Withdrawing From the University
It is important that the University know if you are not studying at Cambridge. Therefore if you decide that you need to leave the University for whatever reason, it is very helpful to let us know by using our application form available from your Self-Service pages, and the reasons why you wish to leave. We can then notify all interested parties and make sure that you do not, if applicable, continue to be invoiced for the University Composition Fee.
If you wish to withdraw, please note that for each term in which you have been engaged in a course of study in the University for twenty-one days or more you will be liable to pay the University Composition Fee for that term. You must advise in writing of your withdrawal to your College, Department and the Student Registry (student.registry@admin.cam.ac.uk).
If you are looking for a refund of the University Fee, you must have withdrawn on or before the 20th October for Michaelmas Term admissions, 25th January for Lent Term admissions and normally, but depending on when Easter falls, before the 30th April in respect of Easter Term admission. Please note any return of the College Fee is at the discretion of the College.
You may wish to leave on a permanent basis or on a temporary basis (this is different from intermitting, where you would know how many terms you needed to be away for). Please note that if you are registered as a graduate student, immaterial of the number of terms completed, you are expected to be studying in Cambridge, or have had agreed by the Board, terms of working away or intermission, or you have withdrawn form the Register of Graduate Students and have received written confirmation from the Board that this has been actioned.
You might wish to leave on a temporary basis if you have undertaken 9 or more terms for a research degree and, for example, want to write up away from Cambridge. You could then apply to be reinstated when you were ready to submit a thesis for examination.
Please see 'Reinstatement to the Register for Graduate Students' for details on how to apply for reinstatement.
You may find it useful to discuss leaving the University with your college tutor before finalising your decision. We may, on occasion, have to seek comments from your supervisor and degree committee to finalise arrangements; for example, if you wish to withdraw on a temporary basis.
Please note that for 2010 cohort onwards, PhD, MSc and MLitt students will be automatically removed from the Register of Graduate Students at the 4 year point, unless you make an application to extend the date you remain registered as a graduate student, and this is agreed by the Board in advance of your 4 year date being reached. Please see the Board's information on 'Extending Your 'End of Registration Date'.
If you have difficulty applying to withdraw via your Self-Service page, either permanently or temporarily, please email the Graduate Students Team to let them know you will be/have withdrawn and from what date, indicating if this is a permanent or temporary withdrawal.
Graduate Students Team (student.registry@admin.cam.ac.uk)
- Further information
Please note: if you are an overseas student requiring entry clearance to study in the UK, please ensure you comply with the conditions of your visa. For visa information please contact the PBI Office.
PBI Office (studentvisas@admin.cam.ac.uk)