Resitting, Interrupting or Leaving Your Course: A Guide For International Students

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Resitting, interrupting or leaving your course

A guide for international students
Advice and Counselling Service www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk
About the Advice and Counselling Service

The Advice and Counselling Service offers a free and confidential service to all Queen Mary students, including those from Barts and The London, Queen Marys School of Medicine and Dentistry. You can view our confidentiality policy on our website: www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/procedures
How to contact a Welfare Adviser

You can see a Welfare Adviser in person during one of our drop-in sessions (during term time only), or at a pre-booked appointment, or you can email questions via our website. If you need to speak to a Welfare Adviser but you are unable to come to the College, we can normally offer a telephone appointment. Appointments are one to one and confidential. We also offer small group advice sessions on extending your immigration permission for further study, or after you complete your course. For more information on how to contact us to book an appointment or a place on a group advice session, our opening hours, and the times of our drop in sessions, visit www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/contact Also see our AZ directory of support services for information on how to contact other support departments at QM, and external organisations which can also offer you support.
Our Welfare Advisers

In this guide we sometimes advise you to contact a Welfare Adviser for further guidance. Welfare Advisers in the Advice and Counselling Service have specialist training to offer you professional advice on a range of financial, practical and legal issues. This includes: financial support (loans, grants, bursaries, etc) tuition fee status planning and managing a budget cutting costs hardship funds dealing with debt immigration law international student issues financial support for student parents (childcare costs, etc) postgraduate funding welfare benefits, including disability benefits housing rights and council tax The Welfare Advisers role is to offer you advice about your individual situation, explaining your rights, and any options and solutions available to you. You can then choose what you want to do. If your situation is complex, a Welfare Adviser can advocate on your behalf where appropriate, for example, appealing against an incorrect assessment of Student Finance or a welfare benefit. You can get advice at any time during your course, as well as before you start at Queen Mary.
Disclaimer
Law, regulations and policies can change quickly so make sure that you are using the most up-to-date version of this guidance. Check the Advice and Counselling Service website for regular updates. The information in this guide is given in good faith and has been carefully checked. Queen Mary, however, accepts no legal responsibility for its accuracy.
Regulation of Immigration Advice

The OISC (Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner) is an independent organisation that monitors immigration advice and services. Welfare Advisers at Queen Mary are regulated under OISC guidelines to give immigration advice. We have to attend regular training to do this. If you ever need to complain about the immigration advice you receive, the Advice and Counselling Service has a complaints procedure. You can find this on our website at www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/procedures Alternatively, you can complain directly to the OISC. Their complaints form is on the website at www.oisc.gov.uk
Advice and Counselling Service
www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk
Contents
Feel like leaving?................................................................................................5
Think about your decision ............................................................................................................5 Think about the practical implications of your decision............................................................5
Taking time out (interrupting your studies)................................................7

Why might I interrupt? .................................................................................................................7 How do I interrupt? .......................................................................................................................7 Where can I get an Interruption of Study form?........................................................................7 What do I do with the form? ........................................................................................................8 Is there a deadline for interrupting? ............................................................................................8 Taking time out because of re-sits...............................................................................................8 Can I stay in the UK during a period of interruption or re-sitting out of attendance?...........9 Undertaking studies elsewhere during a period of interruption or resitting out of attendance....................................................................................................................................11 How and when do I apply for new immigration permission to return to my studies? .........11 What sort of immigration permission should I apply for?.......................................................14 What about my financial sponsorship? ......................................................................................15 What College services can I use while I am interrupting or re-sitting out of attendance? ..15
Re-taking a period of study in attendance....................................................17

Why might I need to re-take a period of study?.......................................................................17 What about my tuition fees? ......................................................................................................17 What about my funding?.............................................................................................................17 What about my immigration permission (visa)? ....................................................................17 Last revised 07 June 2012 Re-sitting, interrupting or leaving your course A guide for International Students 3
Transferring to a new course ........................................................................19

What about my immigration permission (visa) if I transfer to a new institution?..............19 What if I cant start my new course immediately? ..................................................................21 What about my financial sponsorship if I transfer? ..................................................................22 Can I work in the UK while I am waiting for my new course to start? ..................................22
Leaving your studies completely (withdrawing/deregistration) ................23

Withdrawing ................................................................................................................................23 Can I stay in the UK? ...................................................................................................................23 I have immigration permission (a visa) under the Tier 4 student immigration system.....23 What if I plan to start a new course?.........................................................................................25
Tuition Fees and Refunds...............................................................................26

Interrupting your studies ............................................................................................................26 Resitting out of Attendance .......................................................................................................27 Transferring to a new university ................................................................................................27 Withdrawal ..................................................................................................................................27
Re-sitting, interrupting or leaving your course A guide for International Students
Feel like leaving?

