We will be hosting drop-in sessions on a Bi-Monthly basis at Luton and Bedford Campuses for students who are pregnant. The drop-in will allow students to speak with a Student Engagement Advisor to discuss how the University can support them during and after their pregnancy.

It will also be an opportunity to meet other fellow pregnant students and also feedback to the University on how we can better support pregnant students.

Luton Campus Drop-In Sessions:

• Luton Campus - Friday 28th October 2022 @ 11 a.m. - 12 noon in The Living Room, Treehouse, Ground Floor, Campus Centre
• Luton Campus - Friday 27th January 2023 @ 11 a.m. - 12 noon in The Living Room, Treehouse, Ground Floor, Campus Centre
• Luton Campus - Friday 24th March 2023 @ 11 a.m. - 12 noon in The Living Room, Treehouse, Ground Floor, Campus Centre

Bedford Campus Drop-In Sessions:

• Bedford Campus - Wednesday 30th November 2022 @ 2-3pm in the Learning Resources Centre, rear of 1st floor
• Bedford Campus - Wednesday 22nd February 2022 @ 2-3pm in the Learning Resources Centre, rear of 1st floor
• Bedford Campus - Wednesday 18th April 2023 @ 2-3pm in the Learning Resources Centre, rear of 1st floor

Complete the booking form to book your space on a Pregnancy Drop-In Session

Overview

A Student Engagement Appointment is a 30 minute session where you can book in to speak with a Student Engagement Advisor. In these appointments we can discuss a range of topics, answer your questions and help resolve any concerns you have.

We encourage you to book an appointment with us as soon as you feel like you need some support. It may be that by talking through your concern early we can help you avoid becoming disengaged and keep you on track towards completing your chosen course.

When to Book

Some of the common reasons students Book an Engagement Appointment include:

• Feeling homesick
• Discussing Mitigating Circumstances
• Feeling like they've chosen the wrong course
• Struggling to balance working and studying
• Struggling to make friends
• Unforeseen problems e.g. ill health or family problems
• Wanting to discuss an Interruption of Studies or a potential Withdrawal
• Signposting to other Support Services like Counselling, Student Money Advice, Disability Support or the Mental Health team.

This is not a complete list and we will regularly discuss other topics that students bring to us so please do get in touch with other queries at student.engagement@beds.ac.uk and we can discuss if a Student Engagement Appointment is right for you.

How to Book

There are two ways for you to book an appointment:

• Via the Student Information Desk (SID) - If you would like to speak to someone to discuss the specifics times you are available or if you do not have access to a computer you can speak to a member of the SID team who will be able to directly book you into the next suitable appointment slot.

• Directly with Student Engagement- If for any reason you would like to keep the details of your appointment to only our team you can always email our team directly and an advisor can book you into the next slot available. This option is also the best to use if you have a single question as we may be able to answer it faster via email.

Contact us

SID - sid@beds.ac.uk or 0300 300 0042

Student Engagement Team - student.engagement@beds.ac.uk

You may consider taking a break from your studies for a range of reasons. This can include; To explore a placement opportunity, Personal reasons, to take a gap year or a range of other reasons. In the event you decide this is something you choose to do you would need to formalise this with the University by completing an Interruption of Studies.

What is an Interruption of Studies?

This is the formal process for taking extended leave from the University and your studies, this is usually a 12 months period unless you have discussed an alternative option with your academic staff.

We recommend that before you complete the process to interrupt your studies that you book an appointment to discuss an support options available to you with a Student Engagement Advisor.

Before you complete the Interruption of Studies Form you must consider both the Academic and Financial Implications.

Academic Implications

This is where you need to check that the time you are taking off works with your courses pattern of study. The main area you need to check with your faculty is your Return to Studies date. This is the date the University will be expecting you to re-join your course and in most cases will have put together a return to studies plan in place should you interrupt midway through the academic year.

If you commence a period of interruption once a module has started but before completing all the assessment requirements for that module, no credit will be awarded and you will normally be required to re-join at the start of the uncompleted module(s) upon resuming your studies.

Return to Studies date:

• The date of your Return to Studies will be specified as 1 year after the interruption of studies form has been completed and received by the Student Engagement Team, unless you have agreed alternative date with academic staff.
• If you request an interruption prior to end of the academic year, but you have completed the academic year, the interruption date will be recorded as the end of the academic year instead of the date the form the form was submitted to the Student Engagement Team.

You can contact either your course coordinator or Course admin to discuss this information. If you need these details you can either speak to your lecturer or call SID on 0300 300 0042 and a member of staff will be able to provide this information for you.

Financial Implications

It is very important that you are aware of any potential financial impacts that may arise as a result of taking a year out from your studies.

