I want to suspend or leave university – what do I need to do?
24 tasks in suggested order
1. Tell your university or college if you suspend or leave and confirm the effective date
Your university or college needs the correct date you suspended or left. For Student Finance England, you should tell the provider and Student Finance England so your entitlement can be reassessed.
As soon as you decide to suspend or leave, and again when you return if you suspended.
Your university or college and Student Finance England.
Course details, the effective suspension/withdrawal date and any university confirmation.
The effective date can change how much student finance you are entitled to.
Official source: GOV.UK
2. Tell your university or college immediately if you suspend or leave
Student Finance Wales says you should tell both your university or college and Student Finance Wales if you take a break or permanently leave your course.
As soon as you suspend or withdraw.
Your university or college and Student Finance Wales.
Course details and the date you stopped or suspended study.
The date reported by the provider is used when your entitlement is reassessed.
Official source: Student Finance Wales
3. Tell your university or college if you suspend or withdraw and confirm the date
Make sure your provider records whether you are suspending temporarily or withdrawing and the effective date of the change.
As soon as you stop or suspend study.
Your university or college and the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS).
Course details and the effective date agreed with your provider.
The recorded date and whether the change is a suspension or withdrawal can affect funding.
Official source: SAAS
4. Tell your university or college if you suspend or withdraw and confirm the change date
Withdrawing, suspending or changing course is a reportable study change. Make sure the provider records the correct status and effective date.
As soon as the change happens.
Your university or college and Student Finance Northern Ireland (SFNI).
Course details and the date you suspended or withdrew.
Your provider record and SFNI reassessment should describe the same change.
Official source: Student Finance NI
5. Tell Student Finance England about the suspension or withdrawal
Student Finance England must be told when you suspend or leave so future payments can be stopped or recalculated.
As soon as the change happens.
Your university or college and Student Finance England.
Student Finance England account details, course details and the effective date.
Do not rely only on telling the university; England students must also tell Student Finance England.
Official source: GOV.UK
6. Tell Student Finance Wales so future payments can be stopped or reassessed
A suspension or withdrawal is a change of circumstances that can alter current payments and future entitlement.
Immediately after the change; do not wait for the next payment.
Your university or college and Student Finance Wales.
Student Finance Wales account details, course details and change date.
Student Finance Wales specifically recommends contacting it so the next payment can be stopped where appropriate.
Official source: Student Finance Wales
7. Tell SAAS immediately about a change that may affect your funding
Current SAAS funding declarations require students to tell SAAS about changes that may affect the level of funding. A withdrawal or suspension should therefore be reported so the award can be reviewed.
Immediately when the change occurs or as soon as you know it will affect your funded study.
Your university or college and the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS).
SAAS reference, course/provider details and the change date.
Do not assume the university’s notification alone has updated every SAAS or Student Loans Company record.
Official source: SAAS
8. Tell Student Finance Northern Ireland about the suspension or withdrawal
SFNI requires students to keep their information up to date. Withdrawing from a course or suspending because of illness, bereavement or a similar situation is specifically listed as a change to report.
As soon as your circumstances change.
Your university or college and Student Finance Northern Ireland (SFNI).
SFNI account/reference, course details and effective date.
Changes can affect both current funding and repayments.
Official source: Student Finance NI
9. Check how the change affects tuition-fee support
For courses starting before 1 January 2027, Student Finance England normally uses term-based tuition-fee liability: 25% after term 1 starts, 50% after term 2 starts and 100% after term 3 starts. Different rules can apply to courses under the Lifelong Learning Entitlement from 1 January 2027.
After the suspension or withdrawal date is confirmed and before assuming future tuition-fee support will continue.
Your university or college and Student Finance England.
Course start date, academic-year structure, withdrawal/suspension date and latest entitlement notice.
Do not apply the 25%/50%/100% rule to a course where the newer Lifelong Learning Entitlement rules apply.
Official source: GOV.UK
10. Check the revised tuition-fee and living-cost entitlement
Student Finance Wales reassesses entitlement after a suspension or withdrawal. The result depends on the funding product, course and point in the academic year.
After Student Finance Wales receives the change and issues a revised entitlement.
Your university or college and Student Finance Wales.
Latest Notification of Entitlement, course dates and suspension/withdrawal date.
Do not copy England’s term percentages into Wales unless the Welsh rules for your product say so.
Official source: Student Finance Wales
11. Ask SAAS how the suspension or withdrawal changes your fee support and future payments
SAAS funding depends on your course and attendance. After a change, check the revised award rather than assuming payments or tuition-fee support continue unchanged.
After reporting the change and before relying on future payments.
Your university or college and the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS).
Latest SAAS award notice, course dates and the date of suspension/withdrawal.
Scottish funding rules are not the same as Student Finance England or Wales; use the SAAS assessment for your award.
Official source: SAAS
12. Check the new entitlement after SFNI reassesses your funding
SFNI recalculates entitlement after relevant changes. It will issue an updated Notification of Entitlement showing whether funding increases, decreases or stays the same.
After you report the change and whenever SFNI issues a reassessment.
Your university or college and Student Finance Northern Ireland (SFNI).
Updated Notification of Entitlement, previous award and course dates.
Do not assume future instalments are unchanged until the reassessment is complete.
Official source: Student Finance NI
13. Check whether you have a student-finance overpayment
If applicable: If your reassessment shows you were paid more than your revised entitlement.
If you received maintenance or other student finance for a period after you stopped attending, Student Finance England can reassess the award and require the overpaid amount to be repaid separately.
When Student Finance England issues the reassessment or asks for repayment.
Your university or college and Student Finance England.
Updated entitlement notice, payment history and suspension/withdrawal date.
An overpayment caused by leaving or suspending can be repayable immediately and is separate from normal income-contingent student-loan repayments.
Official source: GOV.UK
14. Check and repay any Welsh student-finance overpayment
If applicable: If your reassessment shows you were paid more than your revised entitlement.
A reassessment can show that you were paid more than you were entitled to. Student Finance Wales can deduct an overpayment from future payments or discuss repayment if you have finished or left.
When your reassessment shows an overpayment.
Your university or college and Student Finance Wales.
Revised Notification of Entitlement and payment details.
An overpayment can need repayment even if your earnings are below the normal student-loan repayment threshold.
Official source: Student Finance Wales
15. Check whether SAAS or the Student Loans Company has created an overpayment
If applicable: If your reassessment shows you were paid more than your revised entitlement.
SAAS funding declarations require repayment of amounts paid above the award due. A change in study can therefore lead to recovery or adjustment if you received funding you were no longer entitled to.
After your award is reassessed or you receive an overpayment notice.
Your university or college and the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS).
SAAS award/reassessment, payment history and Student Loans Company correspondence where relevant.
Follow the repayment instructions on the official notice; different funding components can be recovered differently.
Official source: SAAS
16. Deal with any overpayment created by the SFNI reassessment
If applicable: If your reassessment shows you were paid more than your revised entitlement.
Withdrawing or suspending before the end of the academic year can create an overpayment if you were paid more than the revised entitlement.
When SFNI tells you an overpayment has arisen.
Your university or college and Student Finance Northern Ireland (SFNI).
Reassessment notice, payment history and any hardship information if repayment would cause difficulty.
Contact your local SFNI office immediately if the overpayment would cause financial hardship; it can advise on the official options.
Official source: Student Finance NI
17. Send evidence if serious personal reasons affected your studies
If applicable: If serious/compelling personal circumstances affected the study period.
Illness, bereavement or other serious personal reasons can affect current or future student-finance support. Student Finance England can ask for evidence before deciding what extra support or future funding is available.
When asking Student Finance England to take serious personal reasons into account.
Your university or college and Student Finance England.
A short explanation plus independent evidence relevant to the period affected, such as medical or other professional evidence where appropriate.
Support is not automatic; Student Finance England assesses the evidence and the rules that apply to your course and study history.
Official source: GOV.UK
18. Provide evidence if personal circumstances affected your study or future funding
If applicable: If serious/compelling personal circumstances affected the study period.
If illness, bereavement or another serious circumstance affected study, give Student Finance Wales the evidence it asks for when it considers your entitlement or future support.
When asking for your circumstances to be considered.
Your university or college and Student Finance Wales.
Evidence that covers the relevant study period and explains how the circumstances affected you.
Any additional support or treatment of previous study depends on the Welsh rules and the evidence accepted.
Official source: Student Finance Wales
19. Ask what evidence SAAS needs if illness or other circumstances affected your studies
If applicable: If serious/compelling personal circumstances affected the study period.
If personal circumstances affected your attendance, withdrawal or future study, tell SAAS and provide any evidence it requests for the funding decision that applies to your case.
When reporting the change or asking SAAS to consider its effect on your funding.
Your university or college and the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS).
Evidence relevant to the affected period and your provider’s confirmation of the study change.
Do not assume a particular additional year or payment is automatic; SAAS decides under the Scottish funding rules for your course.
Official source: SAAS
20. Provide evidence of compelling personal reasons if you need repeat-study support
If applicable: If serious/compelling personal circumstances affected the study period.
SFNI may award an extra year of tuition-fee and grant support for repeat study caused by compelling personal reasons such as illness or bereavement, but it reviews each case individually and requires evidence from the relevant year.
When applying for repeat-study support because compelling personal reasons affected the earlier year.
Your university or college and Student Finance Northern Ireland (SFNI).
Evidence from the affected year and an explanation linking the circumstances to the study outcome.
An extra year is not automatic; SFNI decides each case on the evidence.
Official source: Student Finance NI
21. Confirm how a return, transfer or permanent withdrawal affects future funding
Returning after a suspension, transferring course or permanently withdrawing can change future student-finance entitlement. The process also differs for courses under the Lifelong Learning Entitlement.
Before returning, transferring or starting another course.
Your university or college and Student Finance England.
Previous-study history, course dates, new/return course details and any evidence already accepted for serious personal reasons.
Do not assume unused funding automatically carries forward. Student Finance England applies previous-study and course-specific rules.
Official source: GOV.UK
22. Check what you must do before returning after a suspension or starting again
For Welsh student finance, the return process depends on how long you were away. Returning in the same academic year can be notified by the university; returning in the next academic year normally requires a continuing-student application; after a break of 2 or more years you normally reapply as a new student.
Before you return to study or submit the next finance application.
Your university or college and Student Finance Wales.
Return date, course details, previous funding history and any requested evidence.
A permanent withdrawal and a temporary suspension are treated differently. Make sure your provider records the correct status.
Official source: Student Finance Wales
23. Confirm funding before returning, repeating or starting another course
Before you resume or start another course, check with SAAS how previous study and the earlier suspension or withdrawal affect the new award.
Before re-enrolment or before relying on funding for the next period of study.
Your university or college and the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS).
Previous-study history, return/new-course details and any supporting evidence requested by SAAS.
Previous study can affect entitlement, so obtain the current SAAS decision rather than using another UK nation’s rules.
Official source: SAAS
24. Confirm how the change affects future SFNI funding before returning or repeating
A suspension, withdrawal, transfer or repeat year can affect future funding. Use the reassessment and repeat-study rules before assuming another year will be funded.
Before returning, repeating or applying for another course year.
Your university or college and Student Finance Northern Ireland (SFNI).
Previous-study history, current entitlement notice, return/repeat details and evidence where relevant.
The rules depend on the type of change and any accepted compelling personal reasons.
Official source: Student Finance NI