Many students have doubts about whether they can continue with their studies. You might feel that you have rushed your decision about coming to university, or feel that you would be more suited to a different programme of study. University life and studying in the UK can be very different to your expectations. Sometimes personal or financial circumstances mean that you cannot give your studies the attention that you would like to. Whatever your reason for considering leaving, or taking some time out, staff at QM can support and advise you. It is important not to rush into a decision until you have really thought about it. Talking to someone who is used to advising students about these matters, might help you to consider options you did not know about.
Think about your decision

Are you worried about your English language skills, writing essays or preparing for exams? Is your programme of study really the problem? Maybe other problems are getting in the way. Do you feel pressured to study a subject that you dont really enjoy? Do you need to know more about other courses or career options before you can make an informed decision? Are you finding it difficult to adjust to the education system in the UK? Is this the right time for you to be at university at all? If these questions sound familiar, you might find it useful to get help and support before you make your decision. A counsellor or welfare adviser in the Advice and Counselling Service can help you to think through your options, as can your personal tutor or adviser in your academic school. Contact the Advice and Counselling Service for specialist advice and support with practical, financial, immigration or personal problems www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk Contact the Careers Service to find out about other courses or career options www.careers.qmul.ac.uk Find out about English language and study skills support at Queen Mary: http://www.sllf.qmul.ac.uk/languagecentre/current/index.html
Think about the practical implications of your decision

Will you have to leave the UK? What will you do instead of studying? How easy will it be to come back to the UK to study in the future? What will happen to your financial sponsorship? Re-sitting, interrupting or leaving your course A guide for International Students 5
What immigration issues might you need to consider? How do you complete the Colleges administrative formalities if you leave your course at QM? Before you make a decision, it is vital that you get accurate information about these practical matters, and this Advice Guide can help you with this.
Taking time out (interrupting your studies)

Why might I interrupt?
You might need to interrupt your studies because you have personal, medical or other difficulties that are affecting your ability to study effectively. You need to have a good reason to interrupt your studies. Your academic school must approve your interruption of study before you can arrange it. Interrupting your studies means that Queen Mary agrees to keep your place on your course for you until you return. Interruptions of study are normally granted for a maximum of one year at a time, and are not extended beyond two consecutive years, except in extremely rare circumstances. You cannot usually interrupt because you want to get work experience in the UK, and you cannot interrupt to stay in the UK to earn money to pay for your studies, if you have Student or Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission.
How do I interrupt?
If you have personal or medical difficulties, speak to your personal tutor or academic adviser first, to discuss why you feel that you need to interrupt and to agree when would be the best time for you to return. If your academic school agrees, you then need to complete an interruption of study form. You should also read the separate document called Instructions for interruptions and withdrawals. The instructions and the interruption form can be found at: http://www.arcs.qmul.ac.uk/registry/maintenance_of_student_records.html
Where can I get an Interruption of Study form?

Undergraduates and taught postgraduates You can get a form from the forms and downloads section of the QM intranet Student Portal (http://my.qmul.ac.uk) or from http://www.arcs.qmul.ac.uk/registry/maintenance_of_student_records.html You can collect a copy from the Registry, room CB05 Queens Building, Mile End campus, or from the Student Office at the Whitechapel campus. Postgraduate research students You can download a form: http://www.arcs.qmul.ac.uk/research_degrees/interruptionform.pdf
Medical and dental research students You can download a form: http://www.smd.qmul.ac.uk/graduateschool/researchstudentguide/forms/InterruptionOfStudyForm.doc
What do I do with the form?

Your academic school will need to sign the form to say that your interruption and proposed return date have been approved. Return the completed form to the office that you collected it from, or as advised on the form or accompanying guidance.
Is there a deadline for interrupting?

All students except postgraduate research and medical and dental students The deadline for interrupting is the last working day before the start of the revision week. In 2012/13 this will be Friday 19 April 2013. Postgraduate research students You should contact the Research Degrees Office to check what time limits apply to you. Medical and dental students You should contact the Student Office in Whitechapel to check what time limits apply to you. What if I miss the deadline? If you miss the interruption deadline but feel that you are unfit to sit exams or to submit coursework due to medical or personal reasons, you need to submit details of your extenuating circumstances to your academic school. This will involve getting documentation to give to your school as evidence to support your claim. For information about the process of submitting a claim for extenuating circumstances, please read the Advice and Counselling Service Advice Guide Extenuating Circumstances, which is available on the Advice and Counselling Service website or from the Advice and Counselling Service reception.
Taking time out because of re-sits

You might have to take time out of your course while you prepare for exam re-sits the following year. At Queen Mary we call this re-sitting out of attendance. You are not normally required to participate in your studies while you are re-sitting out of attendance. Retakes of modules (requiring attendance) are only approved in extremely limited circumstances. As a result, most students are required to re-sit failed modules out of attendance the following academic year. If you feel that you should be given an opportunity to re-take your modules again (by attending your classes again) you need to make a successful academic appeal. However, most appeals on this basis are not successful, as students are expected to have arranged an interruption of studies if they are not fit enough to engage with their studies or sit exams. Please see http://www.arcs.qmul.ac.uk/ for more information about academic appeals. If you would like advice about whether you have grounds to appeal, you can discuss your
case with Annie Mitchell, Academic Adviser at the Students Union. More information about the Students Union Academic Advice Service is at: http://www.qmsu.org/advice/academic
Can I stay in the UK during a period of interruption or re-sitting out of attendance?

