Guidance and applications for College staff
Supporting and assessing capability to study
The University’s Support and Capability to Study Procedure and College Fitness to Study Procedure (or other similarly titled support process) is to be used where a student does not wish to intermit, but there are concerns that the student does not have the capacity to fully engage with student life. The EAMC may refer a student to the University’s Procedure.
The EAMC recognises either of these procedures may result in a student being temporarily withdrawn from study. In order that the student remains in standing for examination, an application for disregarding terms (the same application form as submitted for intermission applications) will be approved only requiring the formal decision letter confirming the temporary withdrawal, no other evidence will be required. Applications for disregarding terms are to be submitted by email to EAMC@admin.cam.ac.uk.
It remains essential that any application made under these circumstances should be shared with the student. This action is taken note that the decision to temporarily withdraw a student shall be subject to the usual review options and the complaint process of the Office of the Independent Adjudicator, the external ombudsman for Higher Education students.
Conditional allowance of a term
For students who have lived outside of Cambridge for more than 20 days in a term (or 17 days in Easter Term) due to illness or grave cause but do not wish to intermit, a ‘conditional allowance of a term’ must be granted in order for a student to continue on the course.
- Guidance notes for conditional allowance of a term
- Application form: conditional allowances of a term
Please note:
- where students have lived outside of Cambridge due to intermission, leave to work away (postgraduate students) or a year abroad, permission has already been granted to live outside of Cambridge and no further permission is required
- where students have lived outside of Cambridge without permission for reasons other than illness or grave cause, students may be withdrawn from their course, as they will be ineligible to sit exams or receive their degree
Illegal combination of papers
There are rules about the number and topic of papers that students undertaking Tripos examinations (primarily undergraduate students) can take, which are different for each Tripos. Where a student has enrolled in papers that do not comply with the rules (Statutes and Ordinances), this is an illegal combination of papers.
Where a student is taking an illegal combination of papers, the student may be permitted to continue taking these papers as a result of:
- Incuria - A genuine error has been made by a Director of Studies or Tutor, when advising a student. A plea of incuria shall not necessarily be approved.
- Disadvantage - Where denying the request would seriously disadvantage the student’s preparation for assessment (for example, if changes to Tripos regulations occurred whilst the student was on intermission).