Withdrawal & Leave of Absence for Graduate Students

If you are registered and decide not to attend classes, you must officially withdraw or take a leave of absence. A leave of absence (LOA) should be taken if you intend to return in a future semester (within one year); a withdrawal indicates a decision to leave the University permanently.

International students should not withdraw from any classes below full-time status or request an LOA until an ISSO advisor has authorized you to do so. Contact the ISSO (isso@bu.edu) for specific information.

Important Financial Considerations

  • If you withdraw or take a leave of absence after a semester has officially started, you are still responsible for the tuition and fees on your Student Account. Charges are canceled in accordance with the published refund schedule, based on the effective date of the withdrawal or leave of absence.
  • Financial aid is not guaranteed upon your return to BU after a leave of absence, however, you should consult with the Assistant Director of Graduate Financial Aid about your specific circumstances.
  • Abandoning your coursework without notification will result in the requirement of full payment and will terminate your graduate program enrollment with no option for returning to your studies.

Applicable Academic Policies

  • An LOA is typically for one semester. A leave of absence may be renewed upon written request to your program director. Each program has specific constraints imposed by national accreditation standards therefore no LOA will exceed one year. After one year, a new application to the program will be required.
  • Taking a leave of absence will result in “W” grades on your transcript for all current semester coursework.
  • Students who are required by their programs to take a year off for academic purposes must contact their program directors at least 6 weeks in advance of their intended return.
  • A student may not apply for a leave of absence to avoid academic probation or dismissal or other sanction.

Students interrupting studies for medical reasons must complete a review process through Student Health Services prior to returning to BU.  Please review this helpful checklist for this process.

To withdraw or take a leave of absence, you must contact both of these offices

Sargent College Academic Services Center
635 Commonwealth Avenue
617-353-2713
Room 207

Sargent College Graduate Financial Aid
635 Commonwealth Avenue
617-353-7477
Room 217

Adding or Dropping a Course

The College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College follows Boston University’s guidelines for adding or dropping a course. Please review the policy here.