I have immigration permission (a visa) under the Tier 4 student immigration system QM can only continue to sponsor your immigration permission if you are expected to be participating in full time studies. When your interruption of study is approved or if it is decided that you will be re-sitting out of attendance, QM is required to inform the UK Border Agency that the College will not be sponsoring your immigration permission while you are out of attendance. The report to the UK Border Agency will contain the date that your interruption or decision that you are resitting out of attendance became effective. What should happen next will depend on how much immigration permission you have remaining. UK Border Agency policy is not clear as to which date you should use to calculate how much immigration permission you have remaining. The earliest date will be the effective date. Calculating how much immigration permission you have left from the effective date will result in the least amount of risk. The College should write to you to let you know that they have made this report to the UK Border Agency, and what effective date they reported. However, if you do not receive a letter, to check what effective date the College reported to the UK Border Agency, contact the relevant office at QM: Undergraduate students (except medical and dental students) and all taught postgraduate students Academic Registry: In person: Room CB05, Queens building, Mile End campus By email: stuadmin@qmul.ac.uk By telephone 020 7882 5005 Undergraduate medical and dental students The Student Office: In person: The Student Office, Garrod Building, Whitechapel campus By email: n.khan@qmul.ac.uk By telephone 020 7882 8807 Postgraduate research students Research Degrees Office: In person: Research Degrees Office, E15 Queens Building, Mile End campus By email: researchdegrees@qmul.ac.uk Re-sitting, interrupting or leaving your course A guide for International Students 9
By telephone 020 7882 5864 When the UK Border Agency receives notification that QM is not continuing to sponsor your immigration permission, they may cut short your immigration permission. If your current immigration permission expires in 60 days or less If you have 60 days or less of immigration permission remaining after the effective date, the UK Border Agencys policy states that they will take no action. You are allowed to stay in the UK until your immigration permission expires. If your current immigration permission expires in more than 60 days If you have more than 60 days of immigration permission remaining after the effective date, the UK Border Agencys policy says that they will curtail (cut short) your immigration permission to 60 days. Notification of curtailment: We are aware that the UK Border Agency is not always successful in notifying students that their immigration permission has been curtailed. If you calculated that you have or had more than 60 days of immigration permission remaining from the effective date, assume that your immigration permission was or will be cut to 60 days from that date. To avoid accidently staying in the UK illegally, leave the UK within the 60 days of the effective date. Students who applied for immigration permission using a Visa letter (before 22 February 2010) If you applied for your most recent immigration permission using a Visa Letter instead of a CAS, the College isnt required to report your interruption or that you are re-sitting out of attendance to the UK Border Agency. However, your immigration permission could still be curtailed (cut short) if the UK Border Agency checks with the College and discovers that you are interrupting or re-sitting out of attendance. Our understanding is that it is the UKBAs intention that students with immigration permission that was granted on the basis of a Visa Letter should behave as if they had immigration permission granted on the basis of a CAS. This means that you should leave the UK within 60 days of interrupting your studies or a decision that you are re-sitting out of attendance (if you have more than 60 days remaining when you interrupted or at the time of the decision). If you have 60 days or less of immigration permission remaining at the date of interruption or at the time of decision that you will be resitting out of attendance, you should leave the UK before your immigration permission expires. I have student immigration permission (a visa) that was granted under the old immigration rules (before Tier 4) As you have been granted immigration permission as a student, you should be attending a full time course of studies, while you are in the UK. If you are in the UK with immigration permission as a student, and you are interrupting or resitting out of attendance and the UK Border Agency become aware of this, they may curtail (cut-short) your immigration permission. 10 Re-sitting, interrupting or leaving your course A guide for International Students
If you are not attending a full time course, you should make arrangements to leave the UK. Our understanding is that it is the UKBAs intention that students with immigration permission that was granted before the introduction of the Points Based System, should now behave as if they had immigration permission granted on the basis of a CAS. This means that you should leave the UK within 60 days of interrupting your studies or a decision that you are re-sitting out of attendance (if you have more than 60 days remaining when you interrupted or at the time of the decision). If you have 60 days or less of immigration permission remaining at the date of interruption or at the time of decision that you will be resitting out of attendance, you should leave the UK before your immigration permission expires. Under the old immigration rules, there existed a special category called student undertaking re-sits. This category allowed students to stay in the UK while they were waiting to undertake re-sits without attending a full time course. It is no longer possible to apply for immigration permission under this category as it was removed when the Tier 4 rules were introduced in March 2009.
Undertaking studies elsewhere during a period of interruption or resitting out of attendance

