A Break in Study is a temporary pause in your learning. The aim is to give you an agreed time away from the University without sacrificing your education. The maximum length of break that will initially be approved is one calendar year. You will need to consider the total number of years you have to complete your course within, as a Break in Study will count towards the Maximum Duration. You can learn more about Maximum Duration in Regulation 1 of the Standard Assessment Regulations.

To understand the effects of a Break in Study, first read the Break in Study Policy and Procedure. The policy explains detailed implications of breaking from study, and you will be asked to confirm you have read the policy when submitting your request.

This page outlines important areas to consider before applying for a Break in Study. If you decide to take a break and your request is approved, you’ll be directed to these pages as a reminder of actions you’ll need to take. Click on the links below to learn more.

On this page

Academic • Accommodation • Council Tax, housing benefits and Universal Credit • Disabled Student Services • Maternity leave • Placements • Policy and procedure • Professional requirements • Services and facilities available while on break • Student visas • Student wellbeing • Tuition fees and funding

Academic

While on Break in Study you cannot take part in any learning activities or receive any academic support.

 If you decide to take a Break in Study part way through the academic year and have already submitted an assessment or taken an exam, they will still be marked and considered at an assessment board.

 It’s possible your course may change while you’re on break. Changes can be minor, such as your course being re-named. Or, more significant, such as a change in the number of assessments your course has. You’ll be advised of any major changes while on your break and will have a choice to continue a newly modified course, transfer to a different course or withdraw from your studies altogether.

 When returning to study, you will only be able to return at specific times given by the University. This is because of how courses are structured. You will likely join a different group of students and will need to develop new relationships with your peers. Re-focusing your study skills after an absence can be difficult and you should prepare to cover previous course content if your subject knowledge is outdated.

Accommodation

Whether you’re living in University accommodation or a private rental, taking a Break in Study does not release you from your accommodation contract. You will likely have to pay some or all of your accommodation fees. 

Read your accommodation contract to understand the financial impacts taking a break may have and speak to your Hall Manager or Landlord if you have any questions.

For University provided accommodation queries, contact Accommodation Services.

Council Tax, housing benefits and Universal Credit

If you’re exempt from paying Council Tax and decide to take a break from studying, the Local Authority may review your circumstances to decide if you are still eligible for exemption.

When considering financial consequences of taking a break, you should also take advice about any benefits you may currently receive, such as Housing Benefit or Universal Credit.

Visit the Hallam Union Advice Centre for more information.

Disabled Student Services

If you receive Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) and decide to take a break in study, you will no longer be entitled DSA covered study-related costs. 

 Before returning to study, our Disabled Student Support team will contact you to make sure you have all the support available as you settle back in.

If you would like to talk about your support needs you can contact Disabled Student Support.

Maternity leave

As you’ll see in our Pregnancy and Maternity support pages and Student Pregnancy and Maternity Policy, when you decide to tell the University you’re pregnant your Student Support Advisor (SSA) will create a Pregnancy and Maternity Student Support Plan (PMSSP) to make sure appropriate support measures are put in place. In some cases, you may also need a risk assessment.

If meeting with your SSA to request a break in study is the first time you’re telling us you’re pregnant, your SSA will create a PMSSP.

If you decide to take a break in study, your request is approved, and already have a PMSSP in place, your SSA will update your plan to reflect your break. Any return to study arrangements will also be recorded.

Placements

Whether you are on placement as part of a sandwich course or a professional teaching or health course, while taking a break in study, you cannot attend a placement.

 If you’re on a placement and your break is approved, you should advise your placement provider. It’s also important to consider you may have to start your placement from the beginning when you Return to Study, depending on your course and how long you have left of study. You can find more information on placement on our Return to study pages.

 Our Placements Team will be advised If your break in study is approved. The Team will review your student record and get in touch, if your circumstances require advice on what happens next.

 To ask advice before submitting your request, contact your Placement Academic Supervisor. Hallam Help can put you in contact.

