Withdrawing from your course for full-time undergraduate students

Before making any decisions about withdrawing from your course, speak to someone first. There are a wide range of support services available to help you explore your options and find the best way forward.

Support with finances

If you are considering withdrawing for financial reasons, consider these resources:

• UWE Bristol funds - funding options just for UWE Bristol students.
• Contact your funding provider - they can explain how your current situation might affect your funding and options.
• Blackbullion - free online tools to help you manage your money and plan ahead.
• UWE Careers - support with job searching and employability skills.
• UWE Jobshop - provides regular updates on part-time and local job opportunities

UWE Bristol support services

UWE Bristol support services can help you to understand the academic, financial and personal implications of withdrawing from your studies.

• Student Support advisers - can advise you on the academic impact of withdrawing, including fee liability.
• Accommodation services - if you are worried about your tenancy, rent obligations if you’re considering leaving your accommodation.
• Wellbeing Service - can advise if you’re experiencing mental ill health or personal difficulties.
• Disability Service - if you have queries about your Disabled Students' Allowance and/or any other disability related issues.

If you’ve decided to withdraw from your course, you must follow the formal process to avoid ongoing fee liability.

1. Book an appointment
   Book in with a Student Support Adviser to discuss your options.
2. Request a withdrawal form
   Contact the Information Point to request the official form. Fill in the required details and submit this back to InfoPoint. UWE Bristol will action the withdrawal of your studies after they have received your form. The date recorded will be the day that they received the form.
3. Inform Student Finance
   You must also notify your funding provider e.g. Student Finance England or Wales. Do this in writing to ensure your records are updated.

Before deciding to withdraw from your studies, understand the financial impact and plan how you’ll support yourself once you're no longer a student. 

Withdrawing can affect your student finance for the current year. You may be asked to repay part of your maintenance loan or grant if you’ve received funding for a period after your withdrawal date.

Accommodation costs

You may still be liable for rent payments after your withdrawal, especially if you leave your accommodation early.

Maintenance loans

If you withdraw part way through the academic year, Student Finance will stop your maintenance funding from your withdrawal date. Because maintenance loans are paid in advance, you may be asked to repay any amount covering weeks after your withdrawal. Withdrawing at the end of the calendar year (e.g. 31 August for September starters) usually avoids overpayment.

Student Finance uses the withdrawal date provided by UWE Bristol, so submit your withdrawal form promptly.

If repaying an overpayment would cause financial hardship, contact Student Finance immediately and be ready to provide evidence, e.g. bank statements. They may agree a repayment plan, but this is not guaranteed.

If you do not respond or repay when asked, Student Finance may start debt recovery, deduct the overpayment from future maintenance loans if you return to study, or refuse future funding if you fall into arrears. 

Withdrawing from your course can impact future student finance. Even short attendance counts as a year of study and may reduce your future tuition fee loan entitlement.

Tuition fee support

If you return to university later, you may not receive full tuition fee support for all years of your new course. This is because your attendance this academic year (even for just one day) counts as a year of previous study, regardless of whether you received any funding.

If you are an EU student, your eligibility for funding will be assessed under new residency rules so check your eligibility before withdrawing. 

Living cost support

If you received a maintenance loan and withdraw partway through the year, you may be asked to repay some of it. Any overpayment could reduce the amount you receive if you return to study in the future.

Compelling personal reasons

If you’re withdrawing due to serious personal circumstances (such as illness), you can submit evidence to Student Finance to request that this year does not count against your future funding.

We recommend:

• Sending evidence to Student Finance as soon as possible
• Including the same evidence again when applying for funding for your new course. 

For more information see Compelling personal reasons and Previous study.

Once you have officially withdrawn from your course, you are no longer classed as a full- time student. This means you may become eligible for Universal Credit, especially if you are not working or are on a low income.

Read the government's Universal Credit guidance.

Benefit rules can be complex, so it’s a good idea to speak to a specialist advice agency for personalised guidance:

• Citizens Advice
• Talking Money
• North Bristol Advice

You may need to continue paying rent for a period after your official withdrawal date. To minimise costs, submit a notice letter to Accommodation Services or your provider as soon as possible.

UWE Bristol accommodation

Check the Residents’ Guide for the required notice period and your obligations.

City centre accommodation (Unite Students, Host Students, Collegiate)

Your contract is with the provider, so review their terms for notice periods and fees and contact them directly to confirm their process and requirements.

In most cases, you are responsible for rent until the end of your tenancy. If you find a suitable replacement tenant and the provider agrees, you may be released from your contract sooner.