9.1 Exceptionally a candidate may apply to the Research Degrees Committee for a temporary suspension or extension of registration for not more than 1 year at a time and for not more than a maximum of 2 years. All applications will be considered on an individual basis and a case must be made by the student, which will be judged on merit, approval will not automatically be granted.
9.2 Applications for suspension of registration will only be considered in circumstances related to illness / accident, exceptional personal circumstances, maternity leave, or where a difficult language has to be learnt.
If a student applies for a suspension of registration due to illness lasting for any period longer than 4 weeks, a medical certificate must be given to the Postgraduate Research Tutor to support the application. If a suspension falls during an academic year, fees will not be payable for that period only.
9.3 A candidate may apply to the Research Degrees Committee for an extension to their period of registration. Extensions will be considered for time unavoidably lost through circumstances outside the control of the individual concerned or where a student’s progress has been hindered through extreme pressure of external work for a limited period. Sympathetic consideration will be given to cases where the student has been absent through illness supported by a valid medical certificate.
9.4 Faculties should note that in the case of students in receipt of Research Council funded studentships, the process for being granted a suspension or extension of registration may differ from those applied at Oxford Brookes.
It is important the Directors of Studies contact the Head of the Research Degrees Team for advice before the student begins the period of suspension as failure to follow their procedures may lead to the funding bodies imposing sanctions on the University as a whole for a substantial period of time.