Suspend or withdraw

Earned assistance

• The US loans team will calculate the amount of Title IV program assistance that has been earned, using a formula provided by the US Department of Education. This formula divides the total number of calendar days in the payment period into the number of calendar days completed in that period, as of the student's withdrawal date. For example, if the payment period is 100 days and the student has completed 45 days, they will be eligible to receive 45% of the total aid for that payment period. 
• Once you have completed more than 60% of the payment period, all the assistance that you were scheduled to receive for that period is considered to have been earned. As an example, if you have completed 30% of the payment period, you have earned 30% of the assistance you were originally scheduled to receive within that loan period. If you have completed 60% of the payment period, you have earned 100% of the assistance you were scheduled to receive.
• If you received more assistance than was earned, the excess funds must be returned to the US Department of Education by you and/or Ravensbourne. If you received (or the University received on your behalf) less assistance than the amount earned, you may be able to receive those additional funds as a post-withdrawal disbursement.

Withdrawal date

• The withdrawal date is the last date of academic attendance according to the University's records.
• The requirements for Title IV program funds when you withdraw are separate from the University's refund policy. Therefore, you may still owe funds to the University to cover unpaid institutional charges. Ravensbourne may attempt to collect any Title IV program funds from you that Ravensbourne is required to return.

Leave of absence 

• Under specific conditions, a leave of absence (LOA, or suspension of studies) for less than 180 days in a 12 month period may qualify as an 'approved' leave of absence. If you are granted an 'approved' LOA, you are not considered to have withdrawn, and no return calculation is required. During the LOA, the University will not charge you any additional institutional charges, your financial need will not increase, and therefore, you will not be eligible for any disbursements of federal student aid. If you are granted an approved LOA you will maintain in-school status for Title IV loan repayment purposes. A student taking an approved LOA must be able to return to the same point in their studies.
• However, as a Student Route visa holder,  Ravensbourne’s policy governing this may affect your ability to take a leave of absence from your studies.

Deferral of studies

• While students are normally expected to complete their course within the timeframe specified on their Course Handbook and CAS, Ravensbourne will whenever possible try to accommodate requests from students to defer their studies (up to a maximum of one academic year).
• Applications for deferral of studies must be made in consultation with the student’s Subject Leader by submitting a Deferral of Studies form to the International Development Department. Students who wish to defer their studies at Ravensbourne for more than 60 days will be advised to leave the UK and will be reported to the Home Office/UKVI and visa sponsorship will be withdrawn.
• Students who have deferred their studies but wish to return to Ravensbourne following the withdrawal of sponsorship may be able to return subject to Ravensbourne’s Deferral of Studies Policy. In addition they must meet the requirements to be issued with a new CAS from Ravensbourne and will be required to apply for a new student route visa.

Suspended from study 

• Student Route visa holders who are suspended by Ravensbourne from their course for a period lasting more than 60 days will be reported to the Home Office/UKVI within 10 working days of the change. In these cases Ravensbourne will normally withdraw visa sponsorship, which will result in the student’s immigration permission being curtailed and the requirement to obtain fresh immigration sponsorship and/or a new visa.
• If you do not even attend initial lectures or seminars you are ineligible to receive any Title IV funds and all loan proceeds will be returned to the US Department of Education. You will be liable for any fees or outstanding balances owed to the University.