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  6. Current location: Changes to your studies with a visa

Changes to your studies with a visa

Find out how changes to your studies may affect your student visa and who you contact for more information.

Types of changes

If you make any changes, this may affect your time limit on how long you can study in the UK.

Transferring to another course

The action you need to take depends on the kind of course you’re transferring to and how long the course is.

Changing to a similar course

If your new undergraduate or Masters course is the same level, length and subject group as your previous course, you don’t need to make a new Student visa application. We need to tell UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) about the change, but this will not affect your current visa.

If you switch to a course which needs ATAS clearance, you must get this clearance before we can approve your course transfer – even if you had it for your old course.

Postgraduate researchers

It may be possible to change your research degree course without having to apply for a new Student visa. If you want to this, email pgr-visas@sussex.ac.uk.

Changing your course level

If you started an undergraduate course and you want to progress to an integrated Masters degree, you will need to make a new student visa application before you start your new course.

You should also check if you need ATAS clearance for your integrated Masters. If you do, you’ll need to get this before you apply for your visa.

If you are moving to a lower-level course (such as dropping the Masters element of an integrated Masters, or moving from PhD to MPhil), you’ll need to apply for a new visa from outside the UK.

This is because UKVI does not regard moving to a lower-level course as academic progression.

You must get your new visa before you switch course.

If you’re upgrading your level of study, you’ll usually need to apply for a new visa.

Changing to a different course

If you’re changing to a course in a different subject group (for example, moving from an arts subject into a science subject), this will affect your visa. Get advice before you apply for the transfer – email studentprogressvisa@sussex.ac.uk.

If you’re changing to a course and cannot complete it within your existing visa (for example, transferring back to the start of the first year), email studentprogressvisa@sussex.ac.uk.

This does not apply to adding or removing a year abroad or work placement as part of your course.

See more about changes to your course.

Adding or removing a year abroad or work placement

If you want to add a placement or study abroad year to your course, you’ll need to apply for a Student visa to cover the rest of your studies.

There are various options available to you and things to consider, such as the time limit on your studies.

Contact us to discuss what is best for you.

If you want to remove a year abroad or work placement, this is OK.

Find out about placement options, study abroad options, and changes to your course.

Completing your course early

Your Student visa may be cancelled and reduced in length if you finish your course early.

This includes if you are:

  • a postgraduate researcher student and you complete your studies more than 1 month before the end date on your CAS.
  • removing a year abroad or work placement from your course.

If you complete your course early, we need to tell UKVI. We'll send you an email approximately 10 days before to notify you that the report will be made.

UKVI will then email you to confirm your visa will be reduced in length, usually to within four months of your new course end date.

Important: Do not attempt to re-enter the UK on your existing visa once we have notified UKVI. If UKVI process the cancellation of your Student visa when you are overseas, it will be cancelled with immediate effect and not valid for re-entry.

If you want to apply for the Graduate Route visa, it's important that you are inside the UK before the early completion report is made. Being in the UK on a valid Student visa on the date of application is a key requirement of the visa route.

You must also submit the Graduate Route application within 4 months of your reported course end date. We do not know when UKVI will process the cancellation of your Student visa.

If you have completed your course early, we must first inform UKVI of your early completion before reporting you for the Graduate Route.

If you have any questions about the timings of these reports, contact the UKVI Compliance team:

If you have any questions about future immigration applications, including the Graduate Route visa, contact an International Advisor.

Studying in a different location

You must remain compliant with University policies and procedures even if you are studying in a different location, making sure that you understand how any requirements change while you are not physically at the University.

Postgraduate Taught Students (PGTs)

If you wish to leave the UK after your timetabled teaching has finished and complete your course from outside the UK this must be confirmed by your Director of Student Experience. You should make the application on the change of study location form [DOCX 40KB]. Do not arrange any travel until you have received written confirmation that your change of study location has been approved. 

The University will report your change of study location to UKVI and you will receive an email confirming the report has been made. If you are on a Student Route visa this will involve the University withdrawing sponsorship of your visa. UKVI will then email you to confirm your visa will be reduced in length and you will no longer be eligible to apply for the Graduate route. 

It is your responsibility to ensure you fully understand the implication of this change of study decision for your future ability to live and work in the UK. Make sure you review the information on the visa cancellation process.

If you wish to maintain your right to study and work in the UK, and your Graduate route eligibility, then you can still leave the UK for certain periods providing you can remain compliant with the requirements of the Attendance, Absence and Engagement Policy.

This is because the summer is still considered term-time for PGT students and you are completing a full-time course.  The School/Faculty must monitor attendance during the full length of your course, including where there are no timetabled teaching and learning activities. Find out more information on the attendance requirements.

You can also speak with an International Advisor via the Student Centre by logging an enquiry through My Sussex under My International Journey. 

While away from the University of Sussex campus, you’re still required to engage with your studies on a full-time basis.

Postgraduate Researchers (PGRs)

As a postgraduate student on a student visa, you need to be in the UK unless on fieldwork, authorised absence or a period of annual leave.

If you are spending a period of time away from the university, you must complete one of the following forms:

  • Fieldwork application form: The University must report to UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) within ten working days that you will be undertaking fieldwork and, therefore, will not be at Sussex for that duration. This is recorded as a ‘change in study location’ but does not have any impact on your visa.
  • Change of study location form: This form should be completed if you want to temporarily change your primary location for a period of time. i.e. to visit another education institution for a period more than one month (evidence of invitation required) or other study leave that supports your research but is not considered fieldwork. This form cannot be used to study remotely on a Student Route visa. There must be an academic reason specific to your degree to permit a change in location.
  • Authorised absence form: You should complete this form if you are a Student Route visa holder who plans to take a period of authorised absence that does not exceed 60 days for medical or compassionate reasons, and where the University continues to maintain sponsorship.
  • Holiday/annual leave request form: As a research student, you are entitled to 40 days annual leave each academic year.
  • Temporary intermission form: When intermission is approved, the University is obliged to report this to UKVI. UKVI will curtail (cancel) the current visa and you should return to your home country and should apply for a new Student Route visa before you resume your studies.

