Leaving University
If you want to leave your studies for good, there are several considerations to think about before you make your final decision. If you withdraw from university, you’ll no longer be classed as a student. There may be other ways to support you, for example by taking temporary leave or changing your course.
This article talks through some of the things you should think about. The University also has their own guidance on preparing to leave.
Academic Implications
If you leave your studies before graduating, you won’t receive your full award. Depending on what you have completed and the reasons you are withdrawing, you might be able to receive a transcript. This would show the credits gained, and this can sometimes be used to transfer to a different institution.
You may have passed enough of your course to be eligible for a fallback award. This is a different award to what you were originally registered for. For example, you may have been studying for a Masters but have passed enough credits to receive a Postgraduate Diploma instead. To check if you could be eligible for a fallback award when you leave, contact your School.
Accommodation
Students in University Residences can leave in line with their terms and conditions. These state that you can give 8 weeks’ notice, which means you must pay rent until this notice period is over, but after that you are no longer liable and must leave.
If you live in privately rented housing, you should consider if you want to stay in your property after you’ve left university. Some properties only allow registered students, so check with your provider to be certain. If you want to stay and your provider/landlord allows this, you can stay but will need to think about how you will afford your rent and other living costs without student funding.
If you want to leave your property, this can be complex so please contact LUU Advice at advice@luu.ac.uk with a copy of your tenancy agreement to get individual guidance.
Council Tax
As a full-time student you are exempt from paying Council Tax. After withdrawal, this no longer applies so you would need to pay. Depending on who you live with, you might be the only member of your household who has to pay (for example, if you are the only non-student living with a house of other full-time students). This would mean you can apply for a single person discount (25% off).
If you live with other non-students then it’s likely you would arrange to split the cost evenly (or according to any other agreement you make). If you are the only person liable for council tax, how you manage this extra cost is up to you. Some students agree to pay a small amount to help out, however they are not obliged to do so.
It is important not to ignore letters about council tax – there can be legal issues if you do.
Funding
You will no longer receive any student funding after you leave university. In some cases, you might have received an overpayment - your funding provider can ask for this back as soon as they are aware you have left university. If you have a UK student loan, read about how a change in circumstances can impact funding.
You’ll need to consider how you can pay for your essential living costs going forward. Many people choose to gain employment, but you could also check to see if you could claim benefits.
Immigration and Visas
Your student visa will be affected if you withdraw from university. LUU Advice cannot advise on immigration matters, so please contact the University’s Student Visa Advice Team at studentvisaadvice@leeds.ac.uk for guidance.
Tuition Fee Liability
Once you register for your course you become liable to pay a certain amount of tuition fees. When you leave, the University will calculate how much you owe depending on your official leaving date. This date is sometimes different to the date that you stopped attending teaching or engaging with studies. You can read about how tuition fee liability is calculated here.
If you are in receipt of a UK student loan, this will be reflected in the tuition loan you eventually have to pay back. If you pay tuition by other means, for example if you are self-funded and have paid more than you needed to, you can request a refund by contacting the relevant Fees Team email address:
- For Undergraduates: ugfees@leeds.ac.uk
- For Postgraduates: pgfees@leeds.ac.uk
University Services Access
Once you are withdrawn you will lose access to things like your student email address, Minerva, and library services. If you need to keep anything, such as emails or documents from your IT account, it is best to save these as soon as possible ahead of your leaving date.
If you leave with a fallback award, you can still keep access to library services as you will count as alumni. You will also still have access to the University Careers Centre as any other graduate.