Apply for holiday or special leave

You can follow this process if you wish to apply for holiday or special leave.

Before completing the form, you should have:

• discussed your intended leave with your supervisor(s);
• read and understood the Change of Circumstances for Postgraduate Researchers Policy;
• read and understood the Leave of Absence Procedure for Postgraduate Researchers.

You may take up to eight weeks’ holiday in each year (pro rata for parts of year), inclusive of weekends and public holidays. If you are receiving sponsorship you are expected to bear in mind your obligations to your sponsor and consult the policy of your sponsor when planning leave.

You are eligible to take up to five days special leave (in addition to your holiday leave entitlement) per academic year. You are eligible for this leave due to the unforeseen breakdown of care arrangements for a person for whom you have primary responsibility, the serious illness of a domestic partner, child or other person who plays a significant part in your life, or the death of a close relative (which would normally include a spouse or significant partner, parent, brother, sister, in-law, grandparent or grandchild).

Please note that ideally a period of holiday leave should not coincide with a census point or your annual review period.

Next steps

Upon submission your application will be sent to you supervisor(s) and processed and reviewed by University Student Support staff who will contact you at your University email address with the outcome as soon as possible.