As the Student Engagement team cannot advise or support with any student finance or general finance enquiries, we strongly recommend that you discuss your intent to interrupt with the Student Finance Officer (SFO) for your faculty. They will then be able to discuss if any fees will be owed and when this would be due.

Fee Liability:
Please read Tuition Fee Liability Information information for more details on what fees you will be liable to pay if you choose to interrupt your studies. 
For more detailed information read the Tuition Fees Policy

You can contact the right Student Finance Officer (SFO) by choosing the email address that is linked to your Faculty:

• Education and Sport (E&S): sfoE&S@beds.ac.uk
• University of Bedfordshire Business School (UBBS): sfobusiness@beds.ac.uk
• Creative Arts Technology and Science (CATS): sfocats@beds.ac.uk
• Health and Social Sciences (HSS), including if you are a NHS funded student: sfohealth@beds.ac.uk

If your query is more general you can contact our central Finance Team at sortmyfinance@beds.ac.uk or by calling 01582 743993.

For a detailed checklist of steps to take before you submit your interruption of Studies form please download our support document: Interruption of Studies - Support Document [PDF]

Interruption of Studies Form

Download and complete the Interruption of Studies Form [DOC]

Please send a completed copy of the form and email directly to student.engagement@beds.ac.uk where a member of our team will check the form and send this on to your course administrator who will ensure a exit interview is completed with the academic admin, personal tutor or academic who will then formally update your record.

We offer a 5 day holding period as standard to allow for students to change their mind within this time after they have sent in their form. If you would like your form processing as soon as possible please indicate this in your email and confirm you have contacted the finance team.

Important Reminders

• Your department may set conditions for you to meet before you can re-join
• You cannot sit exams, attend classes or hand in work to be marked when you are interrupted
• You will not be allowed to attempt completed assessments again when you return to your studies
• You will not be classed as a student so you will not be entitled to a student loan or other student benefits (eg council tax exemption).

Taking a Second Break?

In the event that either your circumstances change or do not improve and you are still unable to return to your studies after your 1st interruption you may be eligible to apply for a 2nd year Interruption.

This follows the same process as a standard interruption but in order to authorise the second year we will require evidence that shows that your situation still prevents you from attending University.

Evidence that can be considered can be discussed in a student engagement appointment (see "Booking an appointment" tab). Evidence should be sent to student.engagement@beds.ac.uk along with your completed form.

International students

If you are an international student and you are thinking about interrupting you must contact the International Office (IO) to discuss your options. The International Office is the only team that can approve your interruption, however an Engagement Advisor will be happy to meet with you to discuss support options.

The IO can be contacted at intstudent.experience@beds.ac.uk

Student Checklist

• You are advised to notify Student Finance England (SFE) or other financial sponsor as appropriate to discuss any financial implications including fee liability.
• If you are living in University halls, you must inform them you are leaving.
• You are advised to discuss your interruption with your Personal Tutor or academic team.
• If you interrupt your studies you must return your ID badge to a member of staff either course admin, reception, SID desk or member of security. ID cards will be deactivated and you will no longer have access to university buildings after you have interruption your studies.
• NHS LSF students are advised to inform your Student Finance Officer of your interruption by emailing:  sfohealth@beds.ac.uk
• NHS LSF funded students must return NHS badge and uniform.
• Your return to studies date will be processed as 1 year from the date the form is confirmed by student engagement, unless an alternative date is agreed and approved by academic staff.

Thinking about Withdrawing?

It's not unusual to think about leaving University. Many students struggle with the change of learning style or living away from home for the first time. This can leave you feeling lonely or out of your depth, whatever your age or background!

Sometimes leaving may feel like the only option available to you, but there are always alternatives to withdrawing from university.

Whatever your reasons, it is a good idea to consider your options and seek advice from the University's Student Engagement Advisors, your Personal Academic Tutor and the Careers Service

Financial Implications

It is very important that you are aware of any potential financial impacts that may arise as a result of Withdrawing from your studies.

As the Student Engagement team cannot advise or support with any student finance or general finance enquiries, we strongly recommend that you discuss your intent to withdraw with the Student Finance Officer (SFO) for your faculty. They will then be able to discuss if any fees will be owed and when this would be due.

Fee Liability:
Please read Tuition Fee Liability Information information for more details on what fees you will be liable to pay if you choose to interrupt your studies. 
For more detailed information read the Tuition Fees Policy

You can contact the right SFO by choosing the email address that is linked to your faculty:

• Education and Sport (E&S): sfoE&S@beds.ac.uk
• University of Bedfordshire Business School (UBBS): sfobusiness@beds.ac.uk
• Creative Arts Technology and Science (CATS): sfocats@beds.ac.uk
• Health and Social Sciences (HSS): sfohealth@beds.ac.uk

If your query is more general you can contact our central Finance Team at sortmyfinance@beds.ac.uk or by calling 01582 743993.

