Required to withdraw

Reasons for being required to withdraw   

You may have to withdraw from your course if:   

• you have not meet the course requirements and the student agreement, including:  
  • not attending lectures or seminars 
  • not engaging with educational activities   
• or you are not able to show satisfactory academic progress.  This will be specific to your degree level and course:   
  • undergraduate students 
  • undergraduate students: Dentistry, Medicine and Veterinary Science courses  
  • postgraduate taught students: Master's degree. 

Some courses have their own specific regulations for progression and awards.  

Your faculty will provide written details of the reasons for the decision.  An academic member of staff from your school will also contact you to discuss the decision. 

 You can appeal the decision.

Undergraduate students  

You will be required to withdraw if, during an academic year of study, you:   

• do not achieve at least 40 credit points when you first attempt your assessments 
• fail more than 40 credit points following a second attempt at assessments in any outstanding units 
• fail any outstanding units after a third and final attempt at assessments 
• do not achieve enough credit points for the award of the qualification
  • read to the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.   

This flow diagram shows different course outcomes. These depend on what credit points you have achieved.   

We may allow you further attempts at reassessment. This is only if  we accept your exceptional circumstances . 

You will be required to withdraw if you do not achieve the pass mark following a second attempt at assessment in a unit. This does not apply in competency-based assessments where we allow further attempts.    

We may allow you further attempts at reassessment. This is only if  we accept your exceptional circumstances . 

Read the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes. The can give guidance on specific regulations on progression and awards. 

You will be required to withdraw if, after a second attempt at assessment, you fail a taught unit that is needed for entry on to the research unit.   

We may allow you further attempts at reassessment. This is only if  we accept your exceptional circumstances . 

Read the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes. The can give guidance on specific regulations on progression and awards. 

The flow diagram shows progress within taught postgraduate courses. 

What happens when you withdraw

Visit our Withdraw from your studies page for more information about:

• what happens when you withdraw
• exit awards
• how to request a withdrawal yourself.

Advice and support  

We recommend you talk to your personal tutor or support services to get advice and guidance. 

It is important to talk to friends and family about this outcome; they can give you valuable support.   

If this feels difficult, you might find it helpful to speak to a Student Wellbeing Adviser. You can talk to them about how to share the news with your family, or about how it is affecting you.