Frequently Asked Questions (Leave of Absence/Withdrawal)

A leave of absence is a temporary interruption in studies, typically for a full semester.  Tuition is cancelled in accordance with the published tuition refund schedule.  A student on a leave of absence may not enroll as a degree candidate at another institution.  If you are absent for a semester without arranging for an approved leave, re-enrollment into your degree program cannot be guaranteed. 

Students who decide not to continue their program of study at BU, or who enroll as a degree candidate elsewhere, must officially  withdraw.  Tuition is cancelled in accordance with the published tuition refund schedule. 

Circumstances sometimes arise that make it necessary or advisable for students to interrupt their studies. Examples include: 

• attending to a health issue (leave of absence for medical reasons)
• completing required military service
• pursuing a professional opportunity such as an internship
• addressing a family/personal obligation

Generally, it’s best to arrange a leave or withdrawal a month to several months before the start of the new term (for example, in December for the upcoming spring term, and in May/June for the upcoming fall term). Emergencies happen, though, so if circumstances arise that might prompt a last minute or mid-semester leave or withdrawal, we can help you explore your options.

The implications of taking leaves/withdrawing do vary, depending on the semester and request timing. Be sure to explore the remaining FAQs thoroughly, since they touch on important dates, deadlines, and implications.

Taking a leave of absence involves multiple important and interrelated consequences across academics, finances, housing, health insurance, and immigration (for international students). Early planning and communication with relevant university offices (USC, academic advisor, Financial Assistance, Student Health, ISSO) are essential to managing these impacts effectively and preserving your academic progress and eligibility. 

Summary Table of Implications – high level, be sure to read the detailed information that follows  

Area	Implication/Action	Notes
Academic	Transcript: “leave of absence” noted; courses may reflect “W”	Consult advisor on degree impact and graduation timeline
	Registration canceled; re-enroll after leave	Must be enrolled or on leave every semester to stay in program
Financial	Full tuition refund if leave before start of term. (Implications may be different for leaves/withdrawals arranged after the start of the term.	Mid-semester leaves may have implications for both current-semester aid and future-semester aid eligibility
	Financial aid/scholarships canceled; loan repayment may start	Discuss specific aid impacts with Financial Assistance
Housing	On-campus housing canceled; vacate within 48 hours	Must reapply for housing when returning
Services & Access	Loss of campus service access; Terrier Card and BU email (active during leave). Access to services varies for students on leave, check with relevant office.  In general, students can no longer use their Terrier Card to swipe (for residences, dining, FitRec, library borrowing, etc).  Email account remains active while on approved leave status.	Email may deactivate if not enrolled or on leave before graduation
Health Insurance	SHIP canceled only if leave approved before August; otherwise coverage continues	Contact insurance office for details
Medical Leave	Medical review required before return; documentation may be submitted in tandem with leave request if student chooses	Not mandatory at leave, but recommended
International Students	Must consult ISSO; expected to leave U.S.; file ISSOPortal request	Visa status affected; seek ISSO advice
Employment	Work-Study awards and student employment canceled	Cannot process student time entry or payroll for students who are on a leave of absence

