Regulation B8: Termination of Studies by the University

1. Non-engagement with studies or assessments

1.1 Failure to Engage with Studies

1.1.1 If you do not attend compulsory learning and teaching events and/or fail to submit assessments without approval, the University may decide that you have failed to engage appropriately with your studies.

1.1.2 The process followed by the University in cases where students fail to engage sufficiently with their studies is described for taught students in the Student Attendance and Engagement Policy and for postgraduate research students in the Annual and Interim Progress Review Handbook For Research Degree Students.

1.1.3 Before your studies are terminated due to failure to engage with studies, the University will send you written warnings and give you reasonable notice.

1.2 Academic Failure (UG programmes only)

1.2.1 If you obtain a mark of 10 or below in 50% or more of the modules you have studied in the most recent semester, without approved exceptional circumstances, the University may decide that you have failed to engage sufficiently with your assessments. If so, the University will terminate your studies following the meeting of the relevant Examination Board.

1.3 If your studies are terminated by the University for the reasons listed above, you lose your right to undertake any remaining assessment attempts of failed modules, including additional assessment attempts you were previously granted as a result of exceptional circumstances.

1.4 You have the right to submit an appeal against the decision of the University to terminate your studies. Such an appeal can normally only be made on the grounds of procedural irregularity or previously undisclosed exceptional circumstances.

2. Failure to progress

2.1 If you have not been awarded sufficient credits to progress to your next stage of study and have already exhausted your repeat year opportunity, your studies will be terminated as stated in Regulation D2 (Progression and Classification Rules).  This will be the case even if you have a reassessment attempt remaining on any failed module/s.

2.2 You have the right to submit an appeal against the decision of the University to terminate your studies. Such an appeal can only be made on the grounds of procedural irregularity or previously undisclosed exceptional circumstances. 

3. Failure to enrol or re-register or select a sufficient number of modules

3.1 Your studies will be terminated if you do not enrol or re-register annually, or at the end of an approved period of Leave of Absence, as a student with the University within the prescribed time-scales provided to you in advance.

3.2 Your studies will also be terminated if you do not, in the case of being offered a repeat year of study, confirm your wish to repeat by the specified deadline.

3.3 Your studies will also be terminated if you do not select and enrol on, within the prescribed time-scales provided to you in advance, a sufficient number of modules to study on your programme for the current academic year.

3.4 You have the right to submit an appeal against the decision of the University to terminate your studies for these reasons by submitting an appeal in writing to the Head of Student Records and Examinations. In the event of a conflict of interest, the Head of Records and Examinations will refer the case to the Academic Appeals Panel instead where it will be dealt with in line with the process set out in Regulation B6 Academic Appeals. If this is the case, you will be notified of this by the Head  of Records and Examinations in writing.

4. Exceeding the maximum period of registration

4.1 If you exceed, or will not be able to complete your studies within, the maximum period of registration as set out in Regulation C1 (Maximum Periods of Registration), your studies will be terminated.

4.2 You have the right to submit an appeal against the decision of the University to terminate your studies in accordance with Regulation C1.

5. Fitness to study

5.1 Following a risk assessment within the Support to Study procedure, a Stage 3 Panel may in rare cases decide that you are not fit to study and may terminate your studies in line with Regulation B4 (Fitness to Study).   

6. Fitness to practise

6.1 Under Regulation B5 (Fitness to Practise) the University can terminate your studies on a professional programme if the Fitness to Practise Committee decides that either your behaviour or your health mean that you are not fit to practise that profession or are in breach of a requirement for a license to practise.

7. Disciplinary reasons

7.1 Your studies may be terminated by the University if the University Discipline Committee finds that your behaviour or actions constitute a major disciplinary offence. Regulation B1 (Student Discipline) sets out the University’s expectation regarding appropriate student behaviour.

7.2 The University can also terminate your studies if you are convicted of certain offences in the UK or an equivalent offence in another country. The decision to terminate your studies in such cases will be made by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor based on a recommendation of the Discipline Committee and will take into consideration risk and safeguarding considerations.

8. Academic misconduct reasons

8.1 Your studies may be terminated by the University if the University Academic Misconduct Committee finds you guilty of academic misconduct. The Student Academic Misconduct Code of Practice sets out the University’s approach to academic misconduct and which proven offences will result in your studies being terminated.

9. Non-payment of tuition fees

9.1 If you have failed persistently to pay your Tuition Fees and ignored formal reminders your studies will be terminated. Please see the University Charging and Payment of Student Fees Policy.

10. Visa and immigration

10.1 Your studies will be terminated if your registration at the University would breach the requirements placed upon the University by the UK Home Office (UKVI) and the UK Immigration Rules. The University’s responsibilities are outlined in Regulation A1 (Visa and Immigration).

11. Dishonest/untrue applications and omissions

11.1 We can terminate your studies if we become aware that:

(i) As part of the application process you provided us with fraudulent information or information which is untrue, inaccurate, incomplete and/or misleading;

(ii) You failed to supply us with all the relevant information relating to your application;

(iii) Any of your stated qualifications or status have been obtained by fraud;

(iv) There is information about you which we did not previously know and which, in our reasonable opinion, makes it inappropriate for you to study on the programme.