Interruption of study
The information below explains how you can apply to interrupt your studies if you are affected by personal or other factors that might disrupt them. It also explains how your School will consider any applications to interrupt studies, and what you need to do depending on whether or not your application to interrupt has been successful.
It is the expectation of the School and the University that you will complete your programme in one continuous period of uninterrupted study. It is understood, however, that students may encounter personal difficulties or situations which may seriously disrupt their studies. In such instances, and subject to the approval of the School, students may be granted a temporary interruption to their studies.
It is important to realise that we may not be able to provide an identical teaching, supervision and assessment experience on your return as would otherwise have been available. Programmes of study and regulations change to reflect developments in the subject, requirements of external bodies and the resources available to the University. While we will try to make reasonable provisions for you following your interruption you need to realise that permission for an interruption is a privilege and not a right.
Please note that while we understand that military service is mandatory for male students from the Republic of Korea, we are unable to approve interruption requests on this basis. This is because the eligible age range for completing military service is between 18 and 28, and therefore, students are expected to fulfil this obligation either before commencing or after completing their studies.
For more information on interruptions please visit the My Manchester Regulations page.
Wherever possible, applications should be made before the interruption is to start. This would be the expectation in respect of certain predictable medical circumstances such as foreseen surgery and confinement during pregnancy. Some interruptions, however, are not predictable and are sought after difficulties have already commenced. Students normally interrupt for one full year, from the time that they can no longer attend e.g. a student interrupting his/her second year in January would return to the School in the following January to complete the year.
The deadlines to apply are noted below:
Full year interruption:
Where circumstances are known before the commencement of studies, students should apply for an interruption before the academic year has begun.
For circumstances that occur during the first semester, students must apply before teaching ends in December.
Applications after this date will only be considered under exceptional circumstances.
Semester 2 and 3 interruptions:
Where circumstances are known before the commencement of studies, students should apply for an interruption before the start of semester 2.
For circumstances that occur during semester 2, students should apply before the Easter Break.
Applications after this date will only be considered under exceptional circumstances.
Note: PGT students who interrupt for semester 2 will also be interrupted for semester 3 as there is a requirement to pass the taught elements of your programme before progressing to the taught element of semester 3 or a dissertation.
Semester 3 interruption:
Where circumstances are known before the commencement of studies, students should apply for an interruption before the start of semester 3.
If you have in person teaching in semester 3, you must apply by July.
If you are doing a dissertation you must apply before August.
Applications after this date will only be considered under exceptional circumstances.
Students who are granted an interruption part-way through the year are allowed to carry forward coursework and examination marks obtained before the interruption began but have to complete the remaining requirements for the coursework and examinations on their return.
You cannot interrupt your programme once the relevant exam period has started.
You should complete the AMBS Programme Interruption Request Form, sign it and attach appropriate supporting evidence, for example, a doctor's note in the case of medical reasons for a request for interruption, and submit the form alongside the supporting documentation.
Before you complete your application we recommend that you speak to a member to the Student Support & Wellbeing team so that they can help you decide in whether an interruption of studies is the best route for you and if yes, what documents you will need to provide.
Decisions on applications are made in Alliance MBS.
Please be aware that if you do not formally complete and submit the AMBS Programme Interruption Request Form, you may incur unnecessary costs in fees, loans, or other awards.
The above form and attachments will be treated as confidential and the information that you have given will be circulated only as necessary to reach a decision on your application; any reporting requirements or statistical data collection will not identify you as an individual. The School reserves the right to request further information from any source that is already named in your application or in the supporting material without making further reference to you.
Interruptions are not granted lightly. Students may find it difficult to adjust on returning the following year; their peers will have moved on and the contents of some of the courses and the way they are assessed may well have changed. That is why this course of action is only considered in exceptional cases where there are serious problems, medical or otherwise, which dictate consideration.
Tuition fees
During a period of interruption, no tuition fee is payable. If your application for interruption is successful and you require a refund for fees paid beyond the date of last attendance, you should contact the Tuition Fee team via email to tuitionfeerefunds@manchester.ac.uk
Important note: If you are a student who interrupts part way through the academic year, you may still be eligible to pay to pay some fees depending on when you interrupt your studies.
For further details on how fees are calculated, please visit the link below:
Access to facilities
During your period of interruption, you will not be a registered student of the University and your right to be on University premises will be that of a member of the public. You may not undertake work on University premises as you are not covered by the University's insurance arrangements.
You should also note that you will lose onsite IT and student library access; however, you can retain remote IT access to your student email account, the student portal and Campus Solutions and you will also retain access to Canvas. You do need to ensure, however, that, if necessary, you save work and provide alternative forwarding contact email details to us.
If you are considering an interruption of studies you should seek advice from the Student Support and Wellbeing team. We are based in your Student Support Hub on the second floor of AMBS in room 2.091.
Contact the team at ambs.wellbeing@manchester.ac.uk
Someone within the team will advise on possible options and on the interruption process. For example, they will advise on the start and end dates of the interruption and, if appropriate, discuss the implications for assessment and course choices. The support team are also available via video call or over the phone.
Other sources of advice can be obtained from your Academic Advisor or your Programme Director.
If you are a student on a visa, please be advised that once your interruption has been granted, the School will notify the Visa team and your current visa will be curtailed and you will be required to leave the country within 60 days. The Visa team will contact you about the curtailment process so please keep an eye out for an email.
The School will be in contact you before you are expected to return to studies, to arrange the paperwork for you to apply for a new visa.
It is your responsibility to apply for a visa in a timely manner so that you can return to Manchester and resume studies for the start of term.
If the application for interruption is approved, you will be notified via email.
It is your responsibility to inform any organisation or person who is funding your education. In particular, you should inform your Local Education Authority and the Student Loans Company if you are a home student and/or sponsoring body if you are a home or overseas student. If appropriate, you should also let the Accommodation Office know about an early termination of contract (accommodation@manchester.ac.uk).
Whilst the School will try to make reasonable provisions for you following your interruption, permission for an interruption is a privilege and not a right. You may need to do additional work in your own time to put you in a position to benefit from your return to study and your return may need to be scheduled to fit the needs of your programme. You will need to abide by any reasonable return date and fulfil registration requirements. If the regulations and requirements of your programme have changed, when you return, you may be subject to the regulations and the requirements that are applicable to the cohort of students that you will then join.
If your application for interruption is declined by the School, you have a right to appeal against this decision. In this instance, you are advised to refer to the University's Academic Appeals regulation:
If your interruption has been granted on medical grounds, you will need to provide a satisfactory fitness to study letter before your return. The School will get in touch to request this. If required, you will also be invited to a support meeting with a member of the Student Support and Wellbeing team to discuss any support needs to help you with your studies.
If you fail to return and re-register at the expected date of return following an interruption, we will attempt to contact you but if we receive no response after 30 days following your expected date of return, we can withdraw you from the Student System.