Taking Time Out from University

Sometimes, personal or practical issues can spring up and make continuing at university too difficult. Examples include:

• New or worsening physical or mental health issues
• Bereavement
• Financial issues
• Insufficient access arrangements
• Trauma or harassment
• Other personal or practical reasons

Rather than dropping out and losing the work you’ve already completed, most universities will allow you to take time out for the rest of the academic year, and then restart the year in October or rejoin where you left. The names & rules for this differ between universities: ‘leave of absence’, ‘time out’, ‘rusticating’ (Oxford) or ‘intermitting’ (Cambridge).
It’s best to talk with people like your tutor, director of studies, nurse or doctor if you are considering taking time out. They may be able to offer or direct you towards support such as emergency grants, counselling, learning access arrangements, or explain other options like studying part-time. You can also ask other students who’ve taken time out for their experiences and advice - see here for Georgia's experience.
The process varies between universities, but a good place to find out information is usually your tutor, your university welfare pages, your student union & disability representative(s).

Funding

You need to be aware of possible financial implications of taking time out. In the UK, the Student Loans Company (who pay your fees) only normally cover one extra year of your course. However, you may still be eligible for additional years of funding if you can prove that you took time out for reasons such as ill health, bereavement, caring duties, pregnancy etc. If it was within your control, ie you’re re-doing years at university because you didn’t like the last course, you may not get funding: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/going-back-to-uni-or-repeating-a-year.

Support upon return

Moving back to university after taking time out can be tricky; you may feel out-of-the-loop & isolated, friends may have graduated and you’ll have to re-adjust to studying full or part-time.
Struggling with this re-adjustment is completely normal. Places to go for support include:

• Support groups for others who’ve taken time out (often on Facebook, try asking your disabled students rep). If your university doesn’t have a group yet, you could set one up!
• Counselling: university life can be a huge adjustment for anyone, and even if you’ve already spent time at university, chances are if you’ve had time out you’ve been dealing with stressful personal situations, so you are completely valid in seeking professional help to deal with it.
• Tutors: making teachers aware of your situation means that if any issues flare up, they will be understanding & will be able to support you.

The process at Cambridge: Intermitting

Taking time out at Cambridge is known as intermitting. If you decide to intermit, your tutor applies on your behalf to the EAMC, the Examination Access and Mitigation Committee, for approval.
The Disabled Students’ Campaign has a great guide, with advice, information & details of a support group for intermitting students: https://www.disabled.cusu.cam.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Intermision-Guide-April-2017.pdf.
There’s also a support group for people considering, on & returning from intermission: https://www.facebook.com/groups/intermissionatcambridge/?hc_location=ufi.