Approval can only be given for the suspension of a student’s studies for up to 1 academic year. This post provides guidance on the procedure of voluntary suspension of studies, for Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate students.
What is voluntary suspension of studies?
Suspension is taking a break from your studies for the following reasons:
- Maternity or paternity;
- Illness;
- Family issues;
- Financial issues;
- Standing as a sabbatical officer for the Hertfordshire Student Union;
- Other reasons at the discretion of the Dean of Students.
Before you suspend
Suspending your studies can bring a number of implications that you should consider. Suspending your studies may:
- Require you to leave University managed accommodation, and you would need to re-apply before returning to study.
- Affect your tuition fees payments.
- Affect the immigration status of international students studying in the UK.
- Affect your council tax exemption status.
- Affect your access to a number of University services, including the LRC, nursery, Disability Services, and Student Union status.
- Affect DSA funding.
Please note, requests for suspended studies of more than 12 months, retrospective requests, or requests that appear 'unusual', will be considered on a case by case basis by the Dean of Students and the School of study.
Further support and advice
You can talk with a variety of University staff to support you in your decision-making:
- Your course Programme Tutor
- The Counselling Centre can offer confidential advice and support.
- The Dean of Students' Office can offer advice on the suspension process.
- Seek impartial advice from a student's perspective at the Students' Union.
- Your course administrator in the Ask Herts team.
- A Student Support Officer or Community Support Officer for accommodation related queries.
- Student Immigration Team (Advice) can offer guidance for international students
- Disability Services can talk you through how suspending your studies may affect several factors, including your assessment adjustments, support and DSA support.
Please note that the Home Office Visa Brake for International Students from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar & Sudan comes into effect from 26 March 2026. If you defer your studies, the University will need to withdraw sponsorship of your student visa, and you must return to your Home Country. Following the introduction of the visa brake you will need to remain in your Home Country until the visa brake has been lifted. Currently there is no time scale for this.
Please refer to the Home Office Updates for International Students page to ensure that you stay up to date with any changes to the Student Immigration Rules made by the Home Office, this will be updated regularly.
Proceeding with your voluntary suspension
If having sought all necessary advice and support, you decide to proceed with the suspension, you will need to take the following steps;
- Complete a request for voluntary suspension of studies form and attach documentary evidence of the reasons for the request.
- Pass the form to your course Programme Tutor for approval
- Email the completed form to ask@herts.ac.uk
- Your Student Records Administrator will then request approval by the Dean of School
- If you are funded by the Student Loans Company, we will notify them of this suspension/deferral
International students must speak to International Student Support at the earliest possible time.
When you're ready to return
When you are ready to come back following a suspension of your studies, have a look at our Returning Student Checklist.