Interrupting your studies for full-time undergraduate students

An interruption of study is a break from study and is usually for one academic year. During interruption, full-time students normally keep their student status, meaning you remain exempt from council tax.

Explore your options carefully before interrupting your studies:

• UWE Bristol funds – financial support during study.
• Your funding provider - check how interruption affects your funding.
• Blackbullion – online budgeting and money management tools.
• Careers Service and Jobshop – help with job searching and employability.
• Student Support Advisers – advice on academic impact and fee liability.
• Accommodation Services – support with tenancy and rent concerns.
• Wellbeing Service – if interruption relates to health or personal circumstances.
• Disability Service – queries about Disabled Students' Allowance or disability-related support.

If you choose to interrupt, follow the correct steps to avoid issues with fees or funding.

1. Book an appointment - speak to a Student Support Adviser to confirm your options.
2. Request an interruption form - contact the Information Point and complete and submit the form. The University will record the interruption date as the day they receive it.
3. Inform Student Finance - notify your funding provider (e.g. Student Finance England/Wales). It’s best to do this in writing to ensure your records are updated. 

Student Finance refer to an interruption of study as a Suspension of study. We recommend that you use the word suspension instead of interruption when speaking or writing to Student Finance. 

Before interrupting your studies, consider the financial impact and how you will support yourself during your time out.

Key points to consider:

• Loss of income – Students usually cannot claim Universal Credit during interruption.
• Accommodation – You may still be liable for rent after interrupting.
• Future funding – Interruption can affect eligibility when you return.

Maintenance loan overpayments

If you interrupt during the academic year, Student Finance stops your maintenance funding from your interruption date. Loans are paid in advance, so if you received funding for weeks after interruption, you will need to repay it. The date UWE records determines any overpayment.

If you interrupt at the end of the academic year (e.g. 31 August for September starters), you are unlikely to be overpaid.

Example:

Paul starts in September 2024 and receives £8,610 across three instalments. He suspends during Term 2 after receiving the second instalment and attending 26 of 70 days. Student Finance asks him to repay £1,935.43 of the Term 2 payment.

Support during interruption

Student Finance may continue paying maintenance support in certain situations — ill health, bereavement, caring responsibilities, or financial hardship. You must complete a Financial Hardship Confirmation Form and provide evidence (e.g. three months of bank statements). Support may be full or partial and is assessed individually.

If funding continues during a full-year interruption, that year will not count as previous study for future tuition fee loans.

Repaying overpayments

If you were overpaid, Student Finance usually deducts this from future maintenance loans. If repayment would cause hardship, you can apply to defer repayment (up to one year at a time) by submitting a Financial Hardship Confirmation Form and bank statements.

Effect on future funding

Interruption can affect future entitlement by:

• Deducting any overpaid maintenance from future instalments.
• Counting the year as previous study, which may reduce future tuition fee loan entitlement.

Personal or health-related interruptions

Ill health interruption

If you interrupt due to ill health reasons, Student Finance will automatically extend your maintenance funding for an extra 60 days providing you make UWE aware of this when you complete the Interruption form.

Compelling Personal Reasons

If you are interrupting your studies due to compelling personal reasons (for example ill health lasting more than 60 days or other serious personal circumstances) you should write to Student Finance to outline these circumstances and send them supporting evidence. This may allow you to repeat the year without it affecting your future funding. For more details see the Compelling Personal Reasons guidance.

While interrupted from your studies, you are still considered a full-time student. Full-time students are generally not eligible for welfare benefits such as Universal Credit, although there are exceptions listed in the government’s Universal Credit guidance.

Benefit rules can be complex, so seek specialist advice if you're unsure.

• Citizens Advice
• Talking Money
• North Bristol Advice