Student Services

Withdrawing from studies

If you feel you need to withdraw from studies you should consider the implications of withdrawing and discuss them with your personal tutor.

Withdrawal process

What is withdrawal from study?

If there are circumstances significantly impacting your ability to continue studying on your current programme, then it may be appropriate for you to notify the University that you wish to withdraw from your programme. The decision to withdraw is final and once completed, you cannot be reinstated. Should you wish to return to undertake a programme of study then you will be required to complete the appropriate admissions process. Your reasons for considering withdrawal may be because a break from your studies will not be sufficient because you cannot commit to return in the following academic year.

What support is available?

We understand that making the decision to withdraw from your studies can be difficult. We are here to support you to understand your circumstances and help you make the right decision for you:

Personal Tutor: In the first instance, we recommend arranging a meeting with your Personal Tutor to discuss your circumstances. You can also contact your Faculty Retention and Success Officer.

Wellbeing Support: We offer a wide range of wellbeing services, you can find more information here.

Student Finance:  We offer various sources of funding that help to make our programmes accessible, from scholarships to hardship funds. You can find more information here.  We also offer money advice and support which you can find out more about here.

Employability and Careers:  We offer a wide range of services including 121 appointments. To find out more and/or book an appointment visit our Careers hub here.

GSU Advice Service:  The Students' Union Advice Service is independent of the University and offers free and impartial advice. They can advise you on the implication of withdrawing from your studies and support you with the process. To get in touch with them, you can complete their contact form here.

What are my next steps?

If you feel you still need to continue with withdrawing from your programme of study, you should discuss it with your personal tutor and you must complete the online withdrawal form below giving your details and the reason(s) why you wish to leave. It is very important that you do this and not simply stop attending.

Please also carefully read the below information on the implications of withdrawing from your studies.

What are the implications of withdrawing from your studies?

Implications for Home students

Once you have made the decision to withdraw and have completed the relevant form, your record will be deactivated. Your finance record will be recalculated in line with the university policy to determine the fee due for the period you attended for. The relevant dates and percentages of fee payable are available below.

Students in receipt of government student support packages

If you are in receipt of student support from Student Finance England or other regional equivalent, withdrawing from your studies has a number of consequences on your entitlement to student support.

We will notify your student support provider of your withdrawal. Upon reassessment of your entitlement, they will determine the appropriate tuition fee loan you are entitled to. The level of fee they will pay to us will depend on the date of your withdrawal. The university will not charge you a fee higher than the tuition fee loan entitlement.

You will also be reassessed in relation to your entitlement for maintenance loan and grants. If you are entitled to receive a further payment of support, you will receive this on the next payment period as detailed in your support notification letter. However, if it is deemed that you have received too much support, you may be required to make a repayment as soon as possible. Any further support for the remainder of the year will be rescinded.

In addition, withdrawal would mean that, should you return to higher education in the future, you will be treated as a new student and will be assessed for the student support package available in the year you re-enter education, this will include the relevant new entrant fee. Furthermore, you will be assessed as having already utilised some of your student support entitlement which could affect the level of support you receive in the future. Advice and guidance is available from the student finance team.

Students who are self-payers or employer-sponsored

Upon submission of the relevant form, we will recalculate the fee due for the period of attendance. We will determine whether the account is settled, whether there is a refund due or whether there is still an outstanding balance. If the account is settled there will be no further action for you to take. If there is a refund due we will request that you complete a refund request form to enable us to repay the funds. Refunds will be made in line with the university's Charging and Refund Policy. If however there is a balance due, you or your employer/sponsor will be required to make the payment as soon as possible to clear the account. Please note monies not paid by an employer/sponsor remain the liability of the student.

In addition, withdrawal would mean that should you return to higher education in the future, you will be treated as a new student and will be required to pay the new entrant rate tuition fee for the year of your return.

Government Means Tested Benefits

Students that withdraw from their studies are no longer considered students and so you may be eligible to apply for government means-tested benefits depending on your personal circumstances and you should check with the appropriate benefit office. Advice and guidance is available from the student finance team.

