Leave of Absence and Withdrawal

Arranging for a Leave of Absence or Withdrawal

If you are an undergraduate degree candidate and wish to take a leave of absence or withdraw from Boston University, you must do so at the University Service Center. If you are not in the area, you may fax or mail your signed request letter to our office. (Offices handling leaves and withdrawals for graduate and non-degree students may be found in the FAQ section.) Leaves of absence and withdrawals are effective on the date a student’s signed request is received at the USC. Tuition and fees are canceled in accordance with the published refund schedule.

Academic Advising

Be sure to speak with an academic advisor at your School or College to discuss how a leave may affect completion of your degree program.

If you are planning to take classes at another accredited domestic institution during your leave of absence, contact your academic advising office to determine whether the course credits will be preapproved for transfer to your degree program.

Please note, you may not enroll as a degree candidate at another institution while on a leave of absence from Boston University. If you do so, you will need to reapply to Boston University as a transfer student.

Housing/Dining

If you reside in Boston University housing, you must carefully read and follow the instructions on the Office of Housing’s Withdrawal Procedures form, which is completed at the University Service Center at the time of your leave of absence or withdrawal. (Please note: Students must move out of their campus residence and return their keys within 48 hours of taking a leave or withdrawing.) Contact the Office of Housing with any questions about residence and dining plan charges or credits.

If you live off campus and have a dining plan or a Plus Plan, you must contact the Terrier Card Office immediately to cancel your plan. If you have any questions about unused Convenience Points, contact the Terrier Card Office at 617-353-9966.

Students returning from a leave of absence are not guaranteed accommodations on campus. If you are interested in obtaining on-campus housing for the semester of your return, you must contact the Office of Housing to inquire about availability and request an application. Housing applications are reviewed on an individual basis and are responded to in writing.

Student Accounting Services

If the effective date of your official leave of absence or withdrawal entitles you to the cancellation of any or all of your tuition and will result in a credit balance on your student account, you may leave the credit on your account to be applied against future charges, or you may have it refunded to you. Refund requests should be made in writing to Student Accounting Services at 881 Commonwealth Avenue.

In some cases, the cancellation of charges may result in the loss of eligibility for some or all of the financial aid applied to your account. For assistance in determining the financial implications of a leave of absence or withdrawal, contact the University Service Center.

Financial Assistance/Loans

Taking a leave of absence or withdrawing may affect your financial aid award (including grants, scholarships, loans, and outside awards) for the current or subsequent semesters. For more information, please contact the University Service Center (617-358-1818).

A leave of absence or withdrawal may affect the deferment status of your educational loans; if you have any questions about your loans, such as when repayment begins, contact your loan servicer(s). Information on how to contact the loan servicer can be found in your promissory note and/or on your disclosure form. Contact information for Federal Direct Stafford and Perkins Loans may also be found in the Related Resources section.

International Students

If you are an international student, you must obtain approval from an International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) advisor in addition to requesting a leave of absence or withdrawal at the University Service Center.

For more information, contact ISSO at 617-353-3565 or refer to their web site.

Study Abroad/International Programs

BU Study Abroad and School for Field Studies

Students who participate in a Boston University study abroad program or the Los Angeles or Washington, D.C. programs offered through the Division of International Programs should not take a leave of absence. If you are accepted to one of these programs, you will continue to be registered at Boston University for your semester(s) at the program site. Students who participate in a School for Field Studies program should not take a leave of absence, but must contact the School for Field Studies liaison at the Boston University International Programs office to arrange their program registration through Boston University.

If you decide not to attend a B.U. study abroad program for which you have registered, you must notify International Programs directly. Visit the web site or call 617-353-9888 for more information.

Non-B.U. Study Abroad Programs

If you are planning to participate in a non-Boston University study abroad program in the fall or spring semester, you must arrange for a leave of absence directly through the University Service Center. You may also find it helpful to contact International Programs well in advance of your departure for information regarding the approval of transfer credit, or for a copy of the Non-Boston University Programs Handbook.

For more information or assistance, please contact International Programs (617-353-9888) or the University Service Center (617-358-1818).