Starting First Year Again?

Fruitloops

I'm a mature student in my first year of uni but I am now filling in paperwork for mitigations and applying for extensions as I've been having personal health problems that have affected my university life. However, I've missed so many lectures and classes due to this that I don't feel I can pass my exams or even some modules.

Is it possible to ask to begin my first year again in September?

I'm sorry if this is a stupid question. I really don't know what to do. I feel like I've messed up my opportunity to get a degree after I worked so hard to get to uni in the first place

MrsManda

Providing your personal tutor/department are happy for you to repeat the year there is no reason why you can't. You should still get student finance to cover the extra year as you are generally entitled to 1 years grace and as you have extenuating circumstances you will get the funding anyway.

As with all health reasons, your department plus yourself need to be sure that you are recovered enough from your illness in order to start again. If your health continues to be bad, you may be better taking a year out.

Fruitloops

Thank you for your reply and advice.

I have spoken to a welfare tutor last term and mentioned the possibility of beginning the year again, but she didn't give me any advice regarding that and just encouraged me to try to get my work done. I understand why of course, but the closer it gets to exams, the less I feel I can do this as I've missed so much. I guess I need to speak with the welfare tutor again.

MrsManda

Do you not have a tutor connected to your course? Or is that what you mean by welfare tutor? - At my uni we a year tutor who we can talk to about anything concerning us about the course/studies etc...
then there are welfare officers attached to the department and others attached to the union plus a disability advice centre and financial advice centre.
The year tutor is the person who is supposed to know us best as they oversee our grades, decide on progression to the next year and writes any references we may need.
The welfare officers are for everything non-academic.

It is probably best if you speak to whoever it is who oversees your course/academic life and discuss your options with them asap - the quicker you do it the less stressed you're likely to get and that's got to be better for your health. Good luck x

Fruitloops

I have a Director of Studies which is a tutor I don't really know and they were changed in the second term. I went to see the one I had in the first term and she was the one who told me to go to see a welfare tutor, who is connected with the department. Then there is another tutor I spoke to regarding mitigations and she explained the process and gave me the forms.

Thanks again for your advice.