Other Leave (Postgraduate research students only)

This is for postgraduate research students only.

Emergency Leave

You are entitled to take five days of emergency leave in each academic year to deal with separate emergency situations involving family, dependents, or unexpected domestic circumstances. You don’t need to formally apply via CamSIS self-service, but you should inform your supervisor.

Examples of emergency situations include:

  • providing or arranging care for a dependent with a long-term care need
  • an unexpected change in the health or wellbeing of a dependent
  • an incident or emergency involving your child while they’re at nursery, school or college
  • a fire, flood or burglary at your home

In the following circumstances, you’re entitled to up to 10 days of emergency leave:

  • The death of a close relative
  • Pregnancy loss before 24 weeks (experienced by yourself or your partner)
  • Loss of a baby via surrogacy

If you are funded by UKRI, your stipend will continue as normal during emergency leave, and your studentship may be extended to account for the time take. If you are funded by other sources, please check with your funding administrator.

If you need to take more than 5 days leave and you want your submission deadline extended by the equivalent period, you should apply via 'Change my student status' in your CamSIS self-service for:

  • a 'short break in study' (for absences between 5 and 9 working days inclusive)
  • an intermission (for 10 working days (2 weeks) or more)

For intermission, you should submit your application as soon as you know that you need a break from study. For short breaks in study you should not apply until you have resumed study but should do so as soon as possible upon your return. Short breaks in study and intermission can only be backdated by a maximum of 30 days from the date you make your application. 

If your time is greater than five days but less than two weeks, you may be asked to use some of your annual leave.

Additional Leave

In the following circumstances, you are entitled to up to four weeks’ leave:

  • If you are unable to study for over five study days as the result of a delay in putting in place reasonable adjustments for your disability.
  • If health and safety concerns mean that you have been unable to continue with their studies despite all reasonable efforts to mitigate the issue
  • Jury service - compulsory jury service for a trial

In these circumstances, you should apply via 'Change my student status' in your CamSIS self-service for a 'short break in study' or for a non-medical intermission, depending on if the length of the absence is between 5 and 9 study days, or 10 study days (2 weeks) or more), respectively. Your deadline will be extended automatically if your application is approved. For intermission, you should submit your application as soon as you know that you need a break from study. For short breaks in study you should not apply until you have resumed study but should do so as soon as possible upon your return. Short breaks in study and intermission can only be backdated by a maximum of 30 days from the date you make your application. 

If you are funded by UKRI, you will continue to receive your stipend for periods of additional leave and your studentship may be extended to account for these periods. If you are funded by other sources, you should check with your funding administrator. For the visa implications of additional leave, please see the guidance on the intermission page.

Information for students on a student visa

In accordance with visa policy, the University can only continue to sponsor a student’s visa during a short break in study, an intermission or a period of additional leave if the student is still able to complete their course within the validity of their current visa. Your revised maximum submission deadline must remain within your existing visa validity.

If a short period of study means the revised deadline would fall after your visa expires, the University can only extend the deadline up to the visa expiry date. You are still expected to submit by this deadline.  

Sources of support

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 at:

www.studentsupport.cam.ac.uk/get-support

You may find the Equality & Diversity websites helpful.