Return to study at university

This information applies to England and Wales.

If you have taken some time out of college or university and you would like to return to the same course, start by contacting your tutor. Taking a break from university is sometimes called:

• interruption of studies
• leave of absence
• suspension of studies

If you feel that you can continue your studies, the university should make reasonable adjustments to help you.

Reasonable adjustments in college and university education

When you decide that you're able to return to your studies, you may have to complete:

• a Return to Study form a few months before your planned start date so that the university can arrange any support that you may need
• a medical declaration or health check

These may be on the same form or they could be on separate forms. Your university should give you plenty of time to get any medical evidence if you need to provide it.

Help with returning to your studies

Your university Student Welfare Officer should be able to give you support for your health and wellbeing. Their contact details should be on your university's website. They can also give you information about:

• finance
• accommodation
• start of term or induction events

Your university disability service should be able to give you advice on:

• Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)
• arranging finance
• accessing specialist equipment, such as a voice activated computer
• changing your study environment, for example, finding quiet rooms to rest in
• people who can help you, such as mobility assistants or scribes
• travel and accommodation

If you were studying before the pandemic, it's likely that your university or college is operating a little differently.

For example, some classes may be remote. Speak to your university disability service if you find this difficult to access.

Talk to your tutor

Arrange a meeting with your tutor to talk about the best options for restarting your studies. You may talk about:

• what support you need to take part in the academic and social activities of your course, such as tutorials at a time of day that suits you or a separate exam room
• what you need to get back on track with your course, such as a reading list or home study materials
• if there are any assessments due soon after you return
• an agreed start date
• what happens if you need to take further breaks in your studies

Financing your studies after a break

If you had DSA before you took time off

You may need to reapply for Disabled Students' Allowance before you restart your course. DSA can help pay for specialist equipment and support as well as travel costs.

If you had student finance before you took time off

If you are returning in the same academic year, you can restart payments when you return.

Ask your university admissions service to tell Student Finance when you will start your course. Ask your university to confirm in writing that your break from studies has been recorded and sent to Student Finance.

If you are returning in a new academic year, you will need to apply for finance again. Find out more at Student Finance England or Student Finance Wales.

Fitness to Study

Sometimes, a university may ask a student to attend a Fitness to Study assessment. This is rare. It happens when the university has serious concerns about the student's health. It should only happen when the university has made reasonable adjustments to help you return to your studies.

Fitness to Study assessments

Fitness to Practise

Your university may ask you to take part in a Fitness to Practise assessment if:

• you are studying for certain professional qualifications such as medicine or social work, and
• they have serious concerns about your ability to practise safely

Fitness to Practise assessments