The above forms can be found on our forms page.

Writing up

We are able to sponsor postgraduate students who are writing up a dissertation or thesis.

If you live in the UK whilst writing up, there must be regular contact with your supervisor and you must keep your contact details up to date on Sussex Direct.

If you choose to write up your thesis/dissertation outside the UK, you must complete a change of study location form and the University will withdraw sponsorship. This is still considered remote study and is currently not allowed on a Student visa.

Postgraduate research students: maintaining contact

You must meet with your supervisors in person at least once a month to discuss your progress. The meeting between you and your supervisor must take place, where possible, in person and be recorded on Sussex Direct.

Undergraduate and Masters students

If you’re an undergraduate, you might end up studying at a different university as part of a year abroad. We process this in the same way as doing a placement.

If you’re studying a Masters, you can only do a placement if it’s an integral part of your course.

You need to apply for a placement through the Careers and Employability Centre at Sussex.

Important: Make sure you fill out a form supplied by Careers before you start any placement.

Resitting an exam or repeating a year

If you have not successfully passed a module, you may be offered the opportunity to resit one or more assessments.

Any visa restrictions around this depend if you’re studying an undergraduate or Masters course at Sussex.

If you’re doing a PhD, find out about extending your PhD.

More resit and sit information.

Undergraduate students

If you need to resit an assessment, you can normally do this before you go into your next year. This does not affect your visa status.

If you fail your resit, we may offer you to:

  • repeat the academic year and pay for it, or
  • have to temporarily withdraw from your studies and return to resit assessments the following year.

If you temporarily withdraw before your final year, your visa is cancelled and you must leave the UK.

You will need to apply for a new visa in your home country before you return to Sussex.

If your exams take place in the:

If you are a final-year student and you need to come to Sussex to resit an assessment (such as an exam), but you can’t do this within your current visa, you must leave the UK and return on a standard visitor visa.

If you do not need to be at the University to do the assessment (such as an essay submission), you may be able to submit it from abroad. Check with your School office.

Masters students

You can normally stay in the UK up to your current visa expiry date (under “continuation” status) if you have to resit an assessment.

If you don’t need to attend the University for your assessment (such as an essay submission), you may be able to submit it from abroad. Check with your School office.

If you need to come to Sussex to resit an assessment (such as an exam), but you can’t do this within your current visa, you must leave the UK and return on a standard visitor visa. You’ll need a letter from us outlining your current student status and details of your resit. Submit this with your visa application.

Repeating a year

If you need to repeat a year of your course, you may or may not need a new visa. This depends on what year you are repeating.

If you do need a new student visa, you can apply from outside the UK or inside the UK.

Email studentprogressvisa@sussex.ac.uk to find out what to do.

Tip: There is a time limit on a student visa, depending on your level of study.

Extending your research degree

Your aim should be to complete your research degree within four years.

In exceptional circumstances you can ask for an extension to your course and, where necessary, an extension to your visa.

Exceptional circumstances include:

  • illness
  • accident
  • personal circumstances
  • maternity, paternity or adoption.

Find out how to request an extension.

If you get an extension

If you want to stay in the UK during your extension, you’ll normally need a new visa.

You can request a CAS from the Research Student Administration office. Email researchstudentvisas@sussex.ac.uk.

Start the process at least three months before your visa expiry date to avoid any issues.

You can apply for a visa inside the UK or apply for a visa from overseas. If you’re applying in the UK your visa application must be submitted on or before your visa expiry date.

Extending your visa after submitting your thesis

We will not normally issue a CAS if you have already submitted your thesis and need to extend your visa.

The exception to this is if you’re applying for the Graduate Route.

If you have submitted your thesis and are not applying for a Graduate Route visa, you must leave the UK before your visa expires.

If you need to return for your viva, apply for a standard visitor visa. You don’t need to be on campus to submit corrections – you can do this from outside the UK.

Important: If you receive official financial sponsorship, or have done within the past 12 months, you need consent letters from your sponsor for a visa extension.

Completing your PhD overseas

Many people decide to complete their PhD outside the UK – for example, in their home country.

This is fine but you will need to return to the UK on a standard visitor visa for your viva. Email researchstudentvisas@sussex.ac.uk once your viva date is set so we can give you the documents you need to apply for a visa.

You may also wish to come back for your graduation ceremony.

If your circumstances change, and you wish to return to study full-time in the UK, email researchstudentoffice@sussex.ac.uk.

Becoming a Students’ Union sabbatical officer

You can take a year out from your studies to be a Students’ Union officer.

If you’re an undergraduate, your sabbatical normally happens between years of study, for example, between academic years 2 and 3.

You can also do a one- or two-year sabbatical at the end of your course.

If you’re a postgraduate student, you may need to break your studies mid-year to do a sabbatical.

If you’re a PhD student, email researchstudentoffice@sussex.ac.uk to check how this might affect your course.

In any case, we will continue to sponsor you under your student visa.

You don’t need a new student visa to do a sabbatical year; you just need to apply for a new visa to complete your course.

Find out more about becoming a full-time Students’ Union officer.

For visa advice, contact us.

See more from Change of circumstances