Student Finance England and Funding

Attending and engaging with your studies is an important part of being a registered student. 

The University may be required to confirm that students are actively participating in their course in order to meet regulatory, funding and registration requirements. 

Many students are concerned about whether attendance can affect their student funding. This section explains how attendance, engagement and student funding are connected, and what support is available if circumstances begin to affect your studies. 

Attendance and engagement help show that you are actively participating in your course. 

The University may be required to confirm that students remain registered, actively engaged and participating in their studies so that student financial support, including tuition-fee and maintenance funding, can be released and maintained. 

For most students, attendance is one of several ways the University confirms ongoing engagement. Other indicators may include academic participation, assessment activity, use of learning materials and communication with your course. 

A single absence will not normally affect your funding. Funding concerns are more likely to arise where there is sustained non-attendance, prolonged non-engagement, interruption of studies, withdrawal, or where the University cannot confirm that you remain actively participating in your course. 

Next Steps: 

  • Attend and engage regularly with your studies. 
  • Record attendance whenever required. 
  • Report absences using the relevant process in Section D. 
  • Keep the University informed if circumstances are affecting your ability to attend or engage. 
  • Use Section E if your attendance or engagement is being affected by personal, academic or practical difficulties. 

Not usually. 

A single absence, short period of illness or occasional attendance concern will not normally affect your student funding. 

Funding concerns are more likely to arise where there is a sustained pattern of non-attendance or non-engagement, where you stop engaging with the University, or where the University can no longer confirm that you remain registered, actively engaged and participating in your course. 

The best way to avoid difficulties is to report absences using the correct process, keep engaging with your studies where possible, and tell the University about circumstances that are affecting your attendance or engagement. 

If you are worried about your funding, you should contact the University Student Finance Team for funding advice. If your attendance or engagement is being affected by personal, academic or practical difficulties, use Section E to choose the right support route. 

Next Steps: 

  • Report absences using the relevant process in Section D. 
  • Continue attending and engaging wherever possible. 
  • Keep the University informed about circumstances affecting your studies. 
  • Use Section E if you need help with circumstances affecting your attendance or engagement. 

Optional Support Available: 

If you stop engaging with your course, the University will normally try to contact you to understand your circumstances and encourage you to re-engage. 

Where possible, staff will identify support that may help you continue your studies successfully. 

If you do not respond to communications, do not attend, or do not engage over a prolonged period, this may affect your registration status. Student funding is linked to your registration and active participation, so a change to your registration status may affect your eligibility for funding. 

If you interrupt, withdraw from or are withdrawn from your course, your funding may be reassessed. This could affect future payments and may result in overpayments depending on your circumstances. 

If you no longer wish to continue your studies, it is important that you tell the University as soon as possible so that your options and any funding implications can be explained. 

Next Steps: 

  • Respond to communications from the University. 
  • Continue attending and engaging wherever possible. 
  • Tell the University about any circumstances affecting your ability to engage. 
  • Use Section E if you need help understanding your options or choosing the right support route. 
  • Inform the University if you no longer intend to continue your course. 

Optional Support Available: 

Seek advice as early as possible. 

Many students worry that attendance concerns automatically mean their funding will stop. In most cases, this is not true. 

A single absence, short period of illness or occasional attendance concern will not normally affect your funding. Concerns are more likely to arise where there is sustained non-attendance, prolonged non-engagement, interruption, withdrawal, or where the University cannot confirm that you remain registered and actively participating in your course. 

If you are worried about funding, contact the University Student Finance Team for funding advice. If your attendance or engagement is being affected by personal, academic or practical difficulties, use Section E to choose the right support route. 

The University will normally try to understand your circumstances, discuss available support and help you re-engage with your studies before more serious concerns arise. 

Next Steps: 

  • Review any attendance or funding communications you have received. 
  • Continue attending and engaging wherever possible. 
  • Report any absences using the relevant process in Section D. 
  • Use Section E if your attendance or engagement is being affected by circumstances and you need help choosing the right support route. 
  • Respond promptly to any University contact about attendance, engagement or funding. 

Optional Support Available: