More From This Section Mwy o’r Adran Hon

Term Opening Times

Morning Drop in Cathays Campus

Monday-Friday:
Phone/Email Only

Drop in Heath Campus

Monday-Friday:
Phone/Email Only

Advice@cardiff.ac.uk Advice@caerdydd.ac.uk
+44 (0)2920 781410

Interruption of Study

The University’s Interruption of Study Procedure allows you to request an authorised absence from your course for between 2 weeks and 12 months. If you plan on being absent for 14 days or less, you do not need to apply for an Interruption but you do need to report your absence to your School and let them know the reason.

The advice on this page relate to taught programmes. If you are a research student you can information here.

If you will be absent for longer than 14 days, the University’s rules state that you must apply for an Interruption of Study (often referred to as an IoS).

If your IoS is granted you will remain registered on your programme of study but your student record will be updated to show that you are not actively engaged with your course.

What am I allowed to do while I am on the IoS?

During an approved IoS, you are permitted:

Access to your university IT account (including email and SIMS),
Limited access to Student Support and Wellbeing services,
Access to Careers and Employability Service,
Public access to libraries and University buildings.

What am I not allowed to do on the IoS?

During an approved IoS, you are not permitted to:

Attend programme sessions including lectures, seminars, laboratory sessions, and supervisory meetings.
Access learning materials via Learning Central.
Participate in formal assessments including taking formal examinations or submitting coursework.
Depending on the length of interruption, remain in university accommodation. If you have to leave, your contract will be adjusted without penalty

Although this is not always the case, whilst on your Interruption of study, you may find that your access to Student Support Services is more limited.

If you are considering an Interruption of Study on the grounds of ill health, we would encourage you to explore other support options that you can access whilst you are taking a break from your studies.

You may find some suitable support services on our Health and Wellbeing webpages.

FAQs

What are the grounds for an Interruption of Study?

An Interruption of Study is not granted as of right but will need to be applied for with at least one valid ground and with appropriate evidence.

An Interruption of Study can be requested for valid reasons, supported by appropriate evidence. Grounds for applying include:

Ill Health: Physical or mental health concerns.
Leave: Maternity, paternity, shared parental, or adoption leave.
Sabbatical Office: If elected to a sabbatical post in the Students' Union.
Work experience: For non-credit bearing placements or internships, except for Tier 4 visa holders.
Professional commitments: For part-time, distance, or blended learning students with unforeseen work commitments.
Study abroad: Additional study abroad opportunities, unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Compassionate grounds: Personal, family, or domestic issues.
Financial hardship: Exceptional financial difficulties.
Academic grounds: When it's in the student's best interest to pause studies and resume later in the academic year.

Applications require justification, and an interruption is not granted automatically.

What are the restrictions when applying for an IoS?

You cannot apply for an IoS during a formal examination period. If you are experiencing circumstances that are impacting your study during a formal examination period you will instead need to report them using the Extenuating Circumstances Procedure. If your circumstances continue after the examination period, you can submit an IoS application for when it ends.
Strictly you are permitted a maximum of 12 months’ Interruption per programme of study. This can be taken as one absence, or an accumulation of multiple shorter terms Interruptions. In exceptional circumstances, the Chair of the Academic Standards and Quality Committee may approve longer periods, provided they do not exceed 24 months in total. It is important to be aware that in most cases you will not be permitted to return until the start of the next academic year. This is because if you miss more than a few weeks of teaching there will a significant impact on your ability to pass assessments.

I am on a Student Visa, can I take an IoS?

Taking an Interruption of Study may have significant implications for your Visa, and so we would strongly encourage you to contact the Student Visa Support team to discuss this before you apply.

General information on how an IoS can impact a Visa can be found here.

Do I need evidence to apply?

You will normally need to provide evidence to support what you say in your IoS application. Evidence should ideally be independent, such as a letter from a doctor or other professional.

Some circumstances can be difficult to evidence so please speak to Student Advice if that applies to you.

