Non-medical intermission (postgraduates)

You apply for non-medical intermission via your CamSIS self-service. Information is available on the ‘Applying for a change in your student status’ page. 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. 

Intermission can only be backdated by a maximum of 30 days from the date of application. For example, if you submit your application on 31st October, the earliest start date for your period of intermission will be 1st October. 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.

Once submitted, your application will be considered by your supervisor, Department, College and Degree Committee before arriving at the Student Registry for the final decision.

If applying for intermission in order to undertake an internship or placement outside the UK, although you are not required to complete a risk assessment, you are encouraged to do so - please contact your Department’s Postgraduate Office for the appropriate risk assessment form. Useful information on assessing risk and other safeguarding measures can be found at https://www.safeguarding.admin.cam.ac.uk/

The following are valid reasons for non-medical intermission:

• Maternity, paternity or adoption leave - University policy for postgraduate research students taking maternity and family-related leave can be found here.
• Parental leave - if you have parental responsibility for a child who is under 18 years old and need time away from your studies to look after their welfare, for example, in the event of illness, the need for additional support for a disability, settling children into new childcare arrangements.
• Family circumstances such as caring responsibilities/supporting a sick relative
• Dealing with an emergency or other serious situation (you will need to specify what this is; please also see below for reasons which are not considered valid)
• Bereavement or serious illness of a close family member or partner
• Severe delay in putting in place disability-related reasonable adjustments
• If you are unable to continue your studies due to health and safety concerns in spite of all reasonable efforts to mitigate them
• [Research students only] Undertaking a language course that is not intrinsic to your research
• [Research students only] Undertaking a research fellowship that is not intrinsic to your research
• [Research students only] Undertaking an internship or placement that is not integral to your course 
• Taking up a position as a Cambridge SU Sabbatical Officer (President, Vice President, Welfare and Rights Officer) 
• Current pandemic, war/conflict or natural disaster
• Jury service - compulsory jury service for a trial that lasts for longer than two weeks

The following are not valid reasons for non-medical intermission:

• Taking up employment unless (research students only) this is in the form of a short-term paid internship or placement (see above). Please note students on taught courses cannot intermit in order to undertake an internship, placement or fellowship.
• For part-time students - regular 'pressures of work' - the normal pressures of work will not be considered a valid reason. However, increased pressures due to exceptional and unforeseen changes in the workplace may constitute a valid reason if the circumstances are outside your control. Increased pressure due to a new job will not normally be considered a valid reason for intermission where the change of job is a matter of choice.
• Funding issues (with the possible exception of a sudden and unexpected financial crisis)
• Personal events that were planned or could reasonably have been expected
• Visa/ATAS issues are not normally considered a valid reason for intermission. However, if you must apply for a new Student visa to complete your current studies but a) do not meet the requirements to apply to renew your Student visa from within the UK and b) are not undertaking activity eligible to work away, you should contact the International Student Office (International Student Office | (cam.ac.uk)) for advice. Depending on your circumstances and course requirements, a short period of non-medical intermission may be considered. The International Student Office will liaise with Student Registry where appropriate; you should not submit an application via CamSIS for non-medical intermission for visa/ATAS issues.
• Failing an assessment
• Undertaking a language course that is intrinsic to your research You should apply to work away for such absences (research students only).
• Undertaking a research fellowship, internship or placement which is integral to your research or mandatory for your course You will need to apply to work away for the period of the fellowship, internship or placement (research students only). 
• Undertaking another degree course at another institution - you should apply to withdraw and apply for reinstatement when you have completed that course
• Holiday Full-time postgraduate research students are expected to be in residence in Cambridge working on their research throughout the year, with short breaks for holidays. Postgraduate research students are entitled to take up to 8 weeks of holiday (for which permission to work away is also not required) in a year, at times agreed with their supervisor.

You can apply for a period of intermission if your break from study will last for more than two weeks.

Terms of intermission for maternity or paternity leave 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.

Intermission during the first term will only be approved in exceptional circumstances and cannot normally be used as a way of deferring admission. Students will normally be required to withdraw and reapply for the course. 

With the exception of maternity and paternity leave, it is not normally expected that you would apply for intermission in the final term of your course of study, where it would be more appropriate for you to withdraw. 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).

Doctoral students should provide start and end dates that are appropriate to the circumstances that necessitate the intermission - it is not necessary for these to be in line with University or Full Term dates as research students are expected to be actively working on their research between terms.

Depending on the timing of your intermission, it is possible that you will not ‘keep’ one or more terms. Full-time students must spend at least three terms resident in Cambridge. Please check the guidance about keeping term.   

Normally if studying for 21 days or more of Full Term you will be liable for fees for that term. Intermission will not impact on the overall number of terms for which there is 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 to pay the rate that prevails upon their return which will almost certainly be higher. 

Intermission is a complete break from study. If your course requires submission of a thesis or dissertation, your submission date will be extended to reflect 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 with the exception of a placement or internship if that is the purpose of the 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 

• The Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre (ADRC) 

• The 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 your application to intermit is approved, your date of return to study will be in the confirmation email. You will be expected to return to study on your return date. If you are in a position to resume study on your return date, there is no requirement to formally apply or request to return, although it is advisable to get in touch with your Department and College to confirm you will be resuming study as planned. Please see below if returning earlier or later or if you will not be returning.