Institutions are required to check that a students studies will be at a higher level than any previous studies which they have taken while they have been in the UK with Student or Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission. For example, if you are currently a postgraduate student, your new institution would not normally be able to issue you with a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) for undergraduate studies. If you do not declare your previous studies to the institution providing you with a CAS, your immigration application could be refused. If you successfully apply for immigration permission to undertake studies at a higher academic level at another institution while you are interrupting your studies or resitting out of attendance at QM, it may not be possible for you to apply for immigration permission to return to your studies at QM. For this reason, we recommend that if you are in the UK with Student or Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission, you leave the UK during any period when you are interrupting your studies or you are resitting out of attendance. Furthermore, Queen Mary doesnt automatically let students register for programmes elsewhere when you are still registered at Queen Mary you need written permission from your Head of School (or nominee) to do this.
How and when do I apply for new immigration permission to return to my studies?
In this section, when we refer to the date you resume your studies, we mean one week before the beginning of the exam period if you are re-sitting out of attendance, or the date you are expected to return to your studies if you are interrupting or if you have been de-registered from your programme.
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Limit on number of years spent studying in the UK You will not be eligible for further immigration permission to study in the UK under Tier 4 if you have spent, or will spend, more than 5 years studying in the UK at degree level or above as a Tier 4 (General) student or as a Student (under the Immigration Rules before 31 March 2009). While you are studying for a PhD, you are exempt from this rule, as are certain other courses including architecture, medicine, and dentistry, veterinary medicine and science. If you take longer than expected to complete your course, for example because you need to retake part of your course or do resits, and to do so would take you over the five year limit, UKBA will only extend your immigration permission if you have very compelling circumstances, such as injury or disability. Queen Mary is prohibited from issuing you with a CAS if you have or, if you will, exceed the 5 year limit. For more information about this time limit, please read the Advice and Counselling Service Advice Guide Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission: http://www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/documents/leaflets/immigration/29744.pdf If you already have Student immigration permission granted under the old rules that will still be valid when you resume your studies or will expire not more than one month before you are due to resume your studies You may still need to return home (See Can I stay in the UK during a period of interruption or re-sitting out of attendance?) but, so long as your immigration permission has not been cut short, you can come back to the UK up to one month before you are due to resume your studies. When you return to the UK, you may need to show the Immigration Officer at the airport evidence that you are expected to resume your studies. To show that you are expected to resume your studies, you should carry with you a Confirmation of Enrolment letter from Queen Mary (see below). If you will need to extend your immigration permission so that you can complete your studies, you can do this when you return to the UK or you can apply for new entry clearance outside the UK. See the section What sort of immigration permission should I apply for. Be aware of the 5-year limit on time spent studying in the UK on courses at degree level or above. See the 5-year limit section above.
How do I request a Confirmation of Enrolment letter from QM? A Confirmation of Enrolment letter is a letter from Queen Mary to confirm that you are a student. You need this letter for immigration purposes if you are returning to the UK and you have existing immigration permission which is still valid and has not been cut short. You may need to show this letter to the Immigration Officer when you re-enter the UK. Make sure that your letter includes the original start date of your course, the revised end date of your course and information to confirm your period out of attendance and the date that you are required to resume your studies at QM. Undergraduate students (except medical and dental students) and all taught postgraduate students You can request your enrolment letter from QM Registry: 12 Re-sitting, interrupting or leaving your course A guide for International Students
In person: Room CB05, Queens building, Mile End campus By email: stuadmin@qmul.ac.uk If you have an urgent problem concerning your letter, please call 020 7882 5005. You cannot request your letter by telephone. Undergraduate medical and dental students You can request your enrolment letter: In person: The Student Office, Garrod Building, Whitechapel campus By email: n.khan@qmul.ac.uk If you have an urgent problem concerning your letter, please call 020 7882 8807. You cannot request your letter by telephone. Postgraduate research students You can request your enrolment letter: In person: Research Degrees Office, E15 Queens Building, Mile End campus By email: researchdegrees@qmul.ac.uk If you have an urgent problem concerning letter, please call 020 7882 5864. You cannot request your letter by telephone. If your immigration permission is due to expire more than one month before you are due to resume your studies If you are due to resume your studies more than one month after your current immigration permission expires, you will not be able to make an application to extend your immigration permission based on your studies at the College from within the UK. If you are not able to apply for immigration permission to extend your stay for any other reason, you will have to leave the UK and make an application for immigration permission to return to the UK shortly before you are due to resume your studies. Be aware of the 5-year limit on time spent studying in the UK on courses at degree level or above. See the 5-year limit section above. If you already have Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission that will still be valid when you resume your studies or will expire not more than one month before you are due to resume your studies We recommend that you apply for new immigration permission before you return to the UK. This is because your immigration permission may have been curtailed (cut short) by the UKBA without your knowledge following the report from Queen Mary that you would no longer be in attendance. If your immigration permission has been curtailed you may not be allowed back into the UK, so you will need to apply for new immigration permission overseas before you travel here. Be aware of the 5-year limit on time spent studying in the UK on courses at degree level or above. See the 5-year limit section above.
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What sort of immigration permission should I apply for?

If you are returning to the UK to take re-sits or a short period of study, and if you do not intend to stay on in the UK after your studies (for example as a Tier 2 Sponsored Skilled Worker or to undertake further studies) you may decide to apply to return to the UK as a Student Visitor instead of under Tier 4. See the following table for more information. Table comparing characteristics of Tier 4 (General) and Student Visitor immigration permission Tier 4 (General) Student Can be granted to non-visa nationals on entry to the UK Visa application fee (payable in local currency) How long you will be able to stay in the UK From when you are expected to resume your course until your expected completion date plus additional time before you resume your course and at end of your course Employment (including paid or unpaid work experience and medical/dental electives) Full time work is allowed during vacations and during a work placement that is part of your course at Queen Mary. Part time work is allowed during term time. Can be extended in the UK Can switch to other categories in the UK (E.g. Tier 2 Sponsored Yes Yes if you are eligible No No No work allowed 289 78 or free if granted on entry * Up to 6 months No Student Visitor Yes
Only non-visa nationals can apply for Student Visitor immigration permission on entry. To apply for Tier 4 student immigration permission, your course at Queen Mary must start within one month of
your current immigration permission expiring. For example, if your course starts on 19 September 2012, your current immigration permission must not expire before 20 August 2012.
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Tier 4 (General) Student Skilled Worker)
Student Visitor
Further guidance If you will be applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission, see the Advice and Counselling Service Advice Guide, Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission. You can obtain a copy of this Advice Guide from the Advice and Counselling Service reception or from the Advice and Counselling Service website www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/leaflets/index.html If you will be applying for Student Visitor immigration permission, see the Advice and Counselling Service Advice Guide, What Immigration permission do I need to study at Queen Mary? You can obtain a copy of this Advice Guide from the Advice and Counselling Service website www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/international/immigration/index.html These guides explain how and when you can make your application, what documents you will need and how to get them.
What about my financial sponsorship?

