Graduate School
Information for postgraduate research
students considering requesting to suspend
their registration
At some point during your studies, you may need to consider suspending your studies
for a specific period of time. You might suspend for a variety reasons including
academic, financial, medical, personal, immigration, family or other.
An interruption to your studies can be disruptive, and create academic and other
difficulties, so you are advised to discuss your situation very carefully with your
supervisors/Director of Postgraduate Research Studies, as well as staff in the Doctoral
Research Office, before making a decision about whether to request a suspension.
Students considering making a request to formally suspend their registration are asked
to read and note the following pieces of information before submitting a Suspension
Request Form to the Graduate School.
Access to University Facilities
By definition, you are not expected to be studying in University premises (including
in your School/Department/Graduate School) or receiving supervision during a period
of suspension. However, you are encouraged to keep in contact with your
School/Department/Supervisors during your period of suspension.
Council Tax
You do not have to pay Council Tax while you are enrolled as a full-time student.
When you suspend your registration you cease to be a full-time student. If you
choose to remain in the UK during your suspension then you will be liable for
Council Tax for the period of your suspension.
Immigration
The immigration rules state that to be in the UK as a Tier 4 student you need to
be “engaged” in full-time study. Since a period of suspension means you are not
studying full-time, then there are visa implications which you need to be aware
of.
As a Tier 4 Sponsor, the University of Reading must report to the Home Office that
you have suspended your studies. It is also in the student’s interest that the Home
Office are made aware of a suspension as it confirms that the programme of study has
been disrupted and might (where applicable) be completed at a later date than
originally anticipated when you entered the UK.
Suspensions of up to 60 days in duration
Graduate School
Suspensions will be reported to the Home Office but only one period of up to 60 days
suspension will be permitted during the whole degree programme. A suspension of up
to 60 days will not result in your visa being curtailed as the University will continue
to sponsor your Tier 4 (General) Student Visa. Please note that if your suspension is
extended for a further period beyond the initial 60 days , or you do not return on
time*, then the University will, at that point, report to the Home Office that it is no
longer sponsoring your Tier 4 (General) Student Visa. You will then receive a
Curtailment Letter from the Home Office requiring you to leave the UK by a specified
date. Please see the section below on ‘Resuming your studies after a period of
suspension’.
*Please note that if you are suspended for medical reasons then you will need to provide evidence of
your fitness to return to your studies from your doctor prior to the end of your suspension. If you do not
resume your studies after a suspension of 60 days then the University will automatically report to the
Home Office that it is no longer sponsoring your Tier 4 (General) Student Visa. Please see the section
below on ‘Resuming your studies after a period of suspension’.
Please note that you are required to maintain regular contact with your
Department/School during this period of suspension as part of the University’s
sponsorship of your Tier 4 (General) Student Visa. You should therefore update your
Department/School on your status a minimum of once per month during your
suspension. If you fail to do this then the University may be obliged to report this loss
of regular contact to the Home Office which may bring the University’s sponsorship
of your visa to an end prematurely.
Students are asked to note that it should not be assumed that those suspending for up
to 60 days will automatically have their Latest Submission Date extended by the
equivalent period; it is hoped that this will be possible but it will depend upon the
dates on the visa currently held by the student. Staff in the Doctoral Research Office
(contact details below) will discuss this with the student if applicable.
Suspensions of more than 60 days in duration
Suspensions of more than 60 days mean that you will not be engaged in your studies
for a significant period of time. Therefore, the University will report to the Home
Office that it is no longer sponsoring your Tier 4 (General) Student Visa and you will
receive a Curtailment Letter from the Home Office requiring you to leave the UK by a
specified date. Please see the section below on ‘Resuming your studies after a period
of suspension’.
Please see the section below on Resuming your studies after a period of
suspension.
Resuming your studies after a period of suspension
The University is committed to supporting you in the completion of your degree
programme and will endeavour to facilitate your return to the University in order for
you to do so. At least one month prior to the official end date of your suspension,
please contact the Doctoral Research Office by e-mail (contact details below) to
advise of your return date, request another CAS to support a new visa application or
alternatively to discuss other options.
Important Immigration Points to Note:
Graduate School

Immigration Advice – Immigration advice is available throughout your period of
suspension and can be accessed either from inside or outside the UK. Help with
checking/assisting with the completion of a visa application form can be requested by
contacting the International Student Experience Team at
immigration@reading.ac.uk.

