Circumstances Affecting Your Studies

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/students/progress/Regulations/SPS/Attendance/index.htm [link to be checked as being updated]

https://www.ncl.ac.uk/students/progress/Regulations/SPS/Attendance/sickness [link to be checked as being updated]

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.

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

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.

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 Transfer Request Form (PDF: 400KB) - see the Programme Transfer Procedure (PDF: 24KB) for more details.

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.

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 

To request a period of outside study, please speak to your Degree Programme Director first, before completing a DPD Request Form. 

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. 

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.

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.