Suspending your studies
Suspending your studies means taking an agreed break from your course, usually for up to one academic year. Your place at Edinburgh Napier will be held for you while you're away, with the understanding that you wish to return to continue your studies.
Choosing to suspend your studies is your decision. Taking time out can help you deal with serious issues that may be stopping you studying effectively.
Reasons for suspending your studies
Examples of common reasons for suspension include:
- Health reasons (mental or physical health)
- Extra-curricular opportunities e.g. elite sport, art/music related opportunities
- Employment opportunities/internships
- Financial circumstances
- Military service
A suspension is a temporary pause in studies, while a withdrawal is a permanent departure from the university. We encourage you to explore options to help you continue your studies before resorting to withdrawal.
Before requesting to suspend your studies, it is important to make sure you understand the impact the decision may have. We offer a range of support to help you consider your options.
University support
Your Programme Leader and Personal Development Tutor
Your first step should be speaking to your Programme Leader or Personal Development Tutor (PDT), as they will be able to advise you on any impact on your studies.
ENSA Advice
International students
If you hold a student visa, please email internationalsupport@napier.ac.uk before considering suspending your studies. A suspension of studies can affect your visa status, so it is very important to discuss this with the Visa and International Support team and get their advice.
Things to consider
There are a number of issues you should consider before requesting to suspend your studies, including fees, council tax, accommodation, and settling into a new group of classmates when you return.
It is your responsibility to check and understand all of the necessary impacts before taking action. The University and ENSA can provide advice, but the final decision is yours.
Fees
To discuss how suspending your studies may impact your fees and finance, please contact fees@napier.ac.uk.
Our University fees policy states that students funded by Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) will be due to pay the following fees if they suspend their students:
- Suspend in the first 4 weeks - no fees are due
- Suspend after 4 weeks of course study - 25% fee due
- Suspend after 10 weeks of course study - 50% fee due
- Suspend after 4 weeks of second semester - 100% fee due
If you are considering suspending your studies, you should contact your relevant funding body to discuss funding implications:
- Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS)
- Student Funding England (SfE)
- Student Funding Northern Ireland (SFNI)
- Student Funding Wales (SFW)
International students
If you hold a student visa, please email internationalsupport@napier.ac.uk before considering suspending your studies. A suspension of studies can affect your visa status, so it is very important to discuss this with the Visa and International Support team and get their advice.
Council tax
You should speak to your local authority to understand your entitlement to an exemption from council tax, as this may vary by local authority.
University accommodation
If you suspend your studies, you will need to move out of your university accommodation. If this is before your lease end date, you will need to contact your Accommodation Officer to begin the termination process.
Student Accommodation will need confirmation from your Programme Leader that you have suspended your studies, so ask them to email the confirmation directly to accommodation@napier.ac.uk.
An early termination fee may be applicable alongside a 28-day notice period. Your tenancy agreement will have information on any fees that you may be liable for while staying in university accommodation.
For more information, contact accommodation@napier.ac.uk.
Changing cohort
If you decide to suspend your studies, it is possible you will return to a different cohort, meaning that you will have new classmates.
Further information
More information about suspended studies can be found in 8.4 Section A of the student conduct regulations.
This information applies to undergraduate students and postgraduate taught students studying at all campuses, as well as to online students.
These guidelines are not applicable to you if you are a:
- Student studying for the Bachelor of Nursing or Midwifery. You should refer to your programme team for further guidance.
- Research student, who should refer to 5.3 Section D of the research degrees regulations.
Please note:
- You are not allowed to engage with assessments or re-assessments during suspended studies.
- When returning from suspended studies, you must recommence your studies at the most appropriate trimester as agreed with your Programme Leader.
How to request to suspend your studies
Once you have considered all of the issues carefully, you should send a request to suspend your studies to your Programme Leader or, if you prefer, to a trusted member of university staff in a support role who will then consult with your Programme Leader on your behalf.
Suspension will start from the date of the consultation between you and your Programme Leader. A suspension will be granted for a maximum of one academic year in the first instance. Your Programme Leader will instruct the School Office to process your suspension of studies.
Accessing support during suspended studies
Support services
If you have suspended your studies, you will still be able to access a range of wellbeing and support services, including:
Disability Inclusion
If you have a disability or health condition, you may be able to access support from the Disability Inclusion team while on suspended studies. The extent of help and support available will depend on your individual circumstances.
You will not be entitled to access Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) funding while on suspended studies.
Student Funding
Moodle
You will continue to have access to Moodle, but you will only receive access to the modules you were initially enrolled on.
Please note, you are not allowed to engage with assessments or reassessments during suspended studies.
Computing & library facilities and student email
You will continue to have access to computer and library facilities while you are on suspended studies unless you have failed to pay any relevant fees.
You will also continue to receive university emails while on suspended studies.
ENSA Advice
You will continue to have access to ENSA Advice, an independent advice service run by the Edinburgh Napier Students' Association (ENSA).
Returning to study
Towards the end of suspended studies period, someone from your School will get in touch to confirm whether you are able to resume your programme. They will normally contact you via your Edinburgh Napier email address, so please check your university email during your period of suspended studies and as you approach your return date.
When returning from suspended studies, you must recommence your studies at the start of the trimester agreed with your Programme Leader. You should also contact your Personal Development Tutor to fully understand your academic profile, which details what course and modules you are studying and if you have any resits.
If you do not feel able to return to your studies, it may be possible to request a further period of suspended studies.
Disability Inclusion
If you have a disability or health condition, you should contact your Disability Adviser if you need any specific support set up before you return to your studies. To do this, please email wellbeingandinclusion@napier.ac.uk.
Checklist for suspending your studies
If you would like to proceed with suspending your studies after reading all the information on this page, please follow this short checklist:
- Gain support to make your decision e.g. from your PDT, Programme Leader, ENSA Advice
- If you're an international student, check your visa regulations with the Visa & International Support team
- Check fee implications and consider finances
- Decide on the dates you would like to suspend from and to
- If you're living in university accommodation, speak to your Accommodation Officer about ending your tenancy agreement
- Contact your Programme Leader to officially suspend your studies