How can I take a break from my course?

If you're thinking about interrupting there are significant practical implications to consider. We’ve summarised some of the key areas you need to think about. Read the following articles to understand each of these considerations in more detail:

• What are the practical implications of interrupting my studies?
• How will interrupting impact my fees and funding?
• Will a withdrawal or an interruption impact my visa status?
• Interruption of Study Policy

Before taking an interruption you should consider:

• Finances, including tuition fees you may be liable to pay, impact on your funding, personal finances and potential limitations to future funding.
• Your Student visa status will be impacted and you should discuss this with the Visa & International Student Advice team before taking any action.
• Where you will live as you won’t be able to continue living in University Residences and if privately renting you may need to consider ending your current housing contract. Where you're based can affect your physical and mental wellbeing, for example your access to healthcare and social support.
• Your student status will change and you won’t be able to download your Confirmation of Study letter but you can request a copy via Student Services Online.
• Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) you will lose access to this while on interruption, we advise contacting the Disability Support & Inclusion team for more guidance.
• Local NHS care if your care is currently being provided in London and you live elsewhere, we advise speaking to your care provider or GP to look at how you can ensure continued support whilst you're not living in London. This may include asking them to make a referral to NHS services local to where you'll be living whilst on interruption.

In the first instance, we advise that you speak to someone in your department, ideally your personal tutor or supervisor, about your concerns and worries, to discuss how long a break you need and when would be a good time to return to your studies. 

There can be practical considerations, especially for students attending clinical placements, which will need to be factored into a suitable return date. 

Step 1: Contact your personal tutor or supervisor to discuss your situation.

Step 2: Read the following articles:

• What are the practical implications for interrupting my studies?
• How will interrupting impact my fees and funding?
• Will a withdrawal or an interruption impact my visa status?

Step 3: We recommend that all students considering a break from studies speak to Student Support and Wellbeing services to talk through the practicalities of taking a break; this can include your funding, accommodation arrangements and immigration status. 

Step 4: To process your request via the online form in your student record; select 'Initiate Change of Circumstances'.

Important to know: If you are on a Student visa, you are required to speak with an International & Visa Adviser before your interruption can be finalised as there are significant implications for your student visa and return to study.

Step 5: Your department will be asked to finalise your request.

Step 6: You will agree a return date with your personal tutor or supervisor and will work together to create a re-engagement plan for your return.

Step 7: Once finalised, you will be sent an email your King’s email address, confirming that your record has been updated and the final tuition fee charge ensuring that, if applicable, your funding body learns of your decision to interrupt. We recommend that you also contact your funding body directly to update them on your decision to interrupt. Your department will contact you to confirm any resits that have been agreed.

Step 8: When you are due to return from your interruption, you will receive an email inviting you to re-enrol. If you're hoping to live in King's Residences when you return, you might need to contact the Residences team to make sure you don't miss the deadline to apply for accommodation.

If you have read the articles related to this one and you are not concerned by anything you have read, then you don’t have to do anything further.
Important to know:

• When you complete your Change of Registration Form via Student Records you will be asked if you have already consulted Student Support and Wellbeing Services. Tick ‘yes’ if you have received advice or are satisfied that the information in our related articles have answered all your questions. Tick ‘no’ if you have not spoken to us yet but would like to.
• If you are interrupting on health or financial grounds, your Change of Circumstances form may be referred to Student Support and Wellbeing Services for approval and recommendations before processing your application with your department. This is to make sure that you have been fully advised on any consequences, which may affect you now or in the future.
• As outline in Step 3 above, we advise all students considering an interruption to contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services to discuss your situation fully. Your adviser will confirm that you have received the appropriate advice on the change of registration form and return it to Student Records.
• If you have any questions on the university’s policies on data protection, you should refer to the Student Data Collection Notice and Privacy Statement.

If you have already submitted a request to interrupt, it is probably best to contact your department or Student Records so they can delay finalising your change of registration and give you time to speak to someone.

To log your request, follow the link to submit an enquiry: Student Records.

If you require advice and guidance about the circumstances surrounding your interruption, any of the issues raised above or would just like to review your options please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

We also recommend reading through the relevant articles for guidance on things to consider when taking an interruption of studies:

• What are the practical implications of interrupting my studies?
• How will interrupting impact my fees and funding?
• Will a withdrawal or an interruption impact my visa status?

You will have an agreed return date with your department as well as a re-engagement plan for your return, which you will have a copy of. Your department will be in contact with you ahead of your return. One month before to your planned return date, Student Records will email your KCL email account to invite you to return from your interruption and re-enrol.
You will need to consider:

• If you are international student, you will need to request your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) 3-6 months before you return to study and prepare your supporting documents for your Student Visa application.
• In some cases, you might need to complete Occupational Health checks before you return. Your department should contact you about this ahead of your return. ​​​​​

For more guidance read:

• I want to return from my interruption of studies, what should I do?
• I'm on a Student Visa returning from an interruption, what should I do?