If you receive financial sponsorship from your government or other organisation, you should write to let them know that you are interrupting or re-sitting out of attendance. Check that they will continue to sponsor you once you return to your course, and whether they will sponsor you during your period out of attendance. If they will not sponsor you during this time, you will need to make alternative financial arrangements.
What College services can I use while I am interrupting or re-sitting out of attendance?
The College regulations state that if you are not enrolled or registered (and this normally includes people who have interrupted their studies, or who are resitting out of attendance) you may not use College facilities. The exception to this is if your academic school agrees to make a request for you to have use of a facility which they feel you specifically need, for example your school contacts the Library and requests access for you. So if you feel that there are strong reasons why your studies are being adversely affected because you dont have access to a certain College facility during your interruption or resit out of attendance, contact your academic school to discuss this. Academic school or institute You might only have limited contact, if any, with academic staff during a period of interruption or re-sitting out of attendance. Check with your academic school or institute. Re-sitting, interrupting or leaving your course A guide for International Students 15
IT Services Your access to IT Services will normally remain the same while you are interrupting or re-sitting out of attendance. However, if you do not use your email account for a long time, you may be sent an email asking if you want to keep the account open. If you do not respond to this email, and you are not enrolled, your email account will be disabled. Advice and Counselling Service You can still use the Advice and Counselling Service by phone or email from home, while you are interrupting or re-sitting out of attendance
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Re-taking a period of study in attendance

Why might I need to re-take a period of study?
If you interrupt your studies, you might need to re-take a semester, or perhaps a whole year, when you return. It might not be practical to join the course again half way through the year, or you might need to attend classes that you missed last time. You cannot normally re-take a period of study in attendance simply because you have failed to progress to the next stage of your programme. You will normally be expected to re-sit out of attendance. This is because students are expected to have arranged an interruption of studies if they are not fit enough to engage with their studies or sit exams Medical and Dental students are usually required to re-take the whole academic year in attendance, if they have interrupted their studies or need to re-sit exams.
What about my tuition fees?

If you are re-taking a period of study, you will pay tuition fees at the usual rate.
What about my funding?

You must make sure that you have sufficient funds to pay for your tuition fees and maintenance costs for your extra period of study. If you are sponsored by your government or other organisation, check that they will continue to fund you for this. If not, you must find alternative funds to pay for your tuition fees and maintenance costs for the extra period of time.
What about my immigration permission (visa)?

If you have immigration permission to stay in the UK beyond your re-take period, you do not need to do anything until just before your immigration permission ends. At that time you will need to apply to the UK Border Agency (UKBA) under Tier 4 of the Points Based System for more time to complete your course. If your immigration permission expires during your re-take period, you can apply to the UK Border Agency (UKBA) under Tier 4 of the Points Based System, to extend your permission. See the Advice and Counselling Service Advice Guide, Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission. You can obtain a copy of this Advice Guide from the Advice and Counselling Service reception or from the Advice and Counselling Service website www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/international/immigration/index.html
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Limit on number of years spent studying in the UK You will not be eligible for further immigration permission to study in the UK under Tier 4 if you have spent, or will spend, more than 5 years studying in the UK at degree level or above as a Tier 4 (General) student or as a Student (under the Immigration Rules before 31 March 2009). While you are studying for a PhD, you are exempt from this rule, as are certain other courses including architecture, medicine, and dentistry, veterinary medicine and science. If you take longer than expected to complete your course, for example because you need to retake part of your course or do resits, and to do so would take you over the five year limit, UKBA will only extend your immigration permission if you have very compelling circumstances, such as injury or disability. Queen Mary is prohibited from issuing you with a CAS if you have or, if you will, exceed the 5 year limit. For more information about this limit, please read the Advice Guide referred to above.
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Transferring to a new course

If you want to change to a new course, either at Queen Mary or elsewhere, there are two potential options: transferring, or withdrawing and reapplying. The key difference between transferring and withdrawing is that if you are offered a transfer from one course to another, this means that you have a guaranteed place on a new course (although as a formality if you are an undergraduate you may need to also apply through UCAS), whereas if you withdraw, you cease to be a student and your College records will be terminated - if you want to return to the College then you will need to start all over again and apply for your place (through UCAS if you are undergraduate). It is up to the institution running the course that you want to change to, whether they will accept you as a transfer, or whether they need you to withdraw from your current course and apply as a completely new student for the new course. Contact the Head of School for the programme of study you would like to join at Queen Mary, or the admissions department at a different university, to ask how you should apply for a place, and whether you can be transferred or whether you will need to withdraw and apply again to start a new course. You need to complete the relevant College forms: the Change of Programme of Study form to transfer courses, or the Withdrawal from College form to withdraw from QM
You can get the relevant form at the Registry, room CB05 Queens Building, Mile End campus or the Student Office at the Whitechapel campus, or at http://www.arcs.qmul.ac.uk/registry/maintenance_of_student_records.html See the next section for more information about withdrawing.
What about my immigration permission (visa) if I transfer to a new institution?

