Levitate Student: Freshers - Not settling in? Want to Leave?

Moving to university is a big step and the transition is not likely to be completely without problems.

The vast majority of Higher Education students are school or college leavers many leaving home for the first time. However many students are from Overseas arriving in the UK for the first time. Other people are leaving or reducing paid employment to start or return to studying. Some are making a transition from welfare benefits as a main income source to student finance.

Whatever the changes of circumstance may be chances are things will eventually settle and your old routine will be comfortably replaced by the new.

But.....what if you just don't like it? Not a wobble from the transition but a genuine acknowledgment that the course, the university, the people or the town are not for you. You have changed your mind and want to leave or as it is commonly referred to in the Higher Education sector - withdraw.

If you have taken student loans to pay for the course then it is likely you have a very narrow window of opportunity to withdraw without paying the first quarter tuition fees.You may also be tied into the accomodation contract.

The university will cover your rights on withdrawing in their Student and General Regulations. These are equivalent to your university's Terms and Conditions - you should always know where to find these on your institutions webpages. 

Here are a couple of examples

University of Nottingham  - the window of opportunity for a new, home undergraduate to withdraw without first quarter fee payment is 3 weeks according to the Fee Regulations

Teeside University  - the window of opportunity for a new, home undergraduate to withdraw without first quarter fee payment is 2 weeks according to the Fee and Charges Regulations

So as you see the rules are not the same from institution to institution.

The rules may differ for Overseas students, self funding students, postgraduate students, part-time students. Accommodation contracts will vary depending on your provider.

So Be Wise

Check your university regulations and accommodation contracts to understand your consumer rights. 

Seek advice especially if the matter is complex or seems unfair.

Know where to find your university's complaints procedure.