Thinking of leaving?

Many students think about leaving university at some stage during their studies. If anything is bothering you or you are thinking about leaving, please speak to a member of staff to explore and understand what you can do. You can speak to your personal tutor, or see the contact details at your campus listed below. 

There may be other options such as additional help (perhaps advice on how to improve your academic skills), a temporary suspension of studies or transferring to another programme.

On these pages you will find a range of information and advice that can help you if you are thinking about leaving:

  • Overcoming obstacles to studying successfully on your programme
  • Changing option courses
  • Worried that you are on the wrong programme?
  • Take a break from studying
  • Change of mode
  • Transfer to another programme at Heriot-Watt
  • Transfer to a programme at another university
  • Things to check, including possible financial implications
  • Exploring non-university options
  • Withdrawing from University

Data and Privacy

To help any student contacting Thinking of Leaving we will record your student details, the information you tell us and the advice we give. This is to ensure continuity in the support we are able to offer and to internally monitor the service we provide.

With your agreement, we will share information with other University staff - if required - to ensure you receive appropriate support. However, we reserve the right, in accordance with the University's duty of care to our students, to share information about you without your prior agreement if we believe you to be a risk of harm to yourself or others.

Aggregated or individual data may be used for statistical or analytical purposes, including in written reports used by the University, but any data used in this way will be anonymised and no individuals will be identified.

By using the Thinking of Leaving service you are consenting to the above.

Visit our Privacy and your data rights pages for further information about how the University uses data about students.

Scottish Campuses

You can contact us by emailing thinkingofleaving@hw.ac.uk.  We can advise you by email and/or arrange a meeting with you via Microsoft Teams.

Dubai and Malaysia Campuses

Please contact the student advisors listed below

Key information

Edinburgh Campus: Student Advisors

Scottish Borders Campus: Student Advisor

Orkney Campus

Student Service Centre - Dubai Campus

Student Service Centre - Malaysia Campus

Phone
+603 8894 3610
Email
student-services-malaysia@hw.ac.uk