person you should speak to is your Course Leader, who will be responsible for approving your interruption. Your Course Leader will initially discuss with you the reasons why you wish to interrupt your studies, your last date of engagement, how long you want to interrupt for and when and how you wish to return to your studies. You may also find it helpful to discuss your options with your personal tutor.

You will also need to discuss the financial implications of interruption with the Student Money Advisers. Email them at [email protected]. 

If you are in the UK on a Student Route visa, you must seek advice by logging an enquiry on Student Hub or by emailing [email protected] as interrupting your studies affects your visa conditions. Please see below for specific questions on financial and visa matters. If you are a student on a professional course in the Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education, interrupting your studies may have implications for your bursary and you are advised to speak to your Course and Student Administration team about this.

Subject to agreement from your Course Leader, you may either be able to:

1) Interrupt your studies for the whole academic year, or
2) Interrupt your studies for part of the academic year.

You can request to:

• restart at precisely the point that you have stopped, carrying forward any assessments that you have already completed OR
• restart at the beginning of the academic year and discount all assessments previously undertaken, with no fee charged.

Please note: normally you can only choose to restart at the beginning of the academic year if this has been requested and approved within the first teaching block for the year or, your course if that starts at a different point in the academic year.

Interruptions can only be agreed for one year at a time, up to a maximum of two years.

You will need to apply to interrupt study using the online system accessed through OSIS.  Before completing the process on OSIS you should have discussed your intentions with your Course Leader and/or Personal Tutor. You should continue to attend until your application has been approved by your Course Leader.

You will not be charged additional fees as a result of interrupting your studies. However, please note that tuition fees will be charged at the rate that is current to the academic year you return in.

When you return to your studies in the following academic year, you will pay any remaining fees due for that level of study. Any payments already made will be offset against the outstanding balance.

If you are considering taking an Interruption of Studies, you should always discuss this first with the Accounts-Receivable team in the Finance Directorate. Tel: 020 8417 3333. Students can raise a query in the Student Hub or by emailing [email protected].

No, you do not need to apply for Mitigating Circumstances to interrupt your studies. If during an academic year, circumstances arose that prevented you from attending University (mitigating circumstances) and you wish to interrupt, you would normally be expected to return at the same point in the following academic year. If you choose to go back to the beginning of the academic year and start again, all attempts are wiped from your record and you are deemed to be starting from scratch.

The interrupted year will count towards your maximum period of registration for the course. The maximum period of registration for your course can be found in the Programme Specification for your course.

The standard maximum registration periods for each qualification is as follows:

If you are studying for an award not listed above, please check with your Course Leader or Course and Student Administration team whether an interruption will take you over the time limit for your course.

You can request a maximum of two consecutive Interruptions of Study. However, you should note that these will count towards the maximum period of registration for your course. The maximum period of registration for your course can be found in the Programme Specification for your course.

There will be implications for maintenance loans and tuition fee loans if you interrupt your studies. Please contact the Student Money Advisers for further information.

As part of the Interruption process, you will have agreed your return date with your Course Leader. At least one month prior to your agreed return date, you should contact your Course and Student Administration team so they can ensure your student record has been correctly set up. If you do not re-enrol within two weeks of the agreed return date and you have not requested a further interruption of study, you will be withdrawn by the University.

Yes. If you wish to interrupt for a second consecutive year, you can apply for this. If you intend to return but want to make a change to your return date, please speak to your Course and Student Administration team and your Course Leader.

Please note that you are not permitted to submit work for assessments during an interruption of studies.

No, there will be no academic penalty as a result of interrupting your studies.

If you are an overseas student who has a Student Route visa, before applying for an Interruption of Studies you can discuss this with one of our International Student Advisers (immigration) by logging an enquiry on the StudentHUB or by emailing [email protected]. If you interrupt, then the University is legally required to report this to the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). An interruption of studies means that you will normally have to leave the UK and apply for a new visa before you can return to your studies.