If you obtained your current immigration permission before Tier 4 of the Points Based System was introduced You do not have to inform UKBA if you transfer to a new college or university. If you applied for your current immigration permission under Tier 4 of the Points Based System before 5th October 2009 Your immigration permission was granted to you specifically for you to study at Queen Mary.
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You need to request permission from UKBA to transfer to a different college or university. If you will need more time to complete your course, you should make an immigration application to extend your immigration permission (see below). If your current immigration permission is long enough to complete your new course, you will need to submit a Permission to Change Tier 4 Sponsor (PTS) application to UKBA. You can download the form and guidance from the UKBA website, via the Advice and Counselling Service website: http://www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/international/immigration/index.html About a week after you have submitted your application, you should receive a letter from UKBA confirming that they have received your application. Once you have your letter confirming that UKBA have received your application, you can start your course at your new college or university. Your new college or university may ask you to provide this letter before you can enrol. UKBA does have the right to refuse permission for you to switch to a new sponsor (for example, if your new college or university is not properly licensed or if your new course is not at the correct level, or if you will exceed the limit on the number of years spent studying in the UK as a student see below). You need to consider this if you are paying tuition fees to begin a new course. If UKBA grants you permission to change to a new college or university, they will send you a letter confirming this. You will need to show this letter to your new college or university. If you applied for your current Tier 4 student immigration permission on or after 5th October 2009 You will need to make a new Tier 4 immigration application if you want to start a course at another college or university. If your new institution is a Highly Trusted Sponsor, you cannot start your new course until you have submitted your application for new Tier 4 immigration permission, but you can start your studies while you wait for your immigration application to be decided. If your new college or university is not a Highly Trusted Sponsor, you cannot start your new course until you have been granted new Tier 4 immigration permission to study at your new college or university, so you may wish to make an in-person appointment at the UKBA so that you can start your new course on time. Rules about progression for Tier 4 (General) Students UKBA requires colleges and universities to check that you progressing academically. This means that it may not be possible for you to undertake a new course at the same or lower level to your current course. Before transferring, you should check that your new college or university will be able to issue you with a CAS for your new course. If you are already at Queen Mary and you are transferring to a different programme of study at Queen Mary You do not need to request permission from UKBA or make a new Tier 4 application before you start your new programme of study. 20 Re-sitting, interrupting or leaving your course A guide for International Students
If you need more time in the UK, because your new programme of study will finish later You will need to make an immigration application to UKBA for the additional time. If you need to apply for an extension of your immigration permission, see the Advice and Counselling Service guide, Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission. You can obtain a copy of this Advice Guide from the Advice and Counselling Service reception or from the Advice and Counselling Service website www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/international/immigration/index.html Limit on number of years spent studying in the UK Note that you will not be eligible for further immigration permission to study in the UK under Tier 4 if you have spent, or will spend, more than 5 years studying in the UK at degree level and above as a Tier 4 (General) student or as a Student (under the Immigration Rules before 31 March 2009). While you are studying for a PhD, you are exempt from this rule, as are certain other courses including architecture, medicine, and dentistry, veterinary medicine and science. If you take longer than expected to complete your course, for example because you need to retake part of your course or do resits, and to do so would take you over the five year limit, UKBA will only extend your immigration permission if you have very compelling circumstances, such as injury or disability. Queen Mary is prohibited from issuing you with a CAS if you have or, if you will, exceed the 5-year limit. For more information about this limit, please read the Advice Guide referred to above. If your new programme of study will finish earlier than your previous programme of study QM will normally inform the UK Border Agency that you are due to finish your studies earlier than expected. When the UK Border Agency receives this information they may cut short your immigration permission. Even if your immigration permission is not cut short, you should either make an immigration application to stay in the UK for some other reason or return home within four months of the completion date of your new course.
What if I cant start my new course immediately?

If you will be enrolling on a new full time course within four months, and you have a definite place on the course, you can normally stay in the UK if your immigration permission lasts beyond the start of your new course. If it will be more than four months before you enrol on the new full time course, you should normally leave the UK and return just before your new course starts. If your immigration permission ends before you will start the new full time course, you will need to apply to UKBA under Tier 4 of the Points Based System, to extend your immigration permission for the new course. You can only do this if your new course starts within one month of the expiry date of your current immigration permission. If your new course starts more than one month after your current immigration permission expires, you will need to return home and apply for new Entry Clearance under Tier 4 for your new course.
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What about my financial sponsorship if I transfer?

You must make sure that you have enough money to pay for your tuition fees and maintenance costs for any extra time it takes to complete your new course. If you are required to make a new Tier 4 application for your new course, you will need to show UKBA your funds for fees and living costs for your new course. If you are sponsored by your government or other organisation, check that they will continue to fund you for your new course. If not, you will need to find an alternative financial sponsor or other funds.
Can I work in the UK while I am waiting for my new course to start?

If you are allowed to stay in the UK (see What if I cant start my new course immediately above) you can work under the usual student rules. You can work up to 10 or 20 hours a week during term time and full time during vacations. Even though you are not attending College, you still need to follow these rules. See the Advice and Counselling Service Advice Guide Part time and vacation work for more information. You can obtain this Advice Guide from the Advice and Counselling Service reception or from our website.
If you are studying below degree level you may only be allowed to work for 10 hours a week during term time. If
you are only allowed to work for 10 hours a week during term time, this should be detailed on your immigration sticker or card.
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Leaving your studies completely (withdrawing/deregistration)

Withdrawing
You may be thinking about leaving completely with no intention of returning to your current course. Make sure that you talk your decision through with somebody first. This might be your personal tutor, academic adviser or a member of staff at the Advice and Counselling Service. Once you have withdrawn from the College, you cannot return to your course, although you could later on try applying as a new student for a new course. If you decide that withdrawing is the best option for you, you need to complete a Withdrawal from College form. You can get the form at the Registry, room CB05 Queens Building, Mile End campus or the Student Office at the Whitechapel campus, or at http://www.arcs.qmul.ac.uk/registry/maintenance_of_student_records.html The deadline for submitting your Withdrawal from College form is the last working day before the start of Revision Week: in 2012/13 this is Friday 19 April 2013. However, if you wish to remain registered for the exams you can submit the form after this date. Deregistration Deregistration is where the College decides to remove you as a student. This could be because your attendance is very poor or because you have not paid enough of your tuition fees.
Can I stay in the UK?

