PAUSE IN STUDY GUIDE
For Undergraduate and Postgraduate Taught Students
What is a Pause in Study?
You may find that, for various reasons, you need to take a break from your studies. A Pause in Study is an agreement between you and the University, allowing you to pause your studies for up to 12 months at a time.
Pausing your studies can be a big decision, and we understand It is one you may need to take to help you succeed. To help you understand the process, here is a guide on what you need to do before and during your pause, including what University services are still available to you. Plus, what you need to do and consider before you return to study.
In this guide
Before your Pause in Study
→ Advice and guidance
→ What to consider
→ When and how to request a Pause in Study
During your Pause in Study
→ What University services are and are not available to you
Returning to your studies
→ What you need to do
→ Suppor ting your return
Before your Pause in Study
When and why you might request a Pause in Study
A Pause in Study will pause your progress on your programme, so it will only be approved if you have a strong reason. Circumstances that may lead to a Pause in Study:
→ Medical reasons
→ Bereavement
→ Sole caring responsibilities
→ Financial problems
→ Mandatory military service
You may be asked to provide supporting evidence as part of your request.
Advice and guidance
If you think you may need a Pause in Study, we strongly recommend that you talk to your Personal Academic Tutor, Senior Tutor or Programme Lead (UG/PGT) before submitting a request.
Your Personal Academic Tutor will be able to help you make an informed decision and help you consider any alternatives to a Pause in Study that might be available to you.
If you are thinking about a Pause in Study for financial reasons, the SUSU Advice Centre can discuss the effects a Pause in Study may have on your funding and accommodation arrangements.
Remember
You can contact The Student Hub, who are on hand to offer support on wellbeing, finance, accommodation and more.
www.southampton.ac.uk/ studenthub
What to consider
If you are thinking about a Pause in Study, there are several things you need to do and consider.
Accommodation
University student accommodation
→ During a Pause in Study, you will need to move out of your University student accommodation, as you will no longer be classified as a student. Please ensure you notify Residential Services by email of your intended move out date as soon as possible.
Notify Residential Services
Email halls@soton.ac.uk
Private rented accommodation
→ If your Pause in Study falls whilst living in private rented accommodation, this will have an impact on council tax for you/your household. Please visit the SUSU website for their guidance on housing support.
Fees and funding
Different Student Finance authorities have different rules on funding, so it is always important to contact them directly to discuss any financial implications if you are considering a Pause in Study. If you have any further questions about Student Finance, the SUSU Advice Centre can help.
SUSU Advice Centre
www.susu.org/help-support/the-advice-centre/
International students
If you are a student visa holder, please contact the University Visa and Immigration Student Advice Service as soon as possible to understand the effect that a Pause in Study will have on your visa.
Housing support guidance www.susu.org/help-support/housing/
University Visa and Immigration Student Advice Service www.southampton.ac.uk/studentservices/visaand-immigration/contact-us/
How to request a Pause in Study
Remember: It’s best to discuss your request with your Personal Academic Tutor to discuss the options available to you.
You’ll need to complete a Pause in Study request form and include a summary of the reasons for the request on your form.
Once submitted, you will receive an email confirming receipt of your request. You will remain liable to pay tuition fees and will still be expected to engage with your studies until you receive confirmation that your Pause in Study has been approved.
Once your Pause in Study has been approved, you will receive a confirmation email. Until you receive written confirmation, you are still a registered student. Pause in Study request form forms.office.com/e/8FLQbyd1Th
During your Pause in Study
During a Pause in Study, you are no longer classified as a student, and you cannot engage with your academic course. This means you cannot attend any taught classes or lectures or complete any coursework or exams.
However, you are still very much part of the University community and support and services are still available to you. Check below to help understand what you can still access while on a Pause in Study.
Whilst pausing your studies, you can expect to maintain access to the following services and support:
IT
You will retain access to your student email and Office 365 Suite including Word, PowerPoint etc.
Student Wellbeing & Student Disability and Inclusion (SD&I)
You can contact The Student Hub to speak to our Wellbeing and SD&I teams. Our advisors will talk you through what support you can to access during your pause in studies.
Whilst you will not automatically be invited to events and workshops, there is no barrier to participation if you wish to attend.
Financial Support
Whilst you will not receive financial support during your Pause in Study, pastoral support remains available should you need it.
For some individual cohorts, Student Success coordinators may reach out close to your expected return date.
You can continue to access both the Student Inclusion and Finance Support teams.
Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise
You will have access to all areas of careers support during your Pause in Study, including opportunities such as Student Innovation Projects, Student Enterprise funding and access to careers appointments. You can continue to access the Careers Hub.
Creating a temporary alumni account will allow you to maintain full access to MyCareer.
Library
You will maintain access to all library services throughout your Pause in Study, including access to library sites and loans.
SUSU
You will remain a member of the Students’ Union and can continue to access the SUSU Advice Centre for any support you need. You can still access clubs, societies and social events.
You may continue as a Student Rep if you are already one. If you would like to step down from your role as a Student Rep, please get in touch with the SUSU Representation team by emailing representation@soton.ac.uk
Opportunities and engagement
In addition, the following opportunities will be available to you:
Student Ambassador
You can be hired and complete work as a Student Ambassador.
Internships
You can be hired and complete work as an intern at the University.
Student Engagement Events
You can attend events organised by the Student Engagement team such as the Student Experience Awards.
Student Experience Awards
You can be nominated and awarded a Student Experience Award. The only exception to this is if you have paused your study to take up a full-time sabbatical officer role at the Students’ Union.
Unavailable access
Whilst on a Pause in Study you will not have access to or be able to take part in the following:
Teaching & Assessment
You cannot access any teaching or complete any assessment whilst on a Pause in Study. This includes taking part in any exams.
Please note: If you do sit an exam or take an assessment it will not be marked and you will be liable for the cost.
Remember: We are still here for you.
The Student Hub remains here for you 24/7 whilst you are away. If you have any questions or concerns about wellbeing, disability, fees, finance, accommodation or anything else, please contact us anytime via email, online chat or call 02380 599 599.
Returning to your studies
Before your Pause in Study ends, the University will contact you via your University email address to start discussing:
→ Whether you can return to your studies
→ Any suppor t that may help you to settle back in successfully
You will need to:
→ Respond to the email you receive from the University when they contact you to discuss your return to study.
→ Provide evidence of your fitness to return to study if your Pause in Study was due to medical reasons.
→ You will need to enrol for the new academic year. Please complete the online enrolment process.
www.southampton.ac.uk/studentadmin/ student-admin/enrol.page
Supporting your return
You will have the chance to speak to someone before your return. This is called a return to study meeting and you must attend this to re-enrol. Details of this will be sent to your University email account.
This meeting will provide you with the opportunity to voice any concerns or queries you may have and what support you may need to help you return and for the future.
What else to consider
Fees and funding
Your eligibility for funding and student loans may be affected once you have paused your studies. You will need to contact your student finance authority directly to find out their rules on funding before you return.
Remember: It can take up to eight weeks to notify the Student Loans Company of a change in your circumstances. If you have any further questions, you can visit the SUSU Advice Centre.
Accommodation
On your return to study, you may need to apply for accommodation as a returning student. University accommodation is often very limited. If you are interested in University accommodation, please apply via the accommodation portal. If you are interested in private rented accommodation, please visit The University website.
International Students
If you require a visa to study in the UK you must contact the University Visa and Immigration Student Advice Service (VISAS) to fully understand the process required to return to study at the University of Southampton. The VISAS advice service is free. Find out more
www.southampton.ac.uk/studentservices/ academic-life/pause-in-study.page
www.southampton.ac.uk/studenthub