If there is a delay in obtaining evidence submit the application as soon as possible and state evidence will follow.

What is the process of applying for the IoS?

Applications for Interruptions of Study should be made to your academic school through your SIMS account.

Your application will be considered by the Head of School, who will look at:

The reasons for the request,
The continuity and currency of your programme content,
How you will be assessed on your return to study for any assessments not already completed,
The date of your return to study,
Any other periods of interruption previously agreed for you for the same programme of study.

The Head of School will then decide whether to approve or reject your application and should inform you of the outcome within 14 days of your IoS submission.

The length of the IoS you request will need to be enough for you to address the reason for needing the time away from your course, but the return date will also have to fit with the teaching of your course and the timing of assessments. You can discuss this with your School but it is unlikely that you will be able to return part way through a semester.

If your application is rejected or you disagree with the return date, you can appeal the decision in accordance with the University Review Procedure.

What important things should I consider?

Your return date: It is normally recommended that you consult with your personal tutor prior to making the IoS application. Your tutor can support your application and may be able to help liaise between you and the rest of the academic school. You may also want to have a conversation with your personal tutor / academic school as to the structure of the IoS and when exactly you would return. Your return date must fit with the delivery of your course and you may be given return requirements, such as an appointment with the University’s Student Support and Wellbeing Team, if you are interrupting on grounds of ill health or an Occupational Health Assessment.
Any time limits for completing your course: You can find these limits in the Regulations specific to your Programme of Study, within the University’s Academic Regulations. If in doubt, speak to your School.
Any Visa implications: The University has a legal obligation to inform your funding body/sponsor and the UK Visa and Immigration where applicable. If you are on a Tier 4 visa and apply for an interruption of study, you may need to return to your home country and reapply for a new visa before your return to study date. For further advice on any visa implications you can contact the University’s Student Visa Support team via Student Connect.
Financial implications: As a general rule, your student funding (loans, grants, disabled student allowance etc.) stop from the date you interrupt until the date your return. Student Finance will re-calculate your funding entitlement for the year, and write to you about any overpayment. You will usually be asked to repay any overpayments, but you can negotiate with your funding body if you are not in a position to do so. If you are interrupting for reasons of ill-health, your funding body may allow you to keep 60 days’ worth of Maintenance Loan and Grant to help cover the initial period. After this you will not usually receive student funding while on IOS. For further advice on the full implications of an IoS you can contact the University’s Advice and Money Team.
Sometimes it will be better to use the extenuating circumstances procedure and defer assessment especially towards the end of the academic year . Contact the University’s Advice and Money Team
Council Tax: You will retain access to all Council Tax certificates which have been issued to you before you commence an interruption. Some students on an Interruption will be entitled to a new certificate, but this is dependent on the Council Tax regulations in force at the relevant time.
Your accommodation: If you are in University halls of residence, you will need to speak with your Residences Manager. You are not usually allowed to stay in University halls of residence during your IoS, but this does depend on the length of your absence. You will only pay rent until the day you return your keys or when the IoS appears on SIMS – whichever is later. You can ask for any overpayment to be repaid to you. If you are living in private rented accommodation, you will likely be bound by the tenancy agreement. Please speak to Student Advice if you need further advice on this point.

I'm returning from an IoS - what do I need to do?

As above, we would strongly advise you to speak to your School about your return to study prior to making a decision to interrupt your studies.

If you feel you might need reasonable adjustments because of disability or long term health condition on you return t to study contact Disability Support and/or request an Occupational Health assessment.

If you feel that you are able to return to your programme before the end of your pre-agreed interruption, you will need to speak to your School to see whether an early return is possible. You may find that you are unable to return to your programme at certain points in the academic year, owing to the risk of repeating, or missing, academic content.

If you are likely to be repeating content from before your IOS in a previous academic year, this could have financial implications on you. Your School and the Money and Funding Advice Service may be able to discuss this further with you.

Contact Student Advice

Advice@cardiff.ac.uk
+44 (0)2920 781410

Last updated: 27 May 2025 17:41