Implications for International students

Implications for your visa (Students who hold a Student Visa)

If you are a student with a Student Visa, withdrawing or interrupting from your studies has implications for your visa. Please visit our Visa and Immigration webpage for further information.

Implications for your finances

Upon submission of the relevant form, we will recalculate the fee due for the period of attendance. We will determine whether the account is settled, whether there is a refund due or whether there is still an outstanding balance. If the account is settled there will be no further action for you to take. If there is a refund due we will request that you complete a refund request form to enable us to repay the funds. Refunds will be made in line with the university's Charging and Refund Policy. If however there is a balance due, you or your sponsor will be required to make the payment as soon as possible to clear the account. Advice and guidance is available from the student finance team.

Implications for US students in receipt of Federal Student Aid

US Nationals are not included in this policy for reasons relating to the US Department of Education Regulations relating to Federal Student Aid which are disbursed for the purposes of payment of tuition fees. You must therefore contact your Destination point administrator if you are thinking of withdrawing from study.

Implications for your accommodation

University Accommodation

If you live in the university's Halls of Residences, you must notify the Accommodation Service in writing that you are withdrawing or have withdrawn from your programme and provide them with a copy of your Withdrawal Form. You can do this by submitting the Leaving Early request form online through the Accommodation portal or email your local Accommodation Services team.  Arrangements will then be made for the termination of your Accommodation Licence.  Four weeks' (28 days) notice will be accepted from the date of notification/receipt of your withdrawal form (or on the date of the withdrawal if it falls after the four week notice period).  The resident will be charged for this four week notice period unless the licence is terminated earlier due to a replacement resident being found for their room.  Residents will be notified if they will be released early.  If you do not do this your contract continues until the end of your licence period and you will be liable for payment.

Please see section 1.2 of the University Licence Agreement for confirmation of the terms and conditions of your accommodation licence agreement.

Private accommodation

If you live in private accommodation, it is unlikely there will be an obligation for you to leave following a change to your student status unless you are an international student studying on a student visa. However, you may choose to or be required to return home in which case you must consider the terms of your tenancy agreement and what this means for you. If you decide to stay in your private accommodation, it is important to note that as you are no longer a full-time student, you may be required to pay Council Tax. If you are on a student visa, you will not be able to remain in the UK and as such you will need to consider the terms of your tenancy agreement and discuss with your landlord what this means for you.

Private student accommodation providers will likely ask you to leave your accommodation when you are no longer a student. We recommend that you review your license agreement and get in touch with the provider to discuss what this means for your tenancy.

GSU's Advice Service can advise you on accommodation implications. More information on housing is available here.

Implications for students employed by the university

In accordance with the policy for the employment of students within the university, individuals must be fully registered for the given academic session in order to be eligible for campus work through the JobShop. Thus, students who have interrupted or withdrawn from study may not undertake campus employment until they have become fully registered again i.e. with an active student record for the given academic session.

Other implications

E-mail

Your university e-mail account will be terminated once we have processed your withdrawal.

Student ID card

Your university ID card must be handed in to the Student Centre when you leave the university.

Library

You must return all books on loan from the library and pay any fines that are due.

Support Services

You will no longer be able to access our Wellbeing Services once you have been withdrawn from your studies. If you have been using our services as a student where appropriate we can arrange for a referral or signpost to external specialist support services including NHS.

Student Oyster Card

If you have a student discount Oyster card then Transport for London (TFL) will be informed that you are no longer a student, and the card will be made invalid by TFL.

Next steps

If you still wish to withdraw from your studies, select an option below.

I am studying at one of the main campuses

(Greenwich, Medway, Avery Hill) only

Complete the online withdrawal from studies request form.

Please note: if you are currently logged in to the portal, this link will log you out.

I am studying at a Partner College/Network College/Collaborative partner college

After taking all this into consideration if you feel you still need to continue with withdrawing from your programme of study, you should discuss it with your personal tutor and you must download and complete the withdrawal form below giving your details and the reason(s) why you wish to leave.

Withdrawal and Interruption of studies forms available here (please select the appropriate form)

To be completed by all Home and EU Partner College/Network College/Collaborative partner college students wishing to interrupt their studies.