If a student has permanently withdrawn from their studies or deferred their studies for reasons unrelated to Covid-19, sponsors must report this as usual.

You do not need to withdraw sponsorship for new students who have been issued a Student visa but are distance learning because they have been unable to travel to the UK. If a student stops engaging with their distance learning for more than 30 days, whether overseas or in the UK, you must withdraw sponsorship.

Decisions on whether to withdraw a student from their studies continue to be the responsibility of Sponsors so it is for you to decide whether you consider that the Student’s actions are due to exceptional circumstances. If they are related to the Coronavirus outbreak then it is likely that the Home Office will agree that exceptional circumstances exist.