Brief overview of the Fitness to Study policy
This policy describes how the University will respond to situations where a student is unwell and, as a result, there is a potentially serious risk or disruption to the student or to others.
The University is committed to supporting its students and recognises the importance of students’ health and wellbeing in relation to their academic progression.
It has a responsibility to respond appropriately to situations where a student’s:
- illness
- disability, or
- psychological or emotional state
may have a profoundly challenging impact on the individual student and/or the wellbeing of the wider University community.
For full details of this policy, see Section 21: Fitness to Study Policy 2025-26 (PDF 0.2 MB)
As well as, or in addition to, this procedure, the University’s:
- Student Disciplinary Procedure and/or
- ‘Support to Study’ procedure
may be used, where appropriate (refer to section 19). The ‘Fitness to Study Policy’ may be relevant (refer to Section 21).
Reasons why a student’s fitness to study may be called into question
The following (as examples) may call a student’s suitability into question:
- Health problems or behaviour disrupt the student’s own study.
- Health problems or behaviour affect the study of other students.
- Health problems or behaviour place unreasonable demands on staff or other students.
The ‘Fitness to Study’ procedure has 3 stages. Depending upon the perceived severity of the situation and seriousness of any perceived risks, action may be initiated at any of the 3 stages.
Fitness to Study procedures
Stage 1 Emerging concerns
At this stage, concerns have been raised about an individual student’s:
- health
- safety, or
- mental wellbeing
A member of staff with knowledge of the individual student will approach them for an informal meeting.
Stage 2 Formal / continuing concerns
At this stage, continuing concerns about the student’s:
- health
- safety, or
- mental wellbeing
will be considered more formally. The student will be asked to meet formally with at least 2 members of staff from the School and/or another relevant department to address concerns and agree an action plan.
The student should expect to receive an invitation from the Programme Administration and Support Service (PASS) team by email to their University account mailbox.
A minute taker will be present.
The student may choose to be accompanied by a supporter at the meeting, as defined in Section 2.1.11 of the Code of Practice for Assessment.
Stage 3 Formal case review
If significant or persistent concerns are raised about an individual student’s actions or behaviours that put the student’s own:
- health
- safety
- wellbeing, or
- academic progress
or those of other members of the University community at significant risk, then
- the Associate Head/Dean of School, or
- Head of Student Wellbeing, Disability and Inclusion, or
- other appropriate staff member
will convene a ‘Fitness to Study Case Review’ meeting.
The student should expect to receive an invitation from the Programme Administration and Support Service (PASS)team by email to their University account mailbox.
A minute taker will be present.
The student may choose to be accompanied by a supporter at the meeting, as defined in the Code of Practice for Assessment.
The Fitness to Study Case Review Panel will determine:
- a) whether to agree an enhanced action plan to support the student with agreed review dates.
- b) whether to recommend an enforced suspension of the student’s studies.
- c) whether to recommend enforced withdrawal.
- d) that no further action is required.
For more information on the full procedures and possible outcomes, please see The Code of Practice for Assessment.