Medical intermission (postgraduate research students)

Information on how to apply (via self-service account) is available on the ‘Applying for a change in your student status’ page but please see below for information specifically relating to medical intermission. Please note that Advanced Diploma students cannot apply via CamSIS and should email Student Registry for advice on how to request a period of intermission. 

You should discuss with your supervisor and department and possibly also your College Tutor, before submitting your application. You should submit your application as soon as you know that you need a break from study.

• Select start and end dates for intermission. Intermission can only be backdated by a maximum of 30 days from the date you make your application. For example, for an application submitted 31 October, the earliest start date for intermission will be 1 October. However, please note that you are expected to apply to intermit as soon as you know that you need to take a break from study - intermission should only be backdated where there are very good reasons. If you are uncertain about how long you will need to intermit for, you should not delay applying as the dates can subsequently be revised - you can indicate your uncertainty in your comments on the application form.
• Provide relevant information regarding your medical condition and its impact on your academic progress.
• Confirm the email address we should use if we need to contact you during your intermission
• Once you have submitted your application, submit your medical evidence (please see below) to your College who will forward to Student Registry for referral to Medical Advisors, who will confirm whether the intermission is warranted by the medical evidence. You should not wait until you have supporting medical evidence before applying as this can ne forwarded later.

If your application is approved, you will need to apply for permission to return to study at the end of your intermission. Please see the information on ‘returning from medical intermission’ . If you wish to return early and this is approved, the remainder of your period of intermission will be rescinded and your submission deadline brought forward accordingly.

Further information about 'fresh starts' for students on taught Masters courses

If you are on a taught Masters course and you wish to restart your course upon your return due to significant disruption to your studies prior to intermitting, you can apply for a fresh start. You should discuss this with your Department before applying to ensure they can support this. To request a fresh start, you need to apply for an examination allowance.

In most cases the College submits the application on the student’s behalf.

If a fresh start is approved, you will be liable for the full fees for the course at the rate for the academic year in which you restart your course, in addition to fees for any terms for which you were liable prior to intermitting. You may be eligible to apply for a fee remission but there is no guarantee this will be approved.

If you wish to make a fresh start on a new course, i.e. not the course you were admitted to, you will need to withdraw and reapply via Postgraduate Admissions. An exception might be made if the change of course is not your choice, but is necessitated by circumstances outside your control, for example if your course will no longer be running.

You should apply for a period of intermission if your break from study lasts more than two weeks.

Medical intermission is not normally possible in the first term - students normally have to withdraw and reapply for the course. Intermission during the first term will only be approved in exceptional circumstances, with the strong support of the Degree Committee, and cannot normally be used as a way of deferring admission. 

If you are in your final term of study it may be more appropriate to either take a short extension (normally up to 30 days for medical reasons or other grave cause), or withdraw from study. You will not normally be able to intermit once you have completed the maximum number of terms for your degree (for example 12 for the full-time PhD).

There are limits on the number of consecutive terms and number of terms overall of intermission that are permissible. 

Maximum consecutive terms of intermission/terms over course

Full-time Masters: 3

Part-time Masters: 6

Terms of intermission for maternity or paternity leave (non-medical intermission) do not count when calculating whether students have intermitted for the maximum period permissible or the maximum number of consecutive terms. For example, if a full-time doctoral student has already intermitted for 6 terms for other reasons, they can still intermit on grounds of maternity or paternity leave.

Full-time students are required to spend at least three terms resident in Cambridge.  For a term to be 'kept' a student has to reside in Cambridge for a minimum number of nights (59 for the Michaelmas and Lent Terms and 52 for the Easter Term).  These nights have to be between certain dates - further information can be found on the Terms of Study page. 

Normally if studying for 21 days or more of a term you will be liable for fees for that term. Intermission will not impact on the overall number of terms of fee liability. However, students returning from a period of intermission of six or more consecutive terms (which is very rare - see above for the usual limit on consecutive terms) will normally be liable for fees at the rate that prevails upon their return which will almost certainly be higher.

You should not wait until you have supporting medical evidence as this can be forwarded later. It is important that you submit your application as soon as possible.

You must provide sufficiently detailed current evidence from a medically qualified practitioner, for example a doctor’s report. Where appropriate, evidence from an accredited counsellor or disability advisor may also be considered. The University provides guidance for medical practitioners, which may help when requesting medical evidence. The evidence:

• should ideally provide a clear diagnosis which includes the nature and severity of the illness; if there isn't a confirmed diagnosis, the letter should confirm that the condition is under investigation;
• should state when, how and to what extent the condition is likely to affect the ability to study;
• should be precise and self-explanatory. The amount of evidence required will vary. For example, hospital admission will need a shorter explanation than a less obvious or less serious condition where background information and details of medical history may be required;
• Where a student is also making a request to return to study following the period of intermission, the medical evidence should also clearly indicate when the student is likely to be able to resume study.
• must be in English. If documents are not originally in English, they must be translated by a professional translating service. In some cases, it is acceptable for documents to be translated by a member of your College;
• should be on headed paper which includes full address and role title of the practitioner, dated and signed by the practitioner (or other appropriate professional).