Policy and procedure

It’s important you read the Break in Study Policy and Procedure as it explains in detail the implications of taking a Break in Study. You will be asked to confirm you have read the policy before submitting your request.

Professional requirements

By professional requirements, we mean the checks you have to complete to be compliant with the conditions of your course. Your professional checks will have been carried out at the start of your course. If you’re studying a course that has professional requirements, taking a break in study means you might need to repeat some checks when you return to study.

Teaching courses only

Before returning to study, you will be asked to complete a health declaration. If your break was for health-related reasons, you’ll be asked to undertake an Occupational Health referral and be passed as ‘fit’ or ‘fit with adjustments’ before returning to study. You’ll be contacted separately about making an Occupational Health referral if this applies to you.

You can find out more information on our Professional Requirements blog. 

Health courses only

If your break was for health-related reasons, you’ll be asked to complete an Occupational Health referral and will need to be passed as ‘fit’ or ‘fit with adjustments’ before returning to study. 

During re-enrolment, you’ll also to confirm if there have been any changes to your Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Status. If you confirm there have, you’ll be contacted by our Professional Compliance Team via your University email address with information on what to do next.

You can find more information on professional requirements on our Return to study pages.

Services and facilities available while on break

While on Break in Study you cannot take part in any learning activities or receive any academic support. You will still have access to your University email account, IT systems and library services. The list below tells you what services are available to you whilst on break.

Student visas

Taking a break in study is different to taking an authorised absence. Make sure you read our authorised absence guidance before deciding if taking a break is the right choice for you. 

For students with a Student visa, we will report any break in your studies to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). This usually means you will be expected to leave the UK and apply for a new visa to Return to Study. 

Our International Experience Team provide advice on visa and immigration queries and can help you understand how taking a break will impact your visa. You cannot request a break in study without speaking to our International Experience Team first. Visit Hallam Help to make an appointment before submitting a Break in Study request.

Student wellbeing

Our Student wellbeing service pages offer support and guidance on a range of subjects, from managing stress, the cost of living, mental health support and counselling.

If you decide to request a break in study and your Student Support Advisor recognises you may need extra support throughout the process, our Student Wellbeing Services Team will contact you to talk about this in more detail and may include working with you to set up a package of wider support which meets your needs.

Tuition fees and funding

If you take a Break in Study part-way through an academic year and are paying your fees through a Tuition Fee Loan from Student Loans Company (SLC), your fees will be recalculated according to the liability dates for your course. If you’re paying for your tuition fees yourself, we’ll recalculate the tuition fee for that year based on the time between when you enrolled on your course and when you started your Break in Study. Outstanding fees must be paid by the time you return to study. To find out if you have outstanding fees to pay, you can email our Sales Ledger Team at salesledger@shu.ac.uk.

If you’re receiving a maintenance loan from Student Finance England (SFE) (or other award agency), loan payments will stop while you’re on a break. If any of the maintenance you’ve received so far covers the period after you’ve taken a break, SFE will either ask you to repay this or take it off your funding for next year if you return to study.

If you’re an undergraduate student taking a Break in Study for physical or mental health reasons (excluding Maternity reasons), you may be eligible for an additional 60 days of maintenance support. As part of your application, you must provide appropriate medical evidence to be considered for additional support. You can find more information on acceptable evidence on the Request a break page.

You’ll also be given guidance on the tuition fee you’ll be paying for the academic year you Return to Study. An accurate fee will be calculated when you’ve confirmed your Return to Study, and it is clear which modules you will be studying. 

Taking a Break in Study can affect your future entitlement to funding, bursaries or scholarships, especially if you have already studied at another University. Before committing to a Break in Study, you must speak to Student Finance England on 0300 100 0607 to understand how your entitlement will be impacted.

If your tuition fees are paid by a sponsor, you must contact your sponsor for further advice before requesting a Break in Study.