Suspension of Candidature

Notwithstanding the general time limits set down for completion of the various postgraduate degrees, it is usually possible, in special circumstances, for students to be granted suspension of candidature for specified periods of time.

This provision might be utilised, for example, where illness, personal problems, or professional commitments are temporarily interfering with normal progress, or where a person is granted an award for overseas study not directly connected with work for the course in the Department.

Suspensions for periods of up to a year are usually approved without difficulty, provided the Department supports them. Any subsequent requests for suspensions are scrutinised more closely by the Faculty of Arts, and may be refused unless the circumstances are very pressing; in any case recent Faculty policy has been not to approve suspensions for two successive years.

You should first discuss any proposed suspension with your supervisor and the Postgraduate Coordinator, and then make written request, addressed to the Registrar, stating your reasons and the period of suspension desired. Send your request to the Postgraduate Coordinator, who will forward it to the Registrar with the Department's recommendation. The Registrar will notify you of the decision in writing, and will also indicate what you have to do when you want to re-enrol.

Please note that when interruptions to normal progress with your studies occur, it is much better to apply for a suspension than simply to let your candidature lapse. Periods of suspension do not count as part of your candidature and can therefore help you keep within the prescribed time limits, whereas if your enrolment lapses you would have to go through the whole procedure of applying for admission to candidature again if you wanted to resume your studies later.

It is important to keep the Department and the Registrar informed of any
change of address during periods of suspension of candidature.