Circumstances Affecting Your Studies

During your studies, you may need to travel outside the UK to complete fieldwork or to undertake a placement as part of your programme of study.

Please refer to the specific travel policies that have been created for undergraduate and postgraduate students:

Travel and Outside Study (off-campus and overseas) Guidance for Postgraduate Research students (PDF 189kb) Revised Dec 2020

If you are a taught student, please speak to your Degree Programmee Director about your request for a period of outside study, before completing a DPD Request Form.

If you are an international taught postgraduate student, please see our information for Outside Study Requests for PGT students with a Tier 4 visa (81KB).

You should also see the University’s Travel Insurance Cover for Undergraduates or Postgraduates, as appropriate, prior to travelling.

Outside Study guidance for postgraduate research students can be found at Change of Circumstances in Guidance for PGR students.

Absence Request

If you have been ill or unable to study for more than three working days, you should complete an Absence Request Form and return the completed form to your academic unit or tutor / supervisor as soon as you can return to your studies.

The Absence Request Form should also be used for other absences, eg time away from the University for personal reasons.

You can find more information and the Absence Request Form at:

https://www.ncl.ac.uk/student-progress/policies/policies/attendance/

Personal Extenuating Circumstances (PEC)

If your studies or ability to complete assessments is being seriously affected by unforeseen and unavoidable personal extenuating circumstances, including illness, you should advise your academic unit by completing the Personal Extenuating Circumstances (PEC) Form so that appropriate adjustments can be considered.

Please see the PEC webpage for more information and the PEC forms.

Disability or Long Term Illness

If you have a disability or long term illness that requires adjustments, please contact the Student Wellbeing Service. They will be able to assess your needs and recommend appropriate support

To get in touch with the Student Wellbeing Service, please email:

Specialist Learning Team: specialistlearning@newcastle.ac.uk
Disability: disabilityadvisor@newcastle.ac.uk
Mental Health: MentalHealthAdvisor@newcastle.ac.uk

Temporary Disability and Examinations

If you have a temporary disability that you believe will impact on your performance in your exams, you can apply for a short-term adjustment for the exam period.

You can find more information on the Exams web page.

Programme Transfer

If you decide to change your degree course at Newcastle University, please speak to your Tutor/Degree Programme Director first.

You’ll need to complete a DPD Request Form‌ (PDF: 202KB) - see the Programme Transfer Procedure (PDF: 305KB) for more details.

Interruption of Studies

If you want to leave the University on a temporary basis and you intend to return to the same or alternative degree programme, please speak to your Tutor/Degree Programme Director about interrupting your studies before completing a DPD Request Form (PDF: 418KB).

There are some implications of interrupting your studies for your student loan – for more information, please visit the Student Financial Support website.

Outside Study / Travel Requests

During your studies, you may need to travel outside the UK to complete fieldwork or to undertake a placement as part of their programme of study.

Please refer to the specific travel policies that have been created for undergraduate and postgraduate students:

Policy for Undergraduate Student Travel and Outside Study (off-campus and abroad) [add new link]
Travel and Outside Study (off-campus and overseas) Guidance for Postgraduate Research students Travel and Outside Study (off-campus and overseas) Guidance for Postgraduate Research students

To request a period of outside study, please speak to your Degree Programme Director first, before completing a DPD Request Form. If you are a Doctoral or MPhil student please refer to the PGR Outside Study Process

If you’re an international taught postgraduate student, please see our information for Outside Study Requests for PGT students with a Tier 4 visa(81KB).

You should also see the University’s Travel Insurance Cover for Undergraduates or Postgraduates, as appropriate, prior to travelling.

Information for postgraduate research students can be found at Change of Circumstances in Guidance for PGR students.

Presumed Withdrawn

If you’re absent from your course and haven’t informed your school that you will be absent, you may be classed as ‘Presumed Withdrawn’ and your school may begin the Presumed Withdrawn Procedure.

For further information about attendance please see our Attendance webpage - https://www.ncl.ac.uk/student-progress/policies/policies/attendance/

Withdrawal

If you decide to withdraw from the University on a permanent basis, please complete the Student Withdrawal Questionnaire (Web Form), with your personal tutor where possible.

A Word version is available at Student Withdrawal Questionnaire (Word Form: 74KB).

For information on the implications of withdrawing from your studies for your student loan, please visit the Student Financial Support website.

Suspension / Discontinuation or Combining of your Programme of Study

In exceptional circumstances it may be necessary for programmes of study to be suspended, discontinued or combined with other programmes. If such changes are made to your programme of study after you have accepted your offer, the University will try to notify you as early as possible and will take reasonable steps to minimise the impact by offering suitable alternative arrangements. Please see the University Terms and Conditions for more information.