If you are in University Halls of Residence, please refer to your Halls of Residence Licence to Occupy Terms and Conditions.

If you are in any other accommodation, please speak to a Student Money Adviser for advice.

Please contact your Course and Student Administration team in the first instance using your course/faculty noticeboard (see My Kingston). For general student support enquiries please contact the Information Centre team: My Kingston > Support > Information Centre.

The maximum amount of time a student has to complete their course. The table below shows the standard and maximum lengths of courses.

*Repeat years and interruption of studies count towards the maximum length (also known as the maximum registration period).

Courses may specify a longer or more restrictive period of registration, especially where they lead to professional accreditation. This is outlined in programme specifications.

Maximum periods of registration may be exceeded by one additional year if there is mitigation or an interruption of studies on the student’s record, there are no reported issues with currency of learning (as advised by the course team) and the course structure permits this. Students should be aware that the structure and content of the course, the regulations and tuition fees that apply, may be different to those that existed when they first enrolled. Such changes will be clearly communicated to the student prior to their re-enrolment.

Repeat years count towards the maximum registration period of the intended award. Full-time students who are required to repeat credit “in part-time mode” remain within the standard and maximum registration periods for full time students. Students in this position will be designated as part time repeating on a full time course, which is a specific mode of attendance related to student funding.

Standard and maximum registration periods will be adjusted to reflect the reduced credit load required to complete the course. The adjusted periods will be calculated on a pro rata basis, ensuring that the maximum registration period remains equivalent to twice the standard duration of the remaining study for the course.

The approved mode of delivery for a course is stated in the programme specification. A student may study a full-time course on a part-time basis, subject to approval. Students can switch between approved modes of study without academic penalty.

Yes, an interruption year counts towards a student’s maximum registration.

The Course and Student Administration team, on behalf of Academic Registry, will send a letter informing you that you are at risk of exceeding your maximum registration period, that you are in your final year and/or that you are in your final year (+discretion) and there can be no further years added to your registration period. The letters are designed to encourage and signpost students to further support and guidance so that you can complete your course.

You can apply for mitigation, however may only be able to defer assessments to later in the academic year, i.e. complete within the academic year you are in.

Speak to your Personal Tutor, course team and/or the Course and Student Administration team. Refer to Section 2 of the Academic Regulations 2 (Undergraduate courses) Academic Regulation 2 and Academic Regulations 3 (Postgraduate courses) Academic Regulation 3 for further information.

If you have concerns about your course, or if you think you are on the wrong course, please speak to your Personal Tutor or Course Leader in the first instance. If you are considering withdrawing for financial reasons, please contact the Student Money Advisers who will be able to advise on funding your studies, money management, dealing with debt, bursaries, accommodation etc. Email them at [email protected].

If you are struggling with your assessments and would like further support with study skills, academic writing, referencing etc, your Faculty Academic Success Centre may be able to help.

The University offers support for students with a range of emotional issues whilst studying at Kingston. Further information can be found at the Student Wellbeing Hub on My Kingston or you can use the My Wellbeing tile on the KU App.

You can also speak to the Kingston Students’ Union for independent and confidential advice on issues such as complaints or signposting to the right services for you.

You will need to withdraw using the online system accessed through OSIS. Withdrawal cannot take effect until the process has been completed in OSIS.

If you intend to return to your studies in the foreseeable future you should consider taking an Interruption of Studies, rather than withdrawing. Please see the FAQs on Interruption of Studies. Following withdrawal from studies, it may be possible for you to return at a later date; you should contact your Course and Student Administration team in the first instance to discuss your options.

Once you have completed the Withdrawal process on OSIS, your finance record will be recalculated to determine the fee due for the period you attended for in accordance with the University’s General Regulations. For further information contact the Accounts-Receivable Team in the Finance Directorate. Tel: +44 (0)20 8417 3333.

