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Repeats or resits?

The information on this page applies to you if you need to submit a repeat form to repeat modules or exams in the following academic year.

It doesn't apply to you if you are re-sitting exams in the August exam period, and may progress to the following academic year as standard.

If you're a taught student and you need to repeat modules, use our self-help tool to find out how this will affect your visa.

If you need to formally repeat studies, whether for a semester or year, you should  (student login required) and complete an application form. You should then receive further advice about how any repeat study period may impact on your visa status.

Repeat with attendance

A repeat with attendance, or internal repeat, is where you repeat modules in full and attend classes in 91̽»¨ again. You need to pay tuition fees for internal repeat study.

Resit without attendance

A repeat without attendance, or external repeat, is where you resit exams only and will not attend classes. You need to pay only a resit exams fee. You should leave the UK during the external repeat period.

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Repeating studies partway through your course

This section applies if you are repeating studies partway through your course and will be progressing to the next academic year after the repeat period.

Repeat with attendance (internal)

• You may need to extend your visa if your current Student or Tier 4 visa doesn't cover the duration of the course/exam.
• You may be affected by academic progression and the time limits attached to your visa.
• You will need to request a new CAS to make a new Student visa application in future, usually around 3 months before your current visa expires.

Resit without attendance (external)

• We will report your absence to the Home Office, resulting in the cancellation of your visa. You cannot resume studies in future using this visa and will need a new one.
• If you have in-person Autumn semester resit exams you must obtain a Visit visa to return to the UK. You will then need to leave the UK again after your exams.
• If you have in-person Spring semester resit exams you can either obtain a Visit visa or request a new CAS to apply for a new Student visa. The Student visa will cover both your exams and the rest of your course, but relies on you progressing to the next academic year. If you are not confident that you will progress it is advisable you use a Visit visa instead.
• If you use a Visit visa to resit exams you must then request a new CAS and apply for a new Student visa in good time before the next academic year starts to continue your studies. You can only apply from overseas as you cannot switch from a Visit to a Student visa in the UK.
• Alternatively you can  (student login required)
• If you are repeating studies for a second time you must use a Visit visa to resit exams. A new CAS will not be issued until after you receive your repeat results and will progress.

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Repeating your final year of studies

This section applies if you are repeating studies from your final year, eg after your expected course end date. You will complete your course after receiving your repeat results.

Repeat with attendance (internal)

• You may need to extend your visa if your current Student or Tier 4 visa doesn't cover the duration of the course/exam.
• You may be affected by academic progression and the time limits attached to your visa.
• You will need to request a new CAS to make a new Student visa application in future, usually around three months before your current visa expires.

Resit without attendance (external)

If you repeat externally during your visa "wrap-up" period (the time between the course end date and your visa expiry date), your visa will remain valid and can continue to be used until it expires. As you are still a registered student you should keep to your term-time work conditions during this period.

In some cases, your current visa may cover your resit exams, for instance if you are a masters student resitting the autumn semester exams only and have a visa expiring in January. If your current visa does not cover your resit exams then you will need to apply for a new visa, as below:

• A Visit visa is cheaper and easier to apply for, and should be used if you intend to leave the UK after your exams/ graduation. You cannot apply in the UK for this visa so you must leave before your current visa expires and return to the UK as a Visitor. See the Visit visa web page. 
• A Student visa is more expensive, but you may wish to use this if you intend to apply for the Graduate visa (see below). You must request a new CAS to make this application and it will only cover your exam period (plus the visa ‘wrap-up’ period again).  See the Student visa web page.
• If you are externally repeating for the full academic year you will only receive a CAS for the Spring exam period. You must resit the autumn exams using your current visa (if it covers your exams) or a Visit visa. You then need to request a new CAS up to three months before the spring exams period to return on a new Student visa.
• Alternatively, you can  (student login required)

If you are:

• resubmitting your dissertation only, and
• doing this as an external candidate

... the University will not issue a new CAS to cover this, so you will not be able to apply for a Student visa for this purpose.

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Eligibility to apply for the Graduate Immigration Route

To apply for the Graduate Immigration you must successfully complete your course and receive your final results before your Student visa expires. If you have to repeat studies your eligibility for the Graduate visa may be impacted.

If you resit studies without attendance then you may be unlikely to receive your repeat results in time to apply for the Graduate visa before your current visa expires. You should contact your department and ask when your repeat results will be released to check this.

If you apply for a new Student visa you must be sure that your new visa expiry date will be after your expected final results. Even with a new Student visa you may not receive your final results in time to apply for the Graduate visa. Before requesting a new CAS you should contact your department and ask when your repeat results will be released, and contact ISSAC if you are unsure if your new visa will cover this.