University isn’t the right fit for everyone, and that’s okay! There are plenty of valid reasons why you might be considering stepping away from uni. If you’re at this crossroads, know that you’re not the only one feeling this way.

Before making any big decisions, it’s worth taking some time to weigh your options and figure out what’s truly best for you.

To help you along, we’ve created this simple guide to walk you through the process. Whether you’re deciding if leaving is the right choice or figuring out how to withdraw from university in the UK, we’ve got your back.

Reasons You might Withdraw

Let’s go through some of the reasons you might be tempted to withdraw from university. If you’re experiencing any of these, another option is to suspend your courses instead of withdrawing completely.

1. Career Path

You might feel that the course you’ve enrolled in, or the career path you’re on, doesn’t feel right for you anymore. If you have a change of heart and want to make a career change, that’s completely ok. Just make sure you’ve done your research about what you want to do instead.

Try not to rush into your career change. Take your time to really think things through and make sure if you change your career path, you won’t regret it.

2. Choice of Course

If you’re struggling with the course load, that’s also a valid reason. You might feel as if you can’t cope with the workload. It can be either too difficult and hard to get through, or maybe it doesn’t feel hard enough.

Another reason could be, that the teaching method is hard to get used to. Either it’s not what you were expecting or you just don’t respond well to it. In this case, check with your student advisor if you can maybe change courses or tutors. If you feel that’s not enough, you can withdraw.

3. Financial Issues

This is a very common reason for withdrawing from university, and it’s not something to be ashamed of.

If you can’t afford the tuition or accommodation fees, living costs are out of your budget, or you’re not comfortable with student debt, it’s okay to want to withdraw in this situation. Before you do, make sure to talk to your student finance advisor about your concerns.

If you want to withdraw from university because of the rising cost of living crisis, check out the cost of living guide before making any final decisions. It might help you find a way to continue your studies.

4. Personal Reasons

Another very summon reason for withdrawing. Personal reasons can be many. And are unique to each person. If you have a health issue or a disability that gets in the way of your university life, or if you have other personal reasons that make it difficult to cope.

Or even if you are finding it hard to balance studies and other commitments.

If you have a personal reason for withdrawing, make sure to discuss it with your student advisor or your school therapist, before making the decision to withdraw from university.

4 Steps to Withdraw

Step 1. Speak to your University

The first thing you have to do is talk to the right people. If you’ve decided to withdraw from university, talk to the department responsible for that, and they will help you figure out the next steps.

You should also be able to speak to the student finance advisor. They will ask you a few basic questions to understand the situation. These details might then be shared with Student Finance England.

This is so you don’t get more student finance payments. If you want to learn more about this you can check out the funding and guidance section of the government services website.

Step 2. Submit a Withdrawal Request

Most probably you will have to submit a formal withdrawal request. The process differs depending on the university. However, submitting a request often has a few common features.

1. You’ll have to write a statement explaining your reasons for deciding to withdraw from university.
2. You will have to complete a withdrawal form. This will either be online or on paper.
3. You will have to attend an exit interview. This will be a meeting with a staff member just to gain more information about your decision to leave.

Universities have different deadlines and policies for withdrawal, so make sure to check the information carefully so that you don’t miss any deadlines or other important parts.

Step 3.  Inform Student Finance and Other Authorities

Once your withdrawal is confirmed, you will have to inform Student Finance England. Your university might send over some details too. But as a rule of thumb, it’s always good to do this yourself, in case the university doesn’t.

The equivalent body for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland is different so make sure to check and let the appropriate body know about your withdrawal.

If you are an international student or are on a study visa, you will have to inform the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) because your visa status will change.

Step 4.  Plan ahead

Leaving university can be a stressful and emotionally difficult time, so it helps to plan about life after you withdraw from university.

This doesn’t mean the end of your career or your education so there are many other options for your future.

You can transfer to another university or course, or explore other career paths. Such as an apprenticeship or vocational training.

Or you can take a break! It’s okay to take some time off and rest. Think about what you want for the future, and use this time to recharge.

Conclusion

Leaving university can be very stressful so take care of your mental well-being. Talk to your friends and family for emotional support and advice. Withdrawing from university is a big decision. But by doing your research and taking the right steps, you can have a smooth transition

So, take your time and plan well.  Good luck!