If you are experiencing difficulties with your studies, or having personal problems that are affecting your ability to work, you should inform your supervisor so that steps to help you manage your workload can be taken.  You should be in regular contact with your supervisor anyway, but it is important to make them aware of any problems you may be having so they can be dealt with.  The CS Graduate Tutor is also available for you to speak to about any issues. 

There are two main options we can pursue if a student is having problems:

1. Interruption of study (see below).  Students may receive up to thirteen weeks paid sick leave within the duration of their award.
   
   
2. Change to part time status.  This is for UK residents only: overseas students are not allowed to remain in the UK with part-time student status.  Please note also that you cannot change to part time once on CRS status, so a student must transfer to part-time before they go on CRS.  If you wish to change to part-time then you must confirm that your supervisor is happy with the change, and inform the Postgraduate Administrators.

Interruption of Studies

Interruption of Study is for students who require taking a temporary break from their studies and plan to resume them at a future date.  The minimum amount of time that can be recorded is one month; the maximum length of time a student can interrupt for is 24 months.  See the Registry and Academic Services website for further information.

If you know that you will need to interrupt you must inform your supervisor and the Postgraduate Administrator.  Registry and Academic Services will not backdate interruptions so it is vitally important that a request to suspend your studies is actioned as soon as possible so as not to waste your research time.

If you are a Visa National and hold a Tier 4 visa you will be required to leave the UK for the duration of your interruption and re-apply for a new visa in order to return to UCL and continue your studies.  Under new immigration laws, UCL is legally required to know the location of its students and inform the Home Office of any change in status. 

Please note that during a period of interruption students will be required to relinquish their deskspace and may not receive their stipend if on a studentship.

Maternity and Paternity Leave is processed the same as any other interruption. Students on a studentship are allowed up to four months paid maternity leave. Paternity leave is 10 days, which may be taken may be taken at any time during a partner’s pregnancy or within three months following the birth.