Withdrawing from your course completely or being de-registered means that you are no longer a student. I have immigration permission (a visa) under the Tier 4 student immigration system When your withdrawal or deregistration has been processed, QM will normally inform the UK Border Agency that the College will not be sponsoring your immigration permission any more. The report to the UK Border Agency will contain the date that your withdrawal or deregistration became effective. What should happen next will depend on how much immigration permission you have remaining.
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UK Border Agency policy is not clear as to which date you should use to calculate how much immigration permission you have remaining. The earliest date will be the effective date. Calculating how much immigration permission you have left after the effective date will result in the least amount of risk. If you are not sure what date the College reported to the UK Border Agency contact the relevant office: Undergraduate students (except medical and dental students) and all taught postgraduate students Academic Registry: In person: Room CB05, Queens building, Mile End campus By email: stuadmin@qmul.ac.uk By telephone 020 7882 5005 Undergraduate medical and dental students The Student Office: In person: The Student Office, Garrod Building, Whitechapel campus By email: n.khan@qmul.ac.uk By telephone 020 7882 8807. Postgraduate research students Research Degrees Office: In person: Research Degrees Office, E15 Queens Building, Mile End campus By email: researchdegrees@qmul.ac.uk By telephone 020 7882 5864. When the UK Border Agency receives notification that QM is not continuing to sponsor your immigration permission, they may cut short your immigration permission. If your current immigration permission expires in 60 days or less If you have 60 days or less of immigration permission remaining after the effective date, the UK Border Agencys policy states that they will take no action. You are allowed to stay in the UK until your immigration permission expires. If your current immigration permission expires in more than 60 days If you have six months or more of immigration permission remaining after the effective date, the UK Border Agencys policy says that they will curtail (cut short) your immigration permission to 60 days. Notification of curtailment: We are aware that the UK Border Agency is not always successful in notifying students that their immigration permission has been curtailed. If you calculated that you have or had more than 60 days of immigration permission remaining, assume that your immigration permission was or will be cut to 60 days. To avoid accidently staying in the UK illegally, leave the UK within 60 days of the effective date. 24 Re-sitting, interrupting or leaving your course A guide for International Students
Students who applied for immigration permission using a Visa letter (before 22 February 2010) If you applied for your most recent immigration permission using a Visa Letter instead of a CAS, the College isnt required to report your interruption or that you are re-sitting out of attendance to the UK Border Agency. However, your immigration permission could still be curtailed (cut short) if the UK Border Agency checks with the College and discovers that you are interrupting or re-sitting out of attendance. Our understanding is that it is the UKBAs intention that students with immigration permission that was granted on the basis of a Visa Letter, should behave as if they had immigration permission granted on the basis of a CAS. This means that you should leave the UK within 60 days of your withdrawal or deregistration (if you have more than six months remaining when you withdrew or were de-registered). I have student immigration permission (a visa) that was granted under the old immigration rules (before Tier 4) As you have been granted immigration permission as a student, you should be attending a full time course of studies while you are in the UK. If you are in the UK with immigration permission as a student, you are not studying and the UK Border Agency become aware of this, they may curtail (cut-short) your immigration permission. If you are not attending a full time course, you should make arrangements to leave the UK. Our understanding is that it is the UKBAs intention that students with immigration permission that was granted before the introduction of the Points Based System, should now behave as if they had immigration permission granted on the basis of a CAS. This means that you should leave the UK within 60 days of your withdrawal or deregistration (if you have more than six months remaining when you withdrew or were deregistered).
What if I plan to start a new course?

See the section of this guide, Transferring to a new course. What if I want to return to my course at QM? If you have withdrawn from your course at QM, you cannot be reinstated on that course. You would need to apply for a place on a course as a new student. If you have been deregistered from your course, whether you can return is at the discretion of the College. If the College allows you to return and continue on your course, you must pay a 250 reinstatement fee, and pay any outstanding amount of tuition fees, and wait 12 months from the date of deregistration before you are reinstated. For example, if you are deregistered on 10th March 2012, you cannot resume your studies until 11th March 2013 at the earliest. If the College decides to allow you to return to your course, please see the section of this guide How and when do I apply for new immigration permission to return to my studies?
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Tuition Fees and Refunds

This section applies to students who pay fees directly to the College. If your fees are paid by another organisation, you should check your contract with that organisation.
Interrupting your studies

The following table explains what you will have to pay depending on when you interrupt your studies and when your school agrees you can return. Resuming at the start of semester A Interrupting at any time during semester A: You will be liable for 50% of the tuition fee for this academic year. You will be liable for the whole tuition fee for the following academic year. Resuming at the start of semester B You will be liable for 50% of the tuition fee for the following academic year
Interrupting at any time during semester B: You will be liable for the whole of your tuition fee for this academic year.
You will be liable for the whole tuition fee for the following academic year.
You will be liable for 50% of the tuition fee for the following academic year.
If you have paid fees to the College you will not get a refund if you interrupt (unless there are compelling reasons for your interruption, for example medical, and if you can provide evidence). Instead, any credit balance will be carried over to the following academic year. The College may increase the tuition fee for a course from one academic year to the next, in which case you will need to pay this annual increase in tuition fee when you resume your course.
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Resitting out of Attendance