1. Academic Implications
   • Transcript Notation:
     • An approved leave of absence results in a “leave of absence” notation on your transcript for the relevant semester. Classes from which you withdraw may receive a “W” notation depending on timing.
   • Registration and Enrollment:
     • Your course registrations for the upcoming term are canceled, and your name is removed from class lists. Future enrollments may also be canceled, but you can re-enroll upon return if you meet the criteria.
     • You are responsible for maintaining continuous enrollment or an approved leave each semester up until the last semester before graduation to avoid discontinuing your academic program.
   • Advising:
     • You should consult your academic advisor before taking a leave to understand any impacts on degree planning, scheduling, and graduation dates.
2. Financial Implications
   • Tuition and Fees:
     • If you take a leave before the start of the semester, you are eligible for a full tuition and fee cancellation (100% refund).
     • Mid-semester leaves may not qualify for a full refund, but exceptions can be requested in case of emergency medical situations (email usc@bu.edu–after your medical leave has been arranged–for specific procedures).
     • Allow 2–3 business days for standard tuition refund schedule account adjustments and up to 30 days for financial aid adjustments.
     • Overpayments may be kept as credit for future charges or refunded upon request.
   • Financial Aid and Scholarships:
     • Need-based aid, loans, and BU scholarships for the leave semester will be canceled.
     • Awards by private donors will be adjusted per donor terms.
     • Eligibility for financial aid in future semesters could be affected; consult Financial Assistance staff for details.
     • Work-Study awards are canceled; you must notify your employer and cease student employment.
   • Loan Deferment/Repayment:
     • Student and parent loans may enter repayment status during leave. Borrowers should contact lenders to learn about grace periods, payment plans, and deferment options.
3. Housing and Campus Access
   • On-campus Housing:
     • Housing assignments will be canceled; you must vacate within 48 hours if residing on campus, return keys, and understand refund policies per the Residence License Agreement.
     • Housing for return semesters requires a separate application and is not guaranteed.
     • Your residence and dining plan charges will be adjusted according to the schedule outlined in the Terms and Conditions of the Residence License Agreement.  Any remaining Convenience Points will be rebated as noted in the Convenience Points Plan Agreement.  If these adjustments result in a credit balance on your student account, you may request a refund.  
   • Campus Services and Access:
     • While on leave, you lose access to BU services including FitRec memberships, library privileges, and your Terrier Card swipe/tap access, which will be deactivated.
   • Email:
     • Your BU email remains active during official leaves of absence but may be deactivated if you are not enrolled, not on leave, and have not graduated.
4. Health Insurance
   • Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP):
     • SHIP coverage is annual, starting in August.
     • Leaves approved before the August start of the policy year (fall or full year leave) lead to cancellation of coverage and removal of charges.
     • For spring-only leaves, insurance coverage usually continues through the policy year.
     • Waiver options exist only during the official waiver period (first 30 days). Students should contact Aetna Student Health directly with questions about coverage for specific health issues and detailed personal impact.
     • Contact Student Accounting Services to find out if you will still be enrolled. Contact Student Health Services with questions about referrals and claim forms. 
5. Medical and Return Requirements
   • If your leave is for medical reasons, a medical review with Student Health Services is required before re-enrollment.
   • Medical documentation is not required at the time of leave but providing it early facilitates return processing.
6. International Student Considerations
   • International students on F-1 or J-1 visas must consult the ISSO and follow specialized protocols:
     • Generally expected to leave the U.S. immediately on leave.
     • Must file a leave request with both BU and ISSO portals.
     • Immigration status and re-entry depend on ISSO guidance.
7. Key Responsibilities & Recommendations
   • Maintain active enrollment or approved leave status every fall and spring semester through graduation to avoid academic discontinuation.
   • Inform employers regarding a change in student employment status.
   • Contact USC, Financial Assistance, ISSO, Student Health Services, and other offices to ensure smooth processing and understand individual impacts.

Final Note

Taking a leave of absence involves multiple important and interrelated consequences across academics, finances, housing, health insurance, and immigration (for international students). Early planning and communication with relevant university offices (USC, academic advisor, Financial Assistance, Student Health, ISSO) are essential to managing these impacts effectively and preserving your academic progress and eligibility. 

Deadline  

The University establishes the semester deadlines for leaves of absence and withdrawals; these may be viewed on the University Registrar’s website, under “Semester Dates” and “Withdrawals and Tuition Refund Schedules.” The last day to arrange a semester leave or withdrawal is typically around the 12th week of the semester (view specific dates using link above). The deadline to arrange leave/withdrawal with cancellation of semester charges is _prior to_ the start of the term, see “withdrawals and tuition refund schedules” link above.  

If the semester deadline for a leave of absence has passed, and a medical or other emergency arises which will prevent you from taking your scheduled finals, you should contact your academic advising office or School/College dean’s office for assistance. 

It depends. Sometimes students need to miss class for a few days due to an illness or a family emergency. It is very important to notify each of your professors of your absence as soon as possible; a call to your academic advising office or dean’s office is usually a good idea. Students are expected to make arrangements with their instructors to complete any missed work. In many cases, a short absence from classes, with conscientious follow-up on your part, will not prevent you from successfully completing the semester.  

In cases of serious illness or injury, a student may not be able to finish the semester coursework and a leave of absence may be necessary. Your advising team can help you determine the best next step for your situation. 

Situations vary widely. To explore alternatives to taking a leave or withdrawing, it’s important to consult with appropriate BU and other resources based on your specific circumstances. These might include your academic advising team, medical providers, family, trusted friends, BU Financial Assistance, the Office of Disability and Access Services (for academic accommodations), International Students and Scholars Office (for students on F-1/J-1 visas), and others to figure out what is best.

If you need to interrupt your studies, arranging a leave of absence in advance of the start of classes is ideal.

• Life doesn’t always respect BU semester calendars of course. If your semester is underway, and you are worried you can’t finish your classes, you should definitely reach out to the listed resources to discuss your options. Start out by exploring alternatives to leave of absence (maybe you can arrange schedule adjustments or helpful accommodations). If medically or academically though, you won’t be able to finish your classes, your BU resources will connect you to the (mid-semester) leave of absence process.

