- Pregnancy and your Student Visa
- What happens to my Student visa if I am pregnant?
- What happens to my Student visa if I defer my studies?
- Can I take a short absence from my studies?
- Where can I get advice and support?
Pregnancy and your Student visa
If you are pregnant and studying on a Student visa, speak to a Student Immigration Adviser as soon as possible.
If you need a break from your studies because of pregnancy, this may affect the University's ability to continue sponsoring your Student visa.
There is no provision in the Immigration Rules for maternity leave while studying on a Student visa.
If you are pregnant, your options are to:
- defer your studies, or
- continue your studies with a short period of authorised absence.
What happens to my Student visa if I am pregnant?
Students on a Student visa are required to attend their studies full time on campus. Your attendance is monitored.
If you do not attend your studies without an authorised absence, you may be withdrawn from your studies and the University will stop sponsoring your Student visa. You would then need to leave the UK.
Speak to a Student Immigration Adviser as soon as possible to discuss your circumstances and options.
What happens to my Student visa if I defer my studies?
If you defer your studies:
- the University will usually stop sponsoring your Student visa
- your visa will be cancelled by the Home Office
- you will need to make plans to leave the UK
- you will need to apply for a new visa from overseas before returning to your studies.
Can I take a short absence from my studies?
You may be able to continue your studies with a short period of authorised absence.
Find out how to request a short period of absence.
Any period of absence, regardless of the reason, must not affect your ability to complete your studies by your visa end date.
If your absence means you cannot complete your studies on time, it will not be approved.
If you take an unauthorised absence that affects your ability to complete your studies on time, the University will stop sponsoring your Student visa and you will need to leave the UK.
Where can I get advice and support?
If you need advice about how pregnancy could affect your Student visa, contact the Student Immigration Advisers.
You can also contact the Student Wellbeing Team for further support.
For information about travelling while pregnant, read the NHS guidance on travelling in pregnancy.