Withdrawing from your course - Joint Institute students
Find out about temporarily or permanently withdrawing from your course, what support you can receive and who you need to contact.
Requesting to withdraw
Important: Let us know as soon as possible if you’re thinking about a temporary or permanent withdrawal.
Taking a temporary break from your studies
Taking a formal break from your course is called temporary withdrawal. You might also hear it referred to as ‘intermission’.
Please note the deadlines for withdrawal for the 2024/25 academic year:
Undergraduate finalist - Friday the 16th of May 2025
Undergraduate progression - Friday the 13th of June 2025
Postgraduate - Friday the 13th of June 2025
Students decide to take temporary withdrawal for a range of reasons. These can include health, family, academic and financial concerns.
If you are thinking of taking a break from your course, the Joint Institute office team can help you consider your options and the implications of taking intermission. You can get in touch by emailing them at ZJSU-JI@sussex.ac.uk
Students will normally restart studies at the beginning of the semester they did not complete. Marks for semester/s completed before a temporary withdrawal will be ratified by the Module Assessment Board, whilst any marks (pass or fail) achieved during the incomplete semester and prior to the temporary withdrawal will be removed when you restart. You choose how long you want to temporary withdraw for, with the Progress and Awards Board confirming the re-entry and assessment dates for repeats/resits/sits (if appropriate). If your circumstances prevent you from returning on the agreed date, you must request a temporary extension of the withdrawal period.
Leaving the university permanently
The process of leaving is called permanent withdrawal.
If you are thinking of leaving permanently, or have been withdrawn by the University for any reason (for example on academic grounds), you should contact your . You can discuss this procedure to see if there is anything which you might be struggling with and how they can provide you with additional support to overcome this, if it is course or study related. They will also be providing you with a reference after you leave if you need one.
Other sources of advice
You are advised to contact your to discuss your course and find out about any changes planned for the next academic year. They may also be able to help address any study-related issues that contributed to your decision to withdraw.
Many students also discuss the decision with a family member, especially if they are providing financial support, and with friends.
What happens next
Requesting to withdraw
Important: you must let us know if if you are thinking about temporarily or permanently withdrawing.
You can make a withdrawal request by contacting the ZJSU office staff. Please provide them with:
- your full name
- your candidate number
- your last date of attendance
- your expected date of return
- your reason for withdrawal
Once you have made a firm decision, the Joint Institute education team will process your temporary or permanent withdrawal.
In the case of a temporary withdrawal, you will be asked to specify a preferred return date in the following academic year, at the start of one of the teaching blocks.
During your time out, the Progression and Award Board (PAB) will consider your requested return date. They may agree with it or decide a different return date for you.
Using our services during temporary withdrawal
You can continue using the Library, , , while you’re temporarily on withdrawal from the University.
You can also access support from the Student Centre. However, during busy times, they may need to prioritise students who are fully registered. Book an appointment with a Student Advisor before your return date to plan your transition back into studying and discuss any worries or concerns.