‘I dropped out of university – but now I’m teaching at one’

Dr Rebecca Sharpe left university after two months, feeling lonely, stressed and unsure that her course or city suited her. She later returned to study geography and now lectures at Sheffield Hallam University, showing how leaving can be a step towards finding a better fit rather than the end of an academic path.

The 41-year-old was the first in her family to attend university and initially chose psychology and economics. After working in retail, she enrolled at Loughborough, where field trips and a more suitable environment helped her settle in; she went on to complete a master’s and PhD at the University of Sheffield. The National Union of Students says student departures peak in mid-autumn and just after Christmas, and Sharpe says universities can support students to stay or advise them to leave.