The University of Edinburgh wants to impose mandatory interruptions of study

The University of Edinburgh's Curriculum and Student Progression Committee (CSPC) are pushing for a controversial amendment to their existing Support for Student Policy, which would entitle the University to impose compulsory study interruptions for students demonstrating "disruptive behaviour".

Under the current Support for Student Policy, students can voluntarily take a study interruption – an authorised break from university – for up to a year. This is most commonly due to mental or physical health struggles.

However, CSPC now want to extend mandatory interruptions to include other areas of student difficulty – the likes of which are not entirely clear. The proposal would also make it possible for the University or members of its staff to impose an interruption of study against the student's will. The final approval for this change to the policy will go to a committee at the end of March.

EUSA have been campaigning strongly against the proposed amendment, stating: "We believe that any amendment to the Support for Study process to allow for students to be placed on mandatory interruption would fundamentally alter the supportive nature of the original policy.

"In particular, we are concerned about the disproportionate impact that mandatory interruptions would have on already marginalised students, who are more likely to struggle to maintain positive mental health, more likely to have their behaviour characterised as disruptive, and less likely to have access to support services and networks beyond the university."

An online petition to the CSPC against the proposed amendment has received over 200 signatures thus far and can be found here.