The University may use the Support to Study procedure if there are concerns that your physical or mental health is negatively affecting your ability to engage with your studies. The Support to Study procedure is aimed to be a supportive mechanism to help manage the situation. However, if you don’t engage with the support, at its most serious level there is a risk of your studies being terminated.
There are three stages to the Support to Study procedure (but you will not necessarily start at Level 1):
- Level 1 – Initial or informal support from your School / Institute. This will usually be a meeting with your personal tutor or supervisor to discuss the concerns and possible actions.
- Level 2 – Formal support from your School /Institute and relevant University services. This will usually be a formal meeting with your Degree Programme Director / Senior Tutor / Director of Postgraduate Studies and a representative from the Student Health and Wellbeing Service. Outcomes can include a formal action plan, adjustments to study, or an interruption from study.
- Level 3 – Formal intervention by a Fitness to Study Panel. This will be in the form of a hearing, usually in front of a representative from the Student Health and Wellbeing Service and two other independent members of staff. Outcomes can include those listed above, with or without the student’s consent, and also termination of studies if appropriate.
For further information, you can find the University's guidance and information on the Student Progress Service website.
If you would like advice about the Support to Study procedure or support ahead of a meeting/hearing, please contact us to make an appointment.