This depends if you’re an undergraduate student or postgraduate student.
Undergraduate course students
Undergraduate students who withdraw and resume training at any point during the course, including the first year, may not occupy a capped place when they resume training, unless their break in studies was for maternity leave.
Once you return you can only apply for a year of study you have not had funding for previously, to be considered for Placement Travel Allowance (PTA). This means if you withdrew from study in year 2, you cannot apply until you start year 3. If you withdrew in year 2 before receiving any bursary payments you could apply to be considered for PTA for year 2.
You must submit an application at the start of a new academic year to be considered for PTA.
Postgraduate course students
Postgraduate students who withdraw and resume training at any point during the course, including the first year, will lose their capped place when they resume training, unless their break in studies was for maternity leave.
If your university wishes to allocate a capped place to you when you return to the course, this can only be done if there are capped places available from their annual allocation and you withdrew from the course due to exceptional circumstances. This decision is made by us once you've completed your application.
If you were nominated for a capped bursary place and are resuming your course in the same academic year, your capped place may be reinstated in exceptional circumstances. This decision is made by us once you've completed your application.
Your university must provide us with an SWB03 form, we will not request this. This must include full details of your circumstances, as well as the relevant academic year's allocated or capped bursary if appropriate. Your university is not involved in the final decision about your bursary funding, this is decided by us.
Once your application has been processed, you’ll receive a final decision in writing from us.
If you have any outstanding bursary overpayment from your withdrawal, this will be deducted from any new entitlement.
Maternity leave (all students)
If you have not been nominated for a capped place you will not receive the PTA or payment of your tuition fees during a period of maternity leave. You may be eligible to receive the PTA when you resume training.
For your award to be reinstated after maternity leave, your university must send us an SWB03 form to confirm you’ve returned to training, along with attendance data.
This must include:
- the date of your return
- the cohort you’ve joined
- the new expected end date of your course
- any other information that will help clarify your personal circumstances
You must also reapply for your bursary for the academic year you’re returning to. There are no exceptions for late applications.
If you return to training after a period of maternity leave you’ll retain your capped place.