I want to take a break from my course, can I do this?

Students can make an application for a study break. This is 12-month break from a course and is designed to support students whose circumstances require a longer break (such as pregnancy or a long-term health condition). If you need a break of less than 12-months, applying for mitigating circumstances might be useful. Please, always talk to your tutor about this if you can. The process of requesting a study break happens in the SRS Student Portal and there is a guide that explains how to do this.

You cannot apply for a study break when all teaching on your course has finished, and it can’t be used as a way of extending deadlines. During the break you wouldn’t have access to Student Finance funding or library facilities such as NILE and NELSON.

With a study break you would keep any progress already made to date and return at the same point at which you left the course, but a year later. All previous grades (non-submissions, passes and mitigating circumstances) would still stand.

For students on postgraduate courses, study breaks are not normally permitted when you have enrolled on your principle / dissertation module, unless you have exceptional circumstances.

Also, study breaks of less than 12-months are not normally permitted. Retrospective study breaks are not normally permitted, unless you have exceptional circumstances.

You can find more information about taking a study break with the 'Study Break' policy and 'Taking a study break' guidance.

To speak to somebody about taking a study break, please contact the Student Support and Advice Team at studentsupportofficers@northampton.ac.uk or call on 01604 89 2600