The University of Sheffield's Frequently Asked Questions database
Question:
A student who is in the UK on a student visa has asked if he can take a 6 month leave of absence because he is having personal and financial problems. Are there any visa implications?
Answer:
Yes. Any student in the UK on a student visa who is not attending university is in breach of the conditions of that visa. The Home Office have always expected that students who take long-term leave of absence return to their home country during this time.
The Home Office currently tightening up on their approach to such matters – while there may be some circumstances where leave of absence is acceptable (eg. severe illness/injury), financial or personal reasons are unlikely to be taken into account.
International students seeking leave of absence are now required to seek immigration advice from Student Services before their application can be confirmed.