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Family, medical and additional leave benefits for UKRI and University of Leeds funded PGRs  Repayment policy if you withdraw from your studies

If you withdraw from your studies after taking maternity leave, you may need to repay some of your maternity pay. This is calculated depending on when you withdraw.

Full repayment required

You must repay the full amount of maternity or adoption leave funding if you withdraw from your studies, without returning, after taking: 

  • The first 26 weeks of paid leave
  • Or 26 weeks of paid leave plus 13 weeks of statutory maternity pay
  • Or 26 weeks of paid leave, 13 weeks of statutory maternity pay, and 13 weeks of unpaid leave. 

Sliding scale repayment

If you return to study after the above leave and then withdraw within a certain timeframe, a sliding scale of repayment applies.

This applies whether the leave consisted of just the initial 26 weeks, or included the additional 13 weeks of statutory maternity pay, or also included 13 weeks of unpaid leave. 

  • Withdrawal within 1 month of return: you must repay 5 months of full maternity pay and 11 weeks of statutory maternity pay.
  • Withdrawal within 2 months of return: you must repay 4 months of full maternity pay and 9 weeks of statutory maternity pay. 
  • Withdrawal within 3 months of return: you must repay 3 months of full maternity pay and 7 weeks of statutory maternity pay. 
  • Withdrawal within 4 months of return: you must repay 2 months of full maternity pay and 5 weeks of statutory maternity pay.
  • Withdrawal within 5 months of return: you must repay 1 month of full maternity pay and 3 weeks of statutory maternity pay. 

No repayment required 

If you withdraw from study after 6 months of returning from leave, no repayment is required. 

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