Suspending Your Study

It is a condition of your Tier 4 visa that you are actively engaging in a full time programme at Durham University.

You must attend your programme and ensure that you are making the appropriate academic progression. As a Highly Trusted Sponsor the University is required by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) to monitor your attendance and progression and report to them any instances where you do not meet these requirements.

Should you start to have problems with attending your course or are struggling with your work, it is very important that you speak to your Tutor or Supervisor. It may be that you need to take a break from your studies. This can have an impact on your leave to remain in the UK and it is very important that you agree any break with the University.

Sometimes students need to take some time away from their studies, for example as a result of pregnancy, or an emergency at home. If you need to take time out from your studies for whatever reason, please speak to your Tutor and a concession must then be agreed by the University.

Implications for your visa

If a concession is agreed for you to suspend your studies for nmore than 4 weeks during term time, the University is required to notify the UKBA that you are no longer in attendance at the University from the date you suspend your studies.

From this date, you will have 60 days in which to leave the UK. Your Tier 4 visa will be curtailed after this period and you will no longer be able to use it to travel to the UK.

Once you are ready to resume your studies and have agreed this with your Department, you will need to apply for a new visa to return to the UK.

Please note, it is not possible to remain in the UK while you are not in attendance at the University. You should contact the Student Immigration and Financial Support Office to discuss your situation if you are not sure how this will affect you.

Applying for a new visa to return to the UK