Required to withdraw

If you are not able to show satisfactory academic progress, you may be required to withdraw from your course.

On this page

Reasons for being required to withdraw   

You may have to withdraw from your course if:    

The information on this page is not intended for students who have been deemed withdrawn for non-academic reasons (including failure to register or visa compliance issues). 

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 may also contact you to discuss the decision. 

 You can make an appeal against the decision taken by an exam board. 

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

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

You may be allowed more attempts at reassessment if you have validated 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. 

Read the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes. This 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.   

Taught Postgraduate students 

You will be required to withdraw if: 

  • you have failed a taught unit which is designated as a pre-requisite to the research unit after being permitted two attempts
  • you have failed the research unit and have not met the criteria to be permitted reassessment.

The flow diagram shows progress within taught postgraduate courses.

You may not be able to complete your Masters award if you do not complete 120 credits (after being permitted to attempt failed units twice). In this instance, you may be required to work towards an alternative award (normally a Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate) instead of your original intended Masters award. 

Further attempts at assessment may be permitted if you have validated exceptional circumstances . 

What happens when you withdraw

If you are required to withdraw, you do not need to do anything to initiate the withdrawal. Your faculty will update your student record accordingly (including arranging for an exit award to be made if you are eligible).  

Visit our Withdraw from your studies page for more information about what happens when you withdraw in relation to: 

  • tuition fees and funding 
  • student visa 
  • accommodation 
  • access to University services 
  • exit awards.

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.