The University is not able to cover the cost of medical documents submitted in support of an application for intermission or the cost of having these translated if not in English.

The medical evidence, including your Student Support Document if you choose to submit this in support of your application, will be referred with the rest of your application to Medical Advisors, who will confirm whether the intermission is warranted.

Intermission is a complete break from study. If your course requires submission of a thesis or dissertation, your submission date will be extended to take account of the time you have not been studying.

Whilst on intermission:

• You are not permitted to study or undertake academic work. 
• You are not expected to access laboratories, libraries, or other departmental facilities.
• You are not permitted to undertake any paid academic work within the University or its Colleges, including any teaching, supervising, or demonstrating. It is expected that students do not work during intermission. However, if you feel it would benefit you to undertake non-academic paid work, you may do so with the permission of your College Tutor subject to the University’s policy on hours of work and any visa restrictions (if relevant). Paid non-academic work should not interfere with the purpose of the intermission and will not be an acceptable justification for an extension to the intermission period.
• You can remain in Cambridge and can choose to stay in touch with your Supervisor.
• Access to College spaces and events depends on your individual College. Please speak to your College Tutor about what collegiate support and facilities are available during intermission. 

Although you are not studying, you can still access a range of support services. These include the:

• University Library 
• Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre (ADRC) 
• Careers Service 
• Postgraduate Research Development Resources 

If you are planning to spend your intermission outside the UK, please note that access to some services may be limited.

It’s a good idea to think about the mental health and wellbeing support you might need before your intermission. In particular, you may find it helpful to arrange meetings with relevant staff members just prior to intermission and on your return to study. In addition to your College Health and Wellbeing Team, the University’s Student Support Services can work with you to help plan for the change. Learn about what’s available and how to make an appointment.

If you intend to leave the UK and take with you, or remotely access, any research that is subject to Export Control legislation you should take action to ensure you comply with the law.

If funded by the SLC, a Research Council or other funding body, you should always discuss plans for intermission with the relevant administrator before applying as there may be implications for your award (for example, temporary suspension).  

Hardship Funds 

If you are not in receipt of funding for a period of intermission and are experiencing financial hardship because of this, you may be eligible to apply for hardship funding. You can:

• Talk to your College Tutor about any college hardship funds for which you may be eligible
• Check if you are eligible for support from the Postgraduate Hardship Fund. 
• Seek advice from the Students’ Union Advice Service  who can also signpost to other relevant sources of funding (see also Turn2Us).

US/Canadian Federal loans

If you are planning on applying or have been granted intermission whilst in receipt of a current federal loan or hold one that is in deferment or require further information please contact: Student.Loans@admin.cam.ac.uk

A Student visa is granted for the purpose of full-time study in the UK. Therefore, intermission is likely to have implications for your Student visa. 

For intermission of up to 60 days*, the University may be able to continue visa sponsorship providing you can still complete your course within the validity of your existing visa. Your revised maximum submission deadline must remain within your existing visa validity.

In exceptional circumstances, such as a student's serious illness, injury or maternity/paternity leave, visa sponsorship can be continued during intermission of more than 60 days, up to a maximum of 4 months, providing you can still complete your course within your existing visa validity. The University determines if circumstances are considered exceptional as this extended sponsorship during an intermission must be justified.

Any previous intermissions will be taken into account when considering whether visa sponsorship can continue within the timeframes outlined above. In addition, sponsorship cannot continue where there have been wider concerns with academic engagement prior to the requested break in study. 

*Visa sponsorship cannot be continued for any duration of intermission where you have chosen to undertake activity unrelated to your course, such as, but not limited to, an internship or volunteering opportunity, participating in sporting events or studying a different course. 

If continued sponsorship is not possible during your break in study, the University will be required to withdraw visa sponsorship.

If you have questions about the impact of a break in study on your Student visa, contact the International Student Office for advice. 

Upon your return from intermission, you should arrange to meet with your Supervisor and College Tutor to discuss any additional support or adjustments needed. 

If you have a health condition or disability or are experiencing difficulties which are impacting on your well-being there are a number of sources of support available. Information about some of these can be found on www.studentsupport.cam.ac.uk/get-support.

You might also find the Equality & Diversity websites helpful.