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What is Fitness to Study?

The fitness to study process can be started if your tutors have concerns about your health, well-being and behaviour, and how these are affecting your ability to study. It is a staged process, which is there to ensure that you receive the correct level of support for your needs.

This may be invoked where the student does not recognize that they are not fit to study and could be causing distress, disruption and concern to themselves and others. This is intended as a supportive measure.

This may relate to health where adjustments and support for disabling conditions or long-term mental or physical health issues are not sufficient or appropriate, or where a student is unable to or chooses not to engage with adjustments and support offered.

Stage 1 – at this stage, you may be approached by a member of staff in a supportive manner to discuss any concerns that have been reported or observed by the staff member. You may be encouraged to seek support from the Student Advice and Wellbeing Team (SAW) at this point, and given advice on options for support. If you do not respond positively or refuse to co-operate, you may be progressed to stage 2 or 3 of this procedure. 

Stage 2 – at this stage if there are continuing concerns staff may refer you to SAW under stage 2 of the Fitness to Study process. On review of the referral, SAW may arrange initial assessment to discuss the issues and assess your understanding of them and your actions confidentiality, Agreeing a Support Action Plan, Advising on options for deferring, pausing or leaving the course.

Stage 3 – this stage is when the concerns raised are immediate and serious, or when Support Action Plans implemented at stage 2 have not been followed.  This involves a referral to Student Governance who may implement precautionary measures such as suspension or referral to Occupational Health. 

Case conference - this can be arranged at any time with the relevant staff members. You will be given the opportunity to provide written evidence prior to the meeting and in some cases may be asked to attend. The conference will consider a range of factors relevant to your case in order to determine an outcome. This can range from: Fit to Study and engage with the University Experience, Not fit to study or Not fit to study and/or engage with the university experience.