Holidays and annual leave
Full-time students may take up to 40 days’ holiday each year, including fixed University leave days. Obtain DoS approval for the timing and duration.
Discuss dates before booking. University term dates and the staff time-off pages identify fixed closures such as Christmas/New Year and Easter.
- Holidays do not require suspended study.
- Annual leave does not extend studentship funding.
- Part-time students negotiate holidays within their study schedule rather than having the same specified leave entitlement; tell your DoS about lengthy breaks.
If you hold a student visa
§3.9 requires formal approval using RD7-AA for absences over five days outside fixed University holidays. §5.4 uses a broader over-five-day rule and the forms page says 5+ days. Confirm exactly-five-day/fixed-holiday treatment with Visa and International Support: Visa-related absence and changes. Do not treat authorisation of absence as suspension of registration time.
For illness or family circumstances use Illness and medical leave or Family and compassionate leave. The framework groups leave as annual, family, medical and additional leave for all funding sources.
Sources: Framework §§3.9, 3.12, 5.4, pp. 32–33, 57. Read the source.