Taking a break from your studies - Intermission

If you are having difficulties on your course because of, for example, your health, family or money problems, it may be worth taking a break from your for a period of time.

Informally you may like to think about taking a short break or getting some support. However, if you are considering taking a long break, you can 'intermit' (also known as suspension of studies.

Whatever your reasons, it is important to consider in practical terms how you will make the most of the time you take out. Make sure you discuss your reasons and clarify the time you plan to take with your course tutor before you leave.

Intermission - the official rules

If you wish to suspend your studies on the course, you should apply in writing to the course leader who will decide whether your request can be granted. You will need to state the reason(s) why you wish to intermit.
Intermission from your course is at the discretion of your course leader and you should contact them to find out what your individual position is. The course leader has discretion to impose appropriate conditions on your readmission to the course after intermission.
Intermission is permitted only at an appropriate stage of your course as determined by the course leader, normally at the end of a semester or stage of study.
You must also inform your school office (though your course leader may do this for you). They will inform Registry on your behalf who will update your student record, calculate any money owing to the university and prepare your end of module/year transcripts.
The full guidelines regarding ‘intermission' are in your student handbook or in the General Examination & Assessment Regulations (GEAR) Section C.

Financial consequences of taking time out of your studies

It is important to remember that if you intermit from your course you will not normally be eligible for student funding during your period of suspension. An exception to this is that if you intermit on health grounds you are eligible for an automatic additional 60 days funding. If you remain unwell and require funding beyond the 60 day period you will have to apply to Student Finance England for discretionary funding. Students should contact the Student Advice Service for advice.

Click on a heading below to find out more:

Student funding/fees

Unless you are intermitting on health grounds (see below), your funding (regardless of which year you started) is usually put on hold for the duration of the intermission.
If you intermit during term one you will be charged 25% of the annual tuition fee
If you intermit during term two you will be charged 50% of the annual tuition fee
If you intermit during term three you will be charged 100% of the annual tuition fee

University of Brighton Bursary

Please contact bursaries@brighton.ac.uk for details of how it will affect your bursary payments

Funding for Postgraduate study

Postgraduate students in receipt of funding from research councils or other sources are advised to inform the funding provider of the intermission.

Welfare benefits

You will not generally be entitled to welfare benefits (unless you already have entitlement), as the government considers you to be a full-time student until you complete your course - if you are intermitting on health grounds, see below.
Because of this lack of available public financial support, you will usually have no option but to work, unless you have another source of income.

Use of university facilities while intermitting from your course

Access to university facilities varies across departments.
You can continue to use support from Student Advice Service , Careers and Nurseries (if you have dependants). Under exceptional circumstances you will be able to access Counselling.
If you are enrolled you have full Students' Union access (which includes representation, sport, society and voting rites in the UBSU election).
If you are enrolled you should retain access to the university libraries or studentcentral - if you are not enrolled you can use the library by applying for visitor access for which you will be required to pay a fee. If you need access to computing services - including student central then there is a discretionary fee. This may also be the case if you need to communicate with your supervisor or course leader. Contact Registry for information on this
If you intermit part way through the academic year, your tuition fees will be pro-rated to the number of weeks you attend your course, and the charge for access to facilities will then also be pro-rated for the reminder of the academic year.
Students receiving Disabled Students Allowances (DSA) will have this funding withdrawn.
Contact Student Advice Service to discuss any entitlement to the Access to Learning Fund (ALF).

Students receiving an NHS Bursary

The guidelines are particularly complicated in this area and you are advised to check with your school office or the NHS Student Grants Unit in Blackpool on 01253 655655

Students receiving money from the TDA

Contact the Teaching Development Agency for further information.

Student Finance England (SFE)/Student Loans Company (SLC)

Normally Student Finance England (SFE) will suspend tuition fee support.
Although the university will contact SFE to inform them of the official date of intermission (and confirm your intension to resume your studies), you should too.
If you intermit, the university has a duty to inform the Student Loans Company (SLC), who will request that you return any loan you have received that was intended to cover periods when you were not actually in attendance at university.You should contact the SLC without delay, to avoid any potential overpayment
If you are intermitting for health reasons, you should let them have a copy of your medical report at the time of withdrawal, as they may be able to continue your funding whilst you are ill and unable to work. Seek advice from Student Advice Service .
During the period of intermission, you will NOT be expected to begin loan repayments, even if you earn above the £15,000 per annum threshold.

Council tax

Council tax exemption will continue. You must contact Registry for an exemption certificate and forward this to the Council's tax department.

Financial consequences of intermitting on health grounds

Click on a heading below to find out more:

The first 60 days

You should automatically continue to receive your student loan for the first 60 days of non-attendance at university. Make sure the university has told the SLC you are intermitting on health grounds

Illness after 60 days

Student Finance England has the discretion to continue payment of student awards for up to 26 weeks. You need to apply for this and provide sufficient medical evidence as this is not an automatic entitlement.

International Students and Intermission

If you intermit from your course, the University will have to report this to the UKBA. The UKBA will then cancel (curtail) your visa. You cannot therefore remain in the UK while you intermit, and apply for a new Tier 4 visa to return to re-start your studies.

If you are an international student and you are thinking about intermitting you are advised to contact the International Student Adviser in the Student Advice Service as soon as possible.

At the end of your intermission

Your School will contact you confirming your end of year results and give you details of your re-enrolement and how to re-access your computer account.
You will need to activate your computer account, which in turn will give you access to student central, from there you will be able to re-enrol.

University of Brighton

On the Right Path

Main Navigation

Section Navigation

Any questions?