Changes to your studies

If you wish to make changes to your programme of study, you may need to go home and apply for a new  Student visa before you can make the change.

You can change your programme in the UK without needing to apply for a new visa if:

• You are changing to the same level, or a higher level of study at the same institution; AND
• Your programme is at degree level or above; AND
• You can complete your new programme within the validity of your current visa; AND
• Your new programme represents academic progression from your previous programme; AND
• You apply for and obtain an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate if required

we will also be required to confirm that: 

• the new programme is related to the programme for which the current permission was granted, meaning it is either connected to that previous programme or involves deeper specialisation; or
• that the current programme and the new programme in combination support your genuine career aspirations.

You must return to your country of nationality and make a new Student visa application if:

• You have not completed your most recent programme of studies and you wish to move to a new institution
• You need extra time to complete your current programme of studies, UNLESS:
  • You are applying to resit a course or exam, or you have previously repeated a course or exam in relation to your current programme
  • You wish to undergo a work placement or period of study abroad, or you have already done so, and you need extra time to complete your studies
  • You need extra time to complete your current PhD studies
  • You are applying for more time to move to the higher level of an integrated programme (for example, BEng Chemistry to MChem)
• You wish to study at a lower level than your most recent programme, UNLESS;
  • You are applying to move to the lower level of an integrated programme, for example: (You have been studying a PhD and change to an MRes or MPhil, or You have been studying an Honours degree and change to an Ordinary degree)
• You wish to make changes to your programme which will require more time to study BUT you have not successfully completed your most recent programme, for example:
  • You are studying an MPhil and you progress to a PhD without receiving the MPhil qualification

You can find further information about academic progression and changes to study at the links below.

Student route visa requirements

If you need to take an interruption of studies, the University can continue to sponsor your visa if:

• The interruption is no more than 60 days
• You can resume studies immediately
• You can complete your programme within the original timeframe

Your Student visa will remain valid. 

You must not interrupt your studies to work. If you do work while you are on an interruption of studies, you must not work more than 20 hours per week. However, you must ensure that you are using your Student visa for the purpose that it was granted (i.e. study, not work).

If you need to interrupt your studies for more than 60 days the University is normally required to withdraw sponsorship of your Student visa, even if you are ill or pregnant. We will do this by making a report to UKVI. UKVI will process the report and curtail your Student visa. Once this is done, they will write to you to notify you of the curtailment and to advise you to leave the UK within 60 days of the date on the letter. The University's recommendation is recommend that you should leave the UK within 60 days of the report being made to UKVI (you will receive an email when this happens), as this will protect your immigration status.

In some circumstances, such as serious illness or injury, the University may be able to continue sponsorship of your visa if you will still be able to complete your programme within the original timeframe. Please contact us if you would like to discuss this.

You will normally need to apply for a new Student visa to return to studies.

You are strongly advised to speak to a Student Immigration Adviser to understand all of your options before you take an interruption from your studies.

UKVI reporting and curtailment of Student permission 

Authorised interruption of study

You are allowed to take any course or exam a maximum of three times (the original course/exam plus two resits). 

In exceptional circumstances, you may be permitted to take a fourth attempt.

Repeat with attendance

If you are required to attend classes/lectures/etc. during the semester, then your Student visa will remain valid.

You may be enrolled on a part time basis only if:

• You are repeating a course or courses which you have already undergone
• You are fully engaging in studies
• Your programme, as a whole, remains full time

Exam only

If you repeat on an exam only basis – i.e. you are not required to attend classes/lectures/etc. during the semester – the University must withdraw sponsorship of your Student visa and you must return home. 

You will need to apply for a standard visitor visa or a Student visa to return to studies.

You should seek full advice from a Student Immigration Adviser.

Read about time limits under the Student route

Study-related leave of absence

Student visa holders are normally required to study on-campus in Edinburgh. However, sometimes students will need to study away from the University for programme and study related reasons: for example, study abroad / exchange programmes; if you need to carry out research at another facility; or if you want to do a work placement (including a placement based dissertation). This mainly affects postgraduate research students.

If you remain a fully enrolled student, the University can continue its Student visa sponsorship duties. In this case, a temporary change in study location won't affect the validity of your Student visa.

You will need to request a study-related Leave of Absence and this must be formally approved by your School / College.  The University will report a location change to UKVI. 

Find out more about the University’s sponsorship duties

Research Students - Leave of absence

Postgraduate student dissertation or writing up period

During a postgraduate student's dissertation or writing up period, we can continue sponsoring your Student visa as long as we can fulfil our sponsor duties.

What this means for you:

• You must continue attending and participating in person throughout your entire programme, including during your dissertation or writing up period.
• The University is required to monitor your attendance and evidence your engagement during this time.

Please reach out to your School if you have any questions about these requirements.

Request for Remote and Overseas Dissertation

If you choose to complete the remainder of your taught programme from overseas, we won't be able to maintain your Student visa sponsorship. 

We will need to report this change to UKVI and withdraw your visa sponsorship.

If your School approves this, you can complete the remainder of your programme from overseas (remotely). 

The visa sponsorship withdrawal is separate from your academic enrolment status. Your ability to complete your degree will not be affected, provided your School supports your request.

In the first instance, students should discuss requests for remote and overseas dissertation with their School.  After approval and once you have finalised your travel plans, you must inform Student Immigration Service by completing our UniDesk form and providing your School with the call reference: 

Postgraduate Student - Request for Remote and Overseas Dissertation

If you withdraw or are excluded from your studies the University will be required to inform UKVI within 10 days.  

Your Student visa will be curtailed (cancelled). UKVI will write to you, normally by email, and tell you the new expiry date of your visa. This will normally be 60 days from the date of the email.

We cannot tell you exactly when UKVI will write to you, but we advise you to make plans to leave the UK, or apply for alternative immigration permission, within 60 days of formally withdrawing or being excluded from your studies.

Your Student work permission is cancelled from the date you withdraw or are excluded from studies. You must not work once you have withdrawn or been excluded. Doing so would be a serious breach of UK immigration law