Withdrawing from your studies

First, we ask that you submit an ‘Intent to Withdraw’. The Form takes basic information and allows NTU to gain an initial understanding of why you would like to withdraw.

The Form is then submitted and sent to your School who manage the next stage of the process.

Before your meeting

After you have submitted your intention to withdraw, your School will contact you to arrange a meeting between you and a member of your School within ten working days. Ensure to confirm your attendance to your School. If you do not attend the meeting, you will not be withdrawn and remain a student at NTU.

This meeting is important as it ensures that all options and implications of your withdrawal are considered, as well as the next steps for you.

Before your meeting, you are strongly encouraged to read the 'Considerations' section below and discuss any concerns with the appropriate teams across NTU.

During the meeting

In the meeting, your School will discuss your initial submission and provide guidance on the options available to you. You will also discuss the reasons for your withdrawal, which your School will record, as this forms part of the formal process for leaving the institution.

If during the meeting with your School, you decide that you need a little more time to consider your decision, or perhaps meet with other teams in the University to gain further support, you can do so.

The cooling-off period can only be up to five working days, but can be shorter if you'd like.

At the end of your cooling off period, your School will contact you to confirm if you still wish to go ahead with your withdrawal. You must respond to this email within ten working days, or you will continue to remain a student at NTU.

You can confirm whether you would like your withdrawal to proceed either in the meeting with your School or after your optional cooling-off period.

You will receive an email detailing all the information you have provided to NTU and the date your withdrawal will be effective. The email will request that you either confirm or reject withdrawing from the institution. It is important that you confirm this within two working days.

Date of withdrawal

In most instances, the date from which your withdrawal will be effective will be either:

• the date you met with your School
• the date you confirmed withdrawal following an optional cooling-off period
• in exceptional circumstances, a withdrawal may be backdated, but this will be managed on a case-by-case basis.

Following your confirmation, your School will collate all your information and relevant departments will be informed, including:

• Academic Registry
• Finance
• Student Support Service

Your Student Record will be updated, and if applicable, the Student Loans Company will be informed. Your School will send you a letter via email and post that your withdrawal has been completed.

Any assessed work that you submitted before your withdrawal date will be marked by your School. You may be entitled to credit or an exit award.

You might not be certain about permanently withdrawing from NTU. Another option is to suspend your studies, also known as ' taking a leave of absence'.

We may grant a leave of absence if you need a break from your studies for specific reasons. These can include things like ill health, maternity, or financial difficulties. You should first discuss this with:

• your personal tutor, or
• other relevant members of staff in your department.

Depending on when you withdraw, you may be eligible to receive an exit qualification. You should discuss this first with your course leader, personal tutor, or supervisor.

Withdrawing from your studies during the academic year may affect your tuition fee. You can find out more from our fee payment conditions.

If you have a Tuition Fee Loan from the Student Loans Company, we'll keep them updated. We'll let them know of any change to your tuition fee liability for that academic year.

We are also required to update the Student Loans Company if you withdraw from your studies. See the terms and conditions of student loans for more information.

The Student Loans Company will reassess any Maintenance Loan or grants you're getting. You're usually only eligible while you're actively studying.

There may also be an impact on your future funding entitlement.

If you withdraw part-way through a term, you may have been paid too much maintenance or grant. This is called an 'overpayment'. You may have to pay some of it back.

If you're a postgraduate student and receive postgraduate funding from the Student Loans Company, your loan payments will stop if you withdraw. You're only usually able to apply for postgraduate funding once. If you withdraw from your course, you're not usually eligible for any further funding for a course at the same level. If you withdraw due to a 'compelling personal reason', you may be able to apply for funding again in future. Such reasons can include significant poor health.

Withdrawing from your studies may affect your eligibility for external funding. If you're receiving external funding, contact your provider for further advice. This can include sponsorships and so forth.

If you receive funding from a UK research council, NTU must inform the relevant funding body of:

• your withdrawal date, and
• the reasons you have decided to leave.

If you receive US Financial Student Aid, email us for advice before withdrawing from your studies. Withdrawing can affect your funding and repayment requirements.

If you're a further education student, email us for advice. We'll be able to tell you about the impact of your withdrawal on any further education funding you get.

You'll no longer be eligible for University bursaries, scholarships or hardship funding.

Carefully consider how you'll support yourself if you withdraw from your studies. See the section about your career, below.

You'll be eligible to claim welfare state benefits once:

• you have withdrawn, and
• your student status has come to an end.

You may wish to contact Citizens Advice for support with doing this.

If you're thinking of withdrawing, we recommend making an appointment with our money advice team. They'll be able to talk you through the financial implications one-to-one.

You'll no longer have access to your NTU IT account once you've withdrawn. You'll lose access to:

• NOW
• online library resources
• Employability Online
• Office 365
• OneDrive, and
• your University email address.

If you need any content you've stored on any of these, save it locally on your personal computer. You must do this before you withdraw.

You'll also lose access to all University buildings from your withdrawal date.

If you're thinking of withdrawing, review your contractual status with your accommodation provider. This includes NTU halls.

Try to cancel your accommodation within the terms of the cancellation policy. If you can't, it's likely you'll be held to contract, and have to pay your fees in full.

Not all providers have a cancellation policy. A tenancy agreement is a legally binding document. Once you've signed it, the provider is not required to allow you to cancel.

NTU and UPP halls do allow new students to cancel. You must notify us in writing at least 21 days before the start of the licence period. See our guide to accommodation for more information. You can also email Student Accommodation Services or call them on +44 (0)115 848 2894.

If you've booked with a private provider, contact them directly. Review your tenancy agreement and any other booking information first.

You can also contact Nottingham Trent Students’ Union (NTSU) Information and Advice Service. They'll be able to give advice on accommodation contracts.

You won't be able to access Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) from the point you withdraw from your studies.

If you have mentoring or tutor support, tell your provider that you're going to withdraw. If you don't, you may be liable for the cost of any further support beyond the point you withdraw.

Our Disability Support teams can advise you. You can also email the DSA team at the Student Loans Company if you have any queries.

If you withdraw from your course, you'll no longer be eligible for Council Tax exemption.

If you continue living with other students, the property will no longer be exempt from Council Tax. However, you may be eligible for a discount if all other residents do have student exemption.

Find out more about Council Tax.

Reapplication

Should you wish to re-join NTU at a later date, you will need to reapply through either UCAS or direct application. There may be instances where you cannot apply for some courses at NTU and this is outlined in our Admissions Policy.

Transferring to another institution

You can potentially use any credit you gain from your time at NTU when transferring to another institution, which may result in you attending that institution with advance standing.

NTU is part of the Midlands Credit Compass. We can help you consider your options if you're thinking about:

• leaving your studies, or
• switching universities to one of the Midlands Enterprise Universities (MEU).

The MEU include:

• Birmingham City
• Coventry
• Derby
• Lincoln
• Nottingham Trent
• Wolverhampton.

Find out more about the Midlands Enterprise Universities.

Seek advice from our International Student Support team before you withdraw.

If you withdraw from NTU before completing your course, we must notify UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). This is part of our responsibilities as a sponsor. This also applies if we withdraw you from your course.

This will result in your visa being curtailed. You'll usually have to leave the UK, unless you're eligible to apply for a different visa.

Find more information about visas and immigration.

Taking a leave of absence doesn't mean taking a break from working towards your career.

Use our Live Chat and Online Drop-In to speak to one of our advisers. They can give you tailored advice and support based on your individual circumstances.