sceduled operations and uni return?

angela_2107

Hi all, i know this is a while away yet but thought i would ask the question.

In March next year I will need an operation I cant have it before as it requires me to be on special medication for 26 weeks before and prior to that to have suitability tests done (i had the test done about 18 months or so my consultant says its all formality)

Anyway, i will require 12 weeks off uni. The operations are only done every 12 weeks at a specialist centre so i can quite confidently say my op will be around the 10th March. This means i will miss the last 5 or 6 weeks of the term.

Uni finishes mid April next year (goodness, i have just wished a full year of Uni away there havent I?!) so where do i stand with this? I have no exams in the last term, so thats ok and i would be in a position to get any work mostly completed prior to finishing, or certianally post-op. Does anyone have any experience of this? Would be ok having to take this time off or would they want me to re-sit the year, or maybe defer the year for the sake of 5 weeks or so ?

I have an appointment with Student Services, but its not until the 2nd week in August so my head is doing laps at the moment going through all the what if's and hows so just looking for general advice. i am aware every Uni is different but any experience would be great

brians_daughter

hello there. I cant help much, but i had to have 5 weeks off for an emergency operation last year. University were really good. They extended my deadlines through extenuating circs, infact so much so that my last bit of work isnt due for another 3 weeks. Also there was a girl on my course who was pregnant and left early March (but with easter being early this year we broke up 3 weeks later) and she can return into teh next year as planned.

I am sure soemone with a concrete answer will be along shortly. All uni's tend to have their own policies etc regarding thsi so you are doing the right thing by trying to get it sorted prior to the academic year starting

MrsManda

You need to talk to your personal tutor and make plans with them. If you are able to keep up with your work and complete all of your assessments then you'll probably be OK but it really depends on your course and how ill you are going to be before and after the surgery.

Talking to your tutor will allow them to have the time to explore all the options, possibly rearrange any assessments etc...

I had 6 weeks off in the 2009/10 academic year due to illness. I kept my personal tutor constantly informed and made sure that when I was going to miss a deadline/practical/tutorial I informed the lecturers involved as soon as I knew so that deadlines could be extended and things rearranged. It was hard work but my tutors were happy to accommodate me because I kept them informed.

Do you know how the medication is going to affect you? Don't underestimate the difficulties of studying whilst you are undergoing changes in health in medication.

hope it goes ok