Suspending your studies

Depending on the date of your suspension, it is likely that you will be liable for a portion of your tuition fees (unless you suspend for a whole academic year before it starts); this varies depending on your course, your student status, and the point at which you suspend and will be detailed in your terms and conditions (based on year of entry).

If you are in receipt of a tuition fee loan from Government Student Finance, we will notify them of your suspension and will tell them the amount of fees we are charging, and they will pay that directly to us. Usually, your fees will be charged pro rata. If you are a self-funding or a sponsored student, the income team will contact you to confirm the amount owed.

If you receive a maintenance loan from Government Student Finance, you will usually no longer be entitled to the loan from the date that you suspend. This will mean that:

• You won’t receive any further instalments of maintenance loan payments;
• You may have an overpayment which will need repaying;
• Normally, the year you were studying will be classed as ‘one year’ for student finance purposes depending on your suspension date, which may impact your eligibility for future funding if you choose to return to university. You can apply for compelling personal reasons (CPR) if you are suspending on health or personal grounds which you can evidence, and request an additional year of funding entitlement. You can contact our Student Funding team for further advice.
• If you suspend on health grounds (this must be selected when you submit your request to suspend through the Gateway system), you may be entitled to 60 days of additional funding after the date you suspend.
• If you receive an NHS bursary, these payments will also stop at the point of suspension. When you return after suspending, you may not receive the bursary for that year – you can contact the SALTS team for advice – salts@solent.ac.uk

Please also read our useful leaflets.

Please note, as a suspended student, for benefit purposes you are usually still classed as being a full-time student, and therefore not entitled to benefits unless you are a lone parent, or in receipt of a disability benefit such as PIP.

If you are an international student on a student visa, suspending your studies has implications for your visa. Upon your suspension being processed, we will notify the Home Office and your visa will be curtailed. This means you will need to return home within a certain period, and you will need to re-apply for a new visa before returning to your studies. We strongly advise that you seek advice by contacting internationalsupport@solent.ac.uk for advice prior to making the decision to suspend.

If you are in University-owned residences, you must notify them in writing that you are suspending by emailing accommodation@solent.ac.uk. Upon your written notification of withdrawal, your four-week notice period will be calculated, and you will need to vacate your room and return your fob by the end of this notice period. You will find the ‘early release from contract guidance’ here.

If you are in private student halls, we advise that you check your tenancy agreement and contact your provider to discuss what suspending your studies means for your tenancy.

If you are in private housing, you will usually not be required to leave if you suspend your studies as your tenancy is normally not linked to your student status. We advise that you check your tenancy agreement and contact your landlord or letting agency to discuss what suspending your studies means for your tenancy. However, this could mean that you will continue to be tied into that contract and expected to pay rent – this should be considered within the wider implications of your financial situation. You can speak to our private housing adviser for further advice on whether there are any options to break or sell your contract: private.housing@solent.ac.uk.

If you are on a student visa and are unable to remain in the UK, you will need to discuss the implications for your tenancy with your letting agency/landlord .

Please note that during a period of suspension, you are still classed as a student for council tax purposes (if you are on a full-time course).

• You can access all support services during your period of suspension, including student funding, disability advice, mental health and wellbeing and careers.
• You will not have access to SOL during your suspension but you can still access your email, the portal, and Gateway.
• Any correspondence relating to your return to studies will be sent to the personal email address we hold on record for you, so please ensure this is up to date before submitting a suspension request.
• Your student ID card will be deactivated for the period that you are suspended, including any campus access, although you are still able to access campus facilities such as the library and gym.