If your study situation changes

If you have not arrived by the latest date on your CAS or have missed too much of your course to enrol:

• Do not travel to the UK, even if your visa has been granted or is still pending.
• Contact the Admissions Team to discuss deferring your offer or declining it.
• If you have applied for a visa but have not received a decision, withdraw your application with UKVI.

If you defer your course, a new offer will be processed. The student visa team will withdraw your visa sponsorship, and UKVI will shorten your visa. If you have already travelled, you will have 60 days to make plans to leave the UK.

If you have not completed online enrolment for the new academic year, you risk being withdrawn from your course:

• Complete online enrolment at the start of each year to confirm your intent to continue your course.
• If you do not enrol, we may assume you no longer plan to return.

If you do not enrol, the student visa team will withdraw your sponsorship and your visa will be shortened. You will have 60 days to leave the UK.

You decide to withdraw from the programme

If you decide to stop studying or not return after completing a previous academic year:

• Speak to your personal tutor or supervisor before making a final decision.
• Submit the necessary withdrawal forms, or contact Doctoral Services if you’re a PhD student.

The student visa team will be informed of your withdrawal and will contact you about your visa. You’ll have 60 days to leave the UK once your visa sponsorship is withdrawn. If you need to remain in the UK for reasons other than study, seek independent immigration advice.

Manchester Met withdraws you from the programme

If you are withdrawn from the programme by the University, the University is required to withdraw sponsorship of your visa: 

• You have failed your course and no longer have any reassessment opportunities
• Your levels of attendance on campus are not satisfactory
• You have been withdrawn due to student disciplinary or academic misconduct

The student visa team will be informed of your withdrawal and will contact you about your visa. You will have 60 days to leave the UK once your visa sponsorship is withdrawn. If you need to remain in the UK for reasons other than study, seek independent immigration advice.

If you need to repeat failed units, the process will differ based on whether you need to attend classes:

With attendance

• Check which units you need to repeat and pay the required fees.
• Contact the student visa team if your modules only take place in one semester.

You may need to extend your visa if more time is required to complete your course. Your visa will remain valid if you are attending classes, provided we can record evidence of your engagement. Please note, if you are attending over one semester only we may not be able to sponsor your student visa during the semester where you will not be attending.

Without attendance

• You can submit coursework online and will not need to attend classes.
• Plan to return home or switch to another visa category if possible.

The student visa team will contact you about your visa. You will have 60 days to leave the UK once your visa sponsorship is withdrawn. If you need to remain in the UK for reasons other than attending classes, seek independent immigration advice.

If you are transferring to a different course, the requirements depend on the type of transfer:

Lower-level course

• If you are moving to a lower-level qualification (e.g., PhD to MPhil), you will need to apply for a new visa from your home country.

Same level, same length

• If your new course is a similar subject to your previous one, the student visa team will report the change to UKVI and your visa will remain valid.
• If your new course is within a different subject area, the student visa team will contact you to ensure it meets your overall career aspirations first - you may need to provide a new personal statement.

Same level, different length or subject

• If the new course differs in subject and we cannot assess that it suits your overall career aspirations you will need to apply for a new visa from your home country.
• If the new course is longer in length and cannot be completed within the timeframe of your existing visa, you will need to apply for a new visa from your home country.

In all cases, consult your tutor or supervisor and submit a course transfer request. Immigration advice is available via the student visa team.

Placements

If you are switching to a course with a placement or study abroad:

• Apply for a visa extension if your current visa does not cover the new course length. This must be done before your placement starts if the visa does not cover the placement year.
• The University will report your location to UKVI if your placement or study abroad was not originally listed on your CAS.

Your visa will remain valid as long as you are engaged in a required activity.

Studying overseas

• UKVI do not allow students to study remotely.
• In most cases a withdrawal of sponsorship of your visa will be required if you decide to study your course remotely.
• However, if you are completing data collection overseas we may be able to make an exception.
• In all instances where you are studying of campus, you must complete a change of study address request.

If you finish your course earlier than the date detailed on your CAS number, the University is required to withdraw sponsorship of your student visa. For example:

• Completing a 4-year PhD in 3 years.
• Not completing a placement year detailed on your CAS.
• Being given an exit qualification as you have not achieved enough credits to progress.

The student visa team will inform UKVI, and your visa will be shortened. The length of time UKVI will give your to leave the UK will dependant on the total length you have been studying for. In general, if you have been studying for 12 months or more you will be given up to four months to leave the UK or make a new visa application. Once you have left the UK, you won’t be able to return on the same visa.

If you submit an academic appeal or are involved in an academic or student misconduct case, please note that the process can take time as each case is unique. If you are not required to attend classes while your appeal is being reviewed, the University is still obligated to withdraw sponsorship of your Student visa. Staying in the UK during this period could put you at risk of overstaying.

If your appeal is successful, any reinstatement to your programme may depend on whether your immigration status is still valid or if you’ve returned home within the timeframe specified by UKVI.