Students suspended on medical grounds – Where the University has reported that it
is no longer sponsoring a student’s Tier 4 (General) Student Visa, it may be the case
that a student believes that they should not fly due to medical/other reasons. Where a
student has such concerns they should take advice, before applying for a suspension,
from the International Student Experience Team at immigration@reading.ac.uk.

Doctoral Extension Scheme - Please note that if you intend to apply for a visa under
the Doctoral Extension Scheme (DES) in future, you are required to hold a current
Tier 4 (General) Student Visa and be present in the UK at the point when you apply
for the DES.
Students wishing to apply for the DES are strongly advised to aim to submit
their thesis at the 3.5 year point in order to allow for all the necessary
arrangements to be made within the period of their current Tier 4 visa
sponsorship.
The Doctoral Research Office provides this information and any other related documents in good
faith, based on the information that you have given us about your current situation. We endeavour
to ensure our information is accurate, but since both your situation and the legislation relating to
your immigration status can change at short notice, the Doctoral Research Office cannot accept any
responsibility for any errors, omissions or other consequences arising from the use of this
information, nor for decisions made by the Home Office or any other agencies regarding
immigration applications.
Students in University Accommodation
Students residing in University accommodation may be asked to leave their
accommodation during a period of suspension. All students in University
accommodation are advised to check the implications of suspending their programme
on their accommodation situation by enquiring at the Student Services Helpdesk
(Carrington Building) before they formally apply for a suspension.
Fees
Fees are normally cancelled for periods of suspension and refunds are made where
appropriate. If you have any questions regarding fees then please contact the
Doctoral Research Office.
Studentships
If you are in receipt of a studentship paying a maintenance grant (or stipend) which is
administered by the University then the payments would normally be stopped for the
period of suspension. If you are taking a period of maternity leave then you will need
to take note of the specific Terms and Conditions applicable to your studentship.
These will set out any entitlements in regard to a period of maternity pay from your
sponsor. To check this, please contact the Doctoral Research Office.
Graduate School
Library Access
Please note that your Library access will be affected by a suspension as many of the
licences in place only allow access to be provided to students whose registration
status is current. If this presents a problem for you then you should visit the Library
Information Desk in the Main Library in order to seek advice.
University username, password and e-mail address
IT access continues during a period of suspension and it is important that you monitor
your e-mail account during your suspension as important messages may be sent there.
Immigration Advice and other useful links
Immigration Advisory Service
Student Advisory Team
Student Services Centre, Carrington Building
General Enquiries: +44 (0)118 378 5555
Email: immigration@reading.ac.uk
Student Services International Student Pages
http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/student/international-students/stdserv-internationalstudents.aspx
United Kingdom Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA)
www.ukcisa.org.uk
UKCISA operate a free telephone advice line for students;
Monday – Friday 1-4pm
020 7107 9922
Last Updated 16/12/15
REQUEST FOR SUSPENSION OF
REGISTRATION (RESEARCH DEGREE)
All sections of this form must be completed. Please also attach copies of any relevant
correspondence or supporting evidence (such as medical certification). The form should be sent
to the Doctoral Research Office, Graduate School, Old Whiteknights House for
consideration by the Dean of Postgraduate Research Studies. If the request is approved then
careful monitoring must take place within the Department/School to ensure that the student is
able to keep to any new schedule.
Student name
Student number
School/Department
Graduate School
Programme
Full-time/Part-time
Dates of registration
(please use format
xx/xx/xx)
From:
To:
(maximum
registration date)
Statement from
student giving
reasons for
requesting
suspension:
Statement from
supervisor:
Length of suspension
requested
(From xx/xx/xx To
xx/xx/xx)
Any further details,
including previous
extensions or
suspensions granted
(please continue on
reverse if necessary)
If funded, has the sponsor been informed? (Yes/No)
Graduate School
Supervisor Name (Please
print name)
Signature of Supervisor
School/Dept Director of
PGR Studies OR Director
of Research (please print
name)
Signature of School/Dept
Director of PGR Studies
OR Director of Research
Date
For use by the Doctoral Research Office:
Approved? (Yes/No)
Signature of Dean of
Postgraduate Research
Studies
Date