Students may request permission to interrupt their studies if their studies are being affected by personal circumstance that affects work to their research programme for a period of time.
Students are permitted to interrupt their research degrees programme for up to one year in the first instance on the grounds of illness or other good cause with the permission of their School/Institute and the approval of the Research Degrees Programmes and Examinations Board (RDPEB). Please note that research degree students are permitted to interrupt their studies for whole months only, and must re-enrol on an agreed date. Interruptions may be permitted for a number of reasons, including but not limited to: illness, maternity/paternity/adoption leave, personal and family reasons, employment, financial difficulties, and teaching commitments. Interruptions of study will not be approved as a means of 'stopping the clock' for students who are not making adequate progress.
Students are advised to read the Advice and Counselling 'Advice Guide on Interruptions' before completing the form, particularly if their tuition fees are paid by a sponsor or they hold Student Immigration permission visas for which Queen Mary has issues a Confirmation of Studies (CAS). If a student is in receipt of a studentship, then the terms and conditions of the award take precedence over Queen Mary's Regulations.
Interrupting their studies means that although students remain registered they cease to be enrolled with Queen Mary; this has consequences for their student status, funding, and right to remain in the UK.
The Academic Regulations permit up to two years' interruption in total during the course of the programme of study. Interruption for a longer period is only permitted in exceptional circumstances. The period of interruption does not count towards the maximum or minimum period for the research studies programme. Interruptions of study will not normally be approved retrospectively as the student will already have been returned to HESA Data Futures as being fully enrolled and in attendance. Therefore, changes to a student's enrolment record will not normally be backdated into the previous academic year.
If you have definitely decided to interrupt your studies from Queen Mary, please complete the online form, which can be accessed through MySIS, under the Change of Circumstances tab, from the Research Student Profile.
Once you submit it, through MySIS, it will trigger an approval workflow (to the supervisor, the School Director for Graduate Studies, the School PGR Coordinator, until it reaches the Research Degrees Office - RDO).
Please remember to attach any documentary evidence in support of your request; depending on the reason for interruption, it could be: medical certificate; therapist statement; letter of internship offer, etc.
Once the request has been fully approved, at a monthly RDPEB, and processed by the RDO, the student will be notified of the interruption of studies.
The RDO will also communicate to the student, any adjustment to the studentship, as applicable.
If the student holds immigration permission for which Queen Mary issued a CAS, Queen Mary will also notify the UKVI.
DClinDent students should see the additional guidance and us the form found here Interrupting your Studies