For a detailed checklist of steps to take before you submit your Withdrawal from Studies form please download our support document: Withdrawal from Studies Support Document [DOCX]

How to Withdraw

If you have made certain you understand all of the impacts your withdrawal will have and are still confident that you wish to leave you are ready to complete a Withdrawal form.

Please download and complete the Withdrawal Form [DOC]

Please send a completed copy of the form to student.engagement@beds.ac.uk where a member of our team will check the form and send this on to your course administrator who will then formally close your record.

We offer a 5 day holding period as standard to allow for students to change their mind within this time after they have sent in their form. If you would like your form processing as soon as possible please indicate this in your email and confirm you have contacted the finance team.

It is important to note that non-attendance on your course is not a formal indication to the University that you wish to withdraw from your studies. It also will not alter any fee implications.

Note that there is a statutory ‘cooling off’ period of 14 days following your receipt of the University’s emailed Offer Letter, in which you can which you can withdraw without incurring liability for a Tuition Fee.
If you did not accept your offer, but registered with the University of Bedfordshire for your course, there is a 14 day 'cooling off' period from the date of registration, in which you can which you can withdraw without incurring liability for a Tuition Fee.

If you withdraw after these 14 days, you are liable for the tuition fees for your course.

Overview

If you require a suspension of studies or an extension to a specific deadline, you must make a request to the Research Degrees Committee (RDC). Applications should be made via the Student Engagement and Mitigation Team (SEAM).

Extensions to deadlines will only be granted by the RDC when clear evidence is provided showing that the delays you have faced were beyond your control. Research degrees have a built in pre-approved extension period, to allow for any general delays to be taken into consideration in your planned thesis submission date.

The RDC will only consider requests for Extensions and Suspensions once a student has contacted Student Engagement and Mitigation (SEAM) and SEAM have provided the RDC with a recommendation on the request. Due to this requirement and RDC deadlines, we strongly recommend that you begin the process of applying for Extensions at least two months prior to the specific deadline the request relates to.

Asking for a SEAM Recommendation

In order for SEAM to make a recommendation for you we require you to fill out the SEAM Support for Research Students Form [DOCX] and send back to us at student.engagement@beds.ac.uk and we can look at making a recommendation for you, to be considered at the next opportunity of the Research Degrees Committee (RDC).

Please note, SEAM do not make recommendations on academic issues/queries, please contact RGS for these queries.

If you would like to speak to an advisor about what option would be best for you please look at our booking an appointment tab for more details on how to speak to a student engagement advisor.

If you haven't already you will also need to fill out the extension paperwork which goes to the RGS which you can find on BREO.

If you have a visa or are funded we advise you check any implications directly with your sponsor.

What we do

Once the team has read through your case an advisor will complete one of the below recommendation forms. In there the team will either support or not support your request. This recommendation is then sent to the RGS team to be presented alongside other evidence discussed with your supervisory team at the next sitting of the RDC.

• PGR Extension Recommendation
• PGR Interruption Recommendation

Possible outcomes

The recommendation provided by SEAM does not constitute a final decision. This power sits with the RDC who will look at the recommendation and will ultimately decide to make one of the following decisions:

• Accept as stated: Fully accept your request and grant the Extension/Interruption)
• Accept with amendments: Accept the request but with slight changes to the award, this could be an increase or decrease in the time awarded based upon evidence and fitting in with deadlines etc. (This will be fully explained in the RDC's contact with you).
• Reject: Reject the claim and provide a reasonable justification for this decision.

If you need to retake units due to mitigating circumstances, you may be able to apply for a Discretionary Grant.

For advice on your eligibility and to discuss the application process, you will need to make an appointment with a Student Engagement Advisor.

You can make an appointment through SID or by emailing student.engagement@beds.ac.uk

You will need to complete a Discretionary Grant Application form (on BREO login needed), with any additional information and evidence attached, and submit your form by emailing student.engagement@beds.ac.uk

Your application will be considered by the Student Engagement team in the first instance. It will then be forwarded to the Faculty who will make a decision on your application and notify you of the outcome in writing.

Remember, the support teams are still here for you and you can contact us via the email addresses below. We’re here to help so please get in touch if you support

• student.engagement@beds.ac.uk – Interruptions/Withdrawals/Support
• mitigation@beds.ac.uk – Extensions to work deadlines
• studentmoney@beds.ac.uk – Financial difficulties and budgeting advice
• sortmyfinance@beds.ac.uk - Any fees related queries
• mentalhealth@beds.ac.uk - New or on-going mental health support
• counselling@beds.ac.uk – Access to counselling support
• chaplaincy@beds.ac.uk – Pastoral and emotional support
• careers@beds.ac.uk – Support with employment, careers and placements