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Resignation letter for higher studies

Higher studies is a positive reason to give. Leave with your relieving and experience letters; you may need them later.

Free · no login · download as PDF · Updated 4 October 2026

By Rajesh Kumar · How these pages are made

Include

Check your contract. Your notice period is in your appointment letter. Count it the way your company does: calendar or working days, from the day you resign or the day it is accepted.

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Add your name, job title, company and last working day. The letter states your last working day, respects your notice period and asks for what you need when you leave: the things HR looks for.

Sample letter

Illustrative template only. Put your course, institute and dates in place of the [brackets], or let the form above write it for you.

Sample: resignation to pursue higher studies

Date: [Date]

To,
[Manager's name]
[Designation]
[Company name]

Subject: Resignation to pursue higher studies

Dear [Manager's name],

I am writing to formally resign from my position as [Your job title] at [Company name], as I will be pursuing [course name] at [university / institute] starting [start date]. As per my notice period of [notice period], my last working day will be [Last working day].

The experience I have gained here has played a big part in this decision, and I am thankful for your guidance and the team's support.

Before I leave, I will complete my pending work and hand over my responsibilities in full.

I request you to issue my relieving letter, experience letter and full-and-final settlement after my last working day, as I may need them for my studies and future applications.

Thank you once again.

Sincerely,
[Your full name]
[Employee ID]
[Phone number]

Why the documents matter more here

Read your programme's admission, scholarship and visa checklists for proof of work experience; your next employer after the course may ask for it too. Ask for the relieving letter and experience letter in the resignation itself, and keep scanned copies somewhere you can reach from abroad.

Timing around admission dates

  • Resign once the admission is confirmed and any fee deposit is paid. A conditional offer can still fall through.
  • If you need a student visa, check how long appointments are taking before you fix your last working day.
  • Work back from the course start date: leave time for travel, settling in and any orientation week.
  • If the dates are tight, request early release rather than leaving before your notice ends.

Study leave or a sabbatical instead

If the course is short, part-time or online, you may not need to resign at all. Ask HR whether your company has a study leave, sabbatical or education sponsorship policy, and what it asks in return. Check whether it ties you to a period of service after the course, and read those terms before you sign.

Leaving the door open to rejoin

If you'd like to come back after the course, say so in one line of the letter and again in your exit conversation. Ask your manager to keep you in mind, connect with the team on LinkedIn, and write to them a few months before you graduate. A clean handover helps when your name comes up again.

Money before the course starts

Fees and travel come early, so know when your settlement will arrive. The Code on Wages, 2019, in force since 21 November 2025, says in section 17(2) that wages payable to an employee who has resigned are to be paid within two working days of the resignation, unless the government sets another limit or a different law applies. Ask HR to confirm the date in writing.

On a fixed-term contract? The government's note on the Labour Codes says fixed-term employees now qualify for gratuity after one year of continuous service rather than five, so check your dates before choosing a last day. Ask HR, too, how to transfer or withdraw your provident fund.

After the course

When you're job hunting again, the gap is simple to explain: put the course on your resume with the dates. CVEmber's builder handles education and experience in the same timeline.

Sources

Checked on 4 October 2026. Laws change, and your appointment letter or company policy can give you more than the minimum, so check it too. This page is general information, not legal advice.

FAQ

Questions, answered.

Should I name the university in the letter?

It's optional. Naming it gives your manager something to be pleased about, but "to pursue higher studies" alone is also fine.

Can I ask to return after my studies?

Yes. A single line saying you'd welcome the chance to work together again fits well, especially with a warm tone.

Do I need an experience letter for a master's application?

It depends on the programme. If it asks for proof of work experience, check which document it accepts, then ask HR for that one before your last day.

When should I resign if my course starts in a few months?

Count back your notice period plus a few weeks for visa, travel and settling in. Resign after admission is confirmed, not before.

What if my admission is deferred after I resign?

Talk to your manager straight away. If your last working day hasn't passed, ask whether you can withdraw the resignation or move the date. Get any change confirmed by HR in writing.

Can I ask for study leave instead of resigning?

Yes. Ask HR what the leave or sabbatical policy allows. If the answer is no, you can still resign with the same notice.

Still unsure? Send us a message — a real person replies.

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