Change your plan – transferring, absence/break in learning or withdrawal

There are many occasions when personal circumstances may make it necessary for you to change aspects of your course. However, the decision to make changes to your course should not be taken lightly and it is essential that you understand the implications that any changes may have. You should discuss any proposed changes with your supervisor.

If you are on an apprenticeship then this will need to be discussed directly with your employer and programme lead as it may affect the contractual arrangements surrounding your apprenticeship.

Temporary withdrawals (break in learning) and extensions

Apprenticeship routes

The learner may take a break in learning where they plan to return to the same apprenticeship programme and this is agreed with the employer. A break in learning must be used where there is no new learning (off-the-job training or English/maths training) taking place in any month(s). This could include medical treatment, parental leave or leave for other personal reasons. Annual leave, public holidays and short-term absences (up to 4 weeks) must not be recorded as breaks in learning. Any breaks in learning must be recorded on the Individual Learning Record (ILR) and include re-planning of the delivery of any remaining training and/or assessment following a break, if required. The employer should revise the apprenticeship agreement if required.

If you are enrolled on a course of study, but are unable to undertake any academic work for a significant period of time you may be able to temporarily withdraw from your course for up to a year. The University refers to this as a leave of absence. All requests for temporary withdrawal must be made to the University through your workplace line manager and personal supervisor as soon as it becomes apparent that you will be/are unable to continue with your academic work. Your case for temporary withdrawal should be supported by evidence indicating why this is necessary, e.g. medical certificates. If your temporary withdrawal is granted on medical grounds, you will be asked to provide the University with adequate medical certification of your fitness to return to the programme  six weeks before you are due to restart. This will be forwarded confidentially for approval of certification by the University’s Occupational Health Physician. If you expect to reach the end of your enrolment period without having completed the course, you may be able to request an extension of up to six months. All extension requests must be made to the University via your personal supervisor following discussions with your line manager and should be supported by evidence indicating why you are unable to complete on time. Any application for leave of absence requires you to provide contemporaneous evidence supporting the reasons for the request.

You can only apply for leave of absence if you are able to meet the entry requirements of the proposed programme to which you will be returning (i.e. if your original programme is no longer running or no longer running in the same format in the future). There must be an appropriate entry point on an appropriate programme for you to return to.

Withdrawal

Withdrawal is the term used when a student decides to leave the University permanently, prior to completion of the award for which they are registered, whether for personal or academic reasons. Please note that if you are on an apprenticeship route this would have additional implications for you as an employee, so you must notify your employer.

Changing provider

If you are on an apprenticeship route and wish to change provider, you may be able to do so but you must discuss this with your employer and programme lead. In terms of the apprenticeship programme your new provider will need to ensure that an initial assessment is undertaken, any recognition of prior learning is considered and that no parts of your current programme are repeated. The new provider must be assessed and meet the placement requirements to support you on the apprenticeship.