You must complete the loan exit counseling requirements for federal (Stafford, Perkins) loans and for Massachusetts No Interest Loans (NIL) online.  If you have private educational loans, you should contact the lender directly for guidance.  

It depends on the reason for your leave, and your course requirements and sequencing. You might want to complete a 16 week internship (August-November) and take just the fall semester away, resuming your BU studies in January. If your program sequencing makes it tricky to resume in January, you might take a full year of leave and pursue a second internship or take classes outside of BU for external transfer credit, resuming studies in summer or fall. Discussing your plans and options with your academic advisor is always a wise idea.

In general, undergraduate students can take up to four semesters of leave. If you need time beyond four semesters, discuss with your advisor. It is possible to arrange additional time off with your dean’s approval. Your advisor is a terrific resource.

Discuss your plans with your advisor. Together you can review your path-to-degree (what courses you will take to fill degree requirements and the sequencing, i.e. when you will take specific courses) and see how this must be adjusted for time away. You should determine whether your expected graduation term needs to be adjusted if you take time away. Be sure that your expected graduation term is updated in MyBU before you submit a leave of absence request for processing. (Your leave of absence return semester registration won’t open automatically if the system lists you with an expected graduation term in the past.)

You can’t be on a leave of absence for the term in which you are going to graduate. If you determine that you don’t need your enrolled classes for your last term (you are transferring in external credits, or have changed a concentration or minor and don’t need any of the classes), work with your academic area to drop the classes, while remaining active (though not enrolled) for your graduation term. Don’t arrange a leave of absence. (If you need to move your expected graduation term, then work with your academic area to complete that, and then you can arrange a leave of absence.)

It is important to distinguish the request completion date of a leave/discontinuation action and the effective date of the action. These dates are typically different (when arranging an action in advance) though they will be the same when arranging an action once the term is underway.

Request completion date is the date a leave or discontinuation request is submitted and confirmed.
Request completion date determines:

• whether classes are dropped with or without W notations
• cancellation of tuition/fees per the published tuition refund schedule
• adjustment of residence/dining charges and convenience points plans (per the appropriate housing agreements and in conjunction with residence checkout/key return)

Most leaves and discontinuations are pre-planned and requested/completed/arranged in advance of the term. The effective date of the planned-and-arranged-in-advance leave or discontinuation is the day before the upcoming term begins.

In general, students arrange leaves and discontinuation as follows:

• Fall term: requests completed and confirmed over the summer months (May-July); leave or discontinuation begins the day before the start of the fall term (usually August 31 or September 1)
• Spring term: requests completed and confirmed November-December; leave or discontinuation begins the date before the start of the spring term (usually the third week in January)

Leaves (and discontinuations) may be arranged once a term is underway, but this late timing should be reserved for emergency situations, after exploring and exhausting all options for finishing semester coursework in progress.

If you are planning/arranging your leave in advance, the effective date is the day before the leave term begins. This generally coincides with the last day for leave with full cancellation of tuition and fees, for the fall and spring terms. (CGS 1st year students taking a leave for their required Summer London/New England semester should see the FAQs on the CGS Summer 2026 Leave of Absence page.)

If you are planning your leave in advance, the start date of your leave will be one day before the start of the term (so for Fall 2026, the start date for a planned-in-advance leave is 9/1/2026).

If you arrange a leave or discontinuation once the term is underway, the start date will correspond to the date of your completed request.

No. The completion date of your leave/discontinuation request will determine your eligibility for tuition cancellation

Students can work with their academic area to extend or shorten their leave duration / return-from-leave date as appropriate; it is important to resolve any outstanding holds or compliance items as part of these requests.

We recommend filing a leave or discontinuation request only after you’ve fully explored your options. If you arrange a leave or discontinuation and then change your mind, reach out to see if there is still time to reverse the request. (It will depend on the timing.) Note: reversing a leave or discontinuation, if possible, DOES NOT reinstate your semester arrangements. If your leave or discontinuation is reversed, it is up to you to work with the appropriate areas for all your term arrangements (course enrollment, housing, financial assistance, loans/payments, compliance items).

• • Academic
  • Academic difficulty
  • Church mission
  • Financial
  • Family
  • Medical (Note: if you indicate medical reasons you MUST complete the medical review process, prior to re-enrolling/returning.
  • Military service
  • Personal
  • Safety/security
  • Visa
  • Work – Career – Internship

