Authorised Absence process if you are a PGR student who holds a Student visa

Please ensure that authorised absence requests have been submitted and approved before finalising your travel arrangements.

The Compliance Office will need a couple of days to issue the letter, but will normally turn these around within 48 hours of receiving the approval of your supervisor. If you have not received your letter please contact us to ask about the status of your request.

  • Requests for authorised absence should be made in writing via email. Verbal/informal approval is not acceptable.
  • Postgraduate Research students are allocated 56 days leave year. 
  • This allowance renews every September in line with the official start date of a new academic session.
  • Requests must not exceed 60 continuous days. 
  • Authorised absence refers to a 'break from study' and during this time no engagement monitoring will be required
  • If you are collecting data/conducting fieldwork away from Aberystwyth University and are therefore not taking a break from active study then this is classed differently, you should contact us directly for advice if you are considering conducting fieldwork.
Step 1- Make a formal request to your academic supervisor

Email your academic supervisor to request authorised absence. You must include where you are going, how long you are going for, and why you are going.

Step 2- Your supervisor will consider your request.

Ask you supervisor to confirm their approval by responding to your email.

Step 3- Written approval sent to UKVI Compliance Office

Student will forward the written approval to the UKVI Compliance office

Step 4- Student receives written confirmation that the absence has been approved and processed.

The UKVI Compliance Office will assess and authorise your request. If you are travelling outside of the UK, you will be issued with a letter which will outline your travel details. You should travel with a copy of this letter when you are returning to the UK as you may be asked by UK border control to provide evidence that you have authorisation to be away from the University.