Principles

5. The following core principles will guide the application of this policy:

Policy

6. This policy will be applied if you need additional support from the University because your behaviour, health, or ability to live and study independently has become concerning and/or may affect others in the university community.

7. The University expects all students to:

• Adhere to the Student Code of Conduct.
• Demonstrate personal responsibility for your academic studies.
• Demonstrate the capacity to live and study harmoniously with others, within the University and in the wider community (including online).
• Tell us as soon as possible if there is a problem. The sooner you ask for help, the better we can support you.
• Engage with any support plans put in place.
• Keep us updated about any changes in your needs or circumstances, to allow us to ensure that the support in place is appropriate.

8. Where a student is unable to meet these expectations, the University may take the following actions:

• Review concerns and take appropriate action.
• Establish a Supporting Your Capacity to Study team to manage the situation.
• Involve relevant members of staff and external parties, if appropriate.
• Request a meeting with you.
• Establish whether additional support may reasonably be provided to rectify the concerns.
• Make a referral to the university’s Occupational Health service provider.
• Establish whether you should be withdrawn from the University, on a temporary or permanent basis.

9. Examples of concerns which may be addressed under this policy include the following:

• Behaviour that worries or scares others, such as disconnecting from reality, displaying psychosis or severe paranoia, or otherwise being unable to live and care for yourself independently.
• Behaviour which significantly disrupts university activity (such as teaching sessions) or damages university property or student accommodation.
• Not being able to manage your wellbeing, such as taking prescribed medication.
• Actions that endanger your safety or the safety of others in the university community.
• Issues raised by yourself about matters affecting your studies.
• Issues reported by academic or professional services staff about how you are engaging with your studies.
• Repeated use of the Extensions and Exceptional Circumstances Policy and Procedure to request further attempts at assessments.
• Failure to attempt assessment (i.e. to submit coursework or attend examinations).
• Referral from the University’s occupational health service provider.
• Referral from external organisations and professionals, including health and care service providers, placement providers, the police, etc.

10. We aim to provide you with the right support, depending on the timing and nature of your circumstances, to help you complete your studies as close to the normal course duration as possible. The ways we do this might include:

• The Extensions and Exceptional Circumstances Policy and Procedure, which provides support options for students who experience sudden, severe and unexpected medical or personal issues.
• The Break in Study Policy and Procedure, which provides support options for students who need to temporarily pause their studies due to exceptional circumstances (i.e. health issues, personal issues or a change in caring responsibilities which have occurred suddenly and unexpectedly). The maximum length of suspension which we will initially agree to is one calendar year. After this period, you may be able to apply again for a further break, if required.
• Assessment Support for Students with Learning Contracts.
• Assessment Support for Student Carers.
• Assessment support for elite and talented athletes.
• Student Wellbeing Services can help you manage personal issues which might impact on your studies.
• Disabled Student Support can help you get the appropriate support for your disability, including learning contracts, support workers, equipment and software.

11. We recognise that despite the support services available, you might still face challenges that affect your ability to study. This could be because:

• Support has been applied but has not been effective.
• The complexity of your situation requires input from various areas of the University.
• The full impact of your condition is not yet known.

12. Where your capacity to study remains impaired for a sustained period it might result in you failing modules, being unable to complete your studies within the maximum duration of the course or being withdrawn for non-engagement.

13. Where all support options in this policy have been exhausted but concerns persist, a recommendation may be made for Withdrawal Due to Incapacity to Study. Where your Supporting Your Capacity to Study team recommends that you do not have the capacity at present to succeed in your studies, a University Panel may conclude that you should be temporarily or permanently withdrawn from your course.