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:

When something goes wrong before exams and deadlines | Cambridge students

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

If a fresh start is approved, you will be liable for 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.

 https://www.student-registry.admin.cam.ac.uk/policy-guides/fee-remission

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.

If you are funded by the SLC, a Research Council or other funding body, you should always discuss your plans for intermission with the relevant administrator before submitting an application, as there may be implications for your award.

US/Canadian Federal loans

If you are applying for, or have been granted, intermission whilst in receipt of a current federal loan or you hold a loan that is in deferment, or you require any information relating to the implications of intermission for your loan, please contact:  Student.Loans@admin.cam.ac.uk.

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 should talk to your College Tutor about any college hardship funds for which you may be eligible. You may also be eligible for support from the Postgraduate Hardship Fund. 

The Students’ Union Advice Service  can also signpost to other relevant sources of funding (see also Turn2Us).

A Student visa is granted for the purpose of full-time study in the UK. If a student is not engaged in full-time study for a period of time, the terms of Student visa sponsorship no longer apply and the Home Office expects the student to leave the UK.

If a period of intermission is granted, the University is required to cease Student visa sponsorship and report the change of circumstances to the Home Office. The Home Office act on this change by curtailing the Student visa to sixty days and the student is advised to leave the UK.

In certain circumstances the University is able to continue sponsorship for a Student visa for a period of intermission up to a maximum of sixty days. This would only be considered in cases where the student can still complete their course within their existing visa expiry and would not include intermission for a purpose of undertaking activity unrelated to their course, for example for an internship or volunteering opportunity, to participate in sporting events or to study a different course. Students should check the information provided about the implications of undertaking an internship.

If sponsorship is continued but the sponsored student does not return to studies after this intermission, the University is required to cease sponsorship in line with the above.

Any previous intermission will be taken into account when considering whether Student visa sponsorship can be continued.

In cases where Student visa sponsorship is ceased, the University will be able to issue a new Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) for a new visa application once return to study is approved; please contact the International Student Office to request this CAS.

For further information please contact the International Student Office:  international.students@admin.cam.ac.uk.

If you 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 here:

https://www.counselling.cam.ac.uk/selfhelp/other

You might also find the Student Wellbeing and Equality & Diversity websites helpful. 

Phased return (home research students only)

You may be eligible for a Phased Return if you are returning to study after a period of non-medical intermission granted for one of the following reasons:

• Maternity, paternity, adoption or parental leave
• Bereavement or serious illness of a close family member or partner
• Caring responsibilities

This arrangement allows you to gradually increase your study hours for up to 8 weeks, helping you transition back into research. Students on taught courses are not eligible for a phased return.

What Is a Phased Return?

A Phased Return is a structured, time-limited arrangement that enables you to re‑engage with your studies at a reduced intensity, building up to your normal study pattern. You remain in your current mode of study (full-time or part-time), and full-time students must be actively engaged with research in person, in Cambridge.

This option is currently available only to home research students. International students are not eligible due to Student Visa requirements.

Why Choose a Phased Return?

• Ease back into study gradually, with a reduced workload
• Tailor your return to suit your personal circumstances
• Maintain your current study mode (full-time or part-time)

Recommended Structure

A typical Phased Return lasts up to four weeks, with study hours increasing weekly:

• Week 1: 25% of normal study hours
• Week 2: 50%
• Week 3: 75%
• Week 4: Full return to normal study mode

This structure can be adapted in consultation with your supervisor. The maximum duration is eight weeks. If you need a longer adjustment period, further intermission or switching to part-time study may be more appropriate.

How to Apply

Before the end of your intermission you should submit a request to Student Registry to indicate your intention to undertake a Phased Return. Your message should include details of the expected duration and structure of your Phased Return.

You are advised to discuss your plans with your supervisor and College Tutor. You may also wish to consult medical professionals or Student Support Services if relevant. However, you should not delay submitting your application as the details of the phased return can be finalised later.

​​Recording Your Phased Return

Use the Phased Return Calculator to record your weekly study hours. This helps:

• Track time not engaged in study
• Support future applications for a thesis submission extension
• Provide documentation for your funder (if applicable)

You should review the calculator with your supervisor at the start and end of your Phased Return.

Requesting an Extension

If needed, you can apply for an extension to your thesis submission deadline via CamSIS. Use the Phased Return Calculator as supporting evidence. You can apply:

• At the end of your Phased Return
• Or within 6 months of your submission deadline

Funding During Phased Return

Funding policies vary. You should check with your funder to confirm:

• Whether you can draw a full stipend during your Phased Return
• Whether time not engaged in study can be used to extend your studentship

If you're not receiving funding and face financial hardship, support may be available:

• Speak to your College Tutor about hardship funds
• Check eligibility for the Postgraduate Financial Assistance Fund
• Contact the Students’ Union Advice Service or visit Turn2Us for additional resources

Need Support?

If you're experiencing difficulties affecting your wellbeing, you should speak to your College Postgraduate Tutor.  The following resources may help:

• University Counselling Service
• Student Wellbeing Site