General Information
Graduate students may apply for a Leave of Absence from a program for a semester or for the academic year using the Graduate Petition for a Leave of Absence.
It is not necessary for a student to apply for a Leave of Absence if he or she has a registration record for that semester. A "W" counts as a registration record. A Leave of Absence is inappropriate for a student who withdraws from all classes after the start of a semester and gets "W' grades since a Leave of Absence presupposes no registration at all for a term. Since, in such cases, the student has maintained continuous enrollment by having a registration record, he or she is eligible to register the following semester (or Summer or Winter term) and will suffer no adverse effects due to the fact that he or she was not eligible to apply formally for a Leave.
Only academic services or facilities available to the general public can be used during the LOA. Students who require significant faculty time (e.g. advising, reviewing, collaborating) must be enrolled rather than on Leave of Absence.
Leaves of Absence (LOAs) may affect the status of a graduate student’s financial aid. Students are responsible for determining the requirements of their funding agency and/or academic unit prior to applying for a Leave of Absence.
Student insurance might not be available while on Graduate Student Leave of Absence, please contact Campus Health Services for more information.
International students must check with the International Students Programs and Services before filing for a Leave of Absence.
If a student fails to register and does not have a Leave of Absence on file, the student will be discontinued from their program. A new application will be necessary for the student to continue in the program. Re-admission is not guaranteed. See Continuous Enrollment and Re-admission Policies for more information.
Academic Leaves
Academic LOAs (i.e., leaves to take course work at another university, for research, field work, internships, professional development, etc.) are handled on a case-by-case basis by the student’s department and the Graduate College.
Medical Leaves
Graduate students in degree or certificate programs may be granted a Medical Leave of Absence by the Dean of the Graduate College.
Personal Leaves
Graduate students in degree or certificate programs are typically granted a Leave of Absence for only one year throughout the course of their degree program. When circumstances warrant, this may be extended beyond one year with approval from the Dean of the Graduate College. LOAs are granted on a case-by-case basis for compelling reasons including birth or adoption of a child, personal or family reasons, medical reasons, military duty, or financial hardship. Students will maintain their status without reapplying to the department and the Graduate College at the expiration of the LOA.
Retroactive Leave of Absence
A retroactive leave request is any request made after the last day of finals in the semester. If a student does not request the leave by the last day of finals, he or she would need to apply for re-admission to the program. Under extraordinary circumstances, LOAs may be granted retroactively. In such cases, students will be readmitted without reapplying to the department and the Graduate College.
Time to Degree
Time to degree is not extended while on Leave of Absence.
Doctoral Students Time to Degree Requirements
Masters/ Specialist Students Time to Degree Requirements
Certificate Students Time to Degree Requirements
Guaranteed Mandatory Fees
The time allotted for Guaranteed Mandatory Fees is not extended while on Leave of Absence.
Guaranteed Mandatory Fees - Frequently Asked Questions
Requesting LOA
Students may request a Leave of Absence by submitting the Graduate Petition for a Leave of Absence form.