You do not usually have to pay tuition fees during your period out of attendance, but you will normally have to pay exam re-sit fees.
Transferring to a new university

If you have personal or academic reasons why you want to transfer to a different university, you may be entitled to a refund of some of your tuition fees. Refunds can only be paid directly to the university that you are transferring to. The Fees Office can advise you about whether the university you are transferring to will qualify you for a refund. If you have paid your tuition fees for the year in full and you transfer before the start of semester B, you will be entitled to a refund of 50% of your tuition fee, which will be transferred to your new university*. If you transfer in Semester B, you will be liable for the full tuition fee for the academic year and you will not receive a refund. If you have not paid your tuition fee in full the Fees Office may instruct a debt collection agency to recover the remaining fee for the academic year. *Contact the Fees Office to see if you are entitled to have any of your tuition fees transferred to your new university. You will need to have an unconditional offer for your new course before this is considered. If you have any difficulties, please contact a Welfare Adviser in the Advice and Counselling Service.
Withdrawal
If you withdraw from your course after enrolment you will be liable for your full tuition fee for the academic year unless you have exceptional circumstances (see below). If you have not paid your tuition fee in full the Fees Office may instruct a debt collection agency to recover the remaining fee for the academic year. Exceptional circumstances If you have to withdraw from your course before the start of Semester B due to: serious illness; or the death of a close relative; or the death of your financial sponsor you will only be liable for 50% of your tuition fees. If you have paid your fees in full, you will be entitled to a refund of 50% of your fees if you can show that you have left the UK. If your circumstances dont exactly match those listed above, but you wish to explain your reasons for withdrawal and whether you can be exceptionally considered for a refund, you should discuss your case with the fees office in the Queens Building W117. If you withdraw after the start of semester B, even if you have exceptional circumstances, you will be liable to pay the full tuition fee for the year.
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If your immigration permission is dependant on your studies at QM, you will not receive your refund until you have obtained immigration permission on some other basis, have become exempt from immigration control or have left the UK.
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How to find the Advice and Counselling Service Mile End Campus
Advice and Counselling Service Health Centre Geography Muccis Francis Bancroft Building Queens Building and Octagon G.O. Jones Building Library
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Other advice guides published by the Advice and Counselling Service:

What immigration permission do I need to study at Queen Mary? Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission Resitting, interrupting or leaving your course a guide for international students Banking a guide for international and EU students Student Finance: loans, grants and bursaries for home and EU undergraduates Additional sources of funding for home and EU undergraduates Postgraduate Funding A guide for home and EU students Resitting, interrupting or leaving your course a guide for home and EU students Extra Money: Disability and ill health Managing your budget and cutting costs Money for Lone Parents Council Tax Part time and vacation work Childcare Extenuating Circumstances A to Z of support services Funding for medical and dental students You can download up-to-date versions of all our advice guides from our website: www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/leaflets
For further information contact: Advice and Counselling Service Student and Campus Services Queen Mary, University of London Mile End Road London E1 4NS tel: +44 (0)20 7882 8717 fax: +44 (0)20 7882 7013 www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk

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Finance

Resitting, interrupting or leaving your course

About the Advice and Counselling Service

How to contact a Welfare Adviser

Our Welfare Advisers

Regulation of Immigration Advice

Advice and Counselling Service

Taking time out (interrupting your studies)................................................7

Re-taking a period of study in attendance....................................................17

Advice and Counselling Service

Transferring to a new course ........................................................................19

Leaving your studies completely (withdrawing/deregistration) ................23

Tuition Fees and Refunds...............................................................................26

Re-sitting, interrupting or leaving your course A guide for International Students

Advice and Counselling Service

Feel like leaving?

Think about your decision

Think about the practical implications of your decision

Advice and Counselling Service

Re-sitting, interrupting or leaving your course A guide for International Students

Advice and Counselling Service

Taking time out (interrupting your studies)

Where can I get an Interruption of Study form?

Re-sitting, interrupting or leaving your course A guide for International Students

Advice and Counselling Service

What do I do with the form?

Is there a deadline for interrupting?

Taking time out because of re-sits

Re-sitting, interrupting or leaving your course A guide for International Students

Advice and Counselling Service

Can I stay in the UK during a period of interruption or re-sitting out of attendance?

Advice and Counselling Service

Advice and Counselling Service

Undertaking studies elsewhere during a period of interruption or resitting out of attendance

Re-sitting, interrupting or leaving your course A guide for International Students

Advice and Counselling Service

Advice and Counselling Service

Re-sitting, interrupting or leaving your course A guide for International Students

Advice and Counselling Service

What sort of immigration permission should I apply for?

Re-sitting, interrupting or leaving your course A guide for International Students

Advice and Counselling Service

Tier 4 (General) Student Skilled Worker)

What about my financial sponsorship?

Advice and Counselling Service

Re-sitting, interrupting or leaving your course A guide for International Students

Advice and Counselling Service

Re-taking a period of study in attendance

What about my tuition fees?

What about my funding?

What about my immigration permission (visa)?

Re-sitting, interrupting or leaving your course A guide for International Students

Advice and Counselling Service

Re-sitting, interrupting or leaving your course A guide for International Students

Advice and Counselling Service

Transferring to a new course

What about my immigration permission (visa) if I transfer to a new institution?

Re-sitting, interrupting or leaving your course A guide for International Students