There will be implications for maintenance loans and Tuition Fee Loans if you withdraw from your studies. You should be aware that, under the government's student funding rules, you will be deemed to have studied for a year and this may affect any future student finance if you wanted to go back to study. For further information on how this may affect you now, and in future should you wish to return to higher education, please contact a Student Money Adviser for advice at [email protected]

You may be entitled to a statement of credit for any passed modules or, if you have sufficient credit, for an intermediate award. Please contact your Course and Student Administration team for further information. The credit requirements for intermediate awards are available in Section 5 of the Undergraduate Regulations.

If you are an overseas student who has a Student Route visa, you should initially contact the International Student Advisers (immigration) by logging an enquiry on the StudentHUB or by emailing [email protected]. The Compliance Team will then report your withdrawal to UKVI once your Course and Student Administration team has made the necessary amendments to your student record. This will mean that you will need to leave the UK as the Home Office will cancel your visa.

If you are in University Halls of Residence, please refer to your Halls of Residence Licence to Occupy Terms and Conditions.

If you are in any other accommodation please speak to a Student Money Adviser for advice.

If you believe you are eligible for a refund, you must raise an enquiry via the Student Hub.

Remember:

• Outstanding debts: if you have any outstanding debts to the University, your refund will be offset against these debts first.
• Agreed refunds: where a refund is agreed then payment will normally be made via direct credit transfer to the bank account from which the original payment was made. If payment was made by credit or debit card, the refund would be made back to that card.
• Timescale: please allow at least three weeks for a refund to be processed.

If you have had your application for a student visa refused and need to apply to the University for a refund of your tuition fees, you must provide us with a full copy of your visa refusal letter. If you do not provide us with a full copy of the letter it will delay your refund.

If you enrol onto your course and subsequently decide to leave the University, you will have to provide evidence in the form of a copy of your passport with a departure stamp from the United Kingdom and an arrival stamp for your home country before we will release payment of any refunds you have requested.

If you have enrolled onto a course at Kingston University and then decide to transfer to another university or college, you will be required to provide evidence that you have been accepted onto a course at your new university or college and you will have to prove that you have applied to the UKVI to transfer from Kingston University to your new university before we will release payment of any refund. You should be aware that any refund owed to you will be transferred to your new university.

Note: this only applies to you if you have received a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) from Kingston University and are formally sponsored for immigration purposes by Kingston University and have Kingston University's sponsor number on your Student Route visa.

Remember: if you decide to withdraw from, suspend or defer your course you must put your decision in writing using the appropriate form to your faculty administration office with your name and ID number on the letter. Don't forget to date your letter.

Your faculty should acknowledge receiving your withdrawal in writing. If you do not receive an acknowledgement from your faculty you should contact them and confirm they have received your withdrawal letter.

You must keep a copy of all correspondence in case of any queries. We are here to help. Please talk to your personal tutor for help and advice before making this decision.

Please be aware of the withdrawal cut-off dates for refunds relating to your programme of study.

Please contact your Course and Student Administration team in the first instance using your course/faculty noticeboard (see My Kingston). For general student support enquiries please contact the Information Centre team: My Kingston>Support>Information Centre.

The dates below are the latest dates for you to withdraw from a course or to interrupt your studies without incurring any fee liability. Details of the fee liability for later withdrawals can be found in 'Money Matters' on our payment options webpage.

The dates below are the latest dates for you to withdraw from a course or to interrupt your studies without incurring any fee liability. Details of the fee liability for later withdrawals can be found in 'Money Matters' on our payment options webpage.

Please note: some postgraduate courses follow the undergraduate withdrawal dates for Home and International students, so ensure you refer to the correct table (see above). Those courses are:

• Postgraduate Certificate in Secondary Education (PGCE)
• Master of Architecture (MArch)
• Nursing (MSc)
• Midwifery (MMid)
• Integrated Masters courses (e.g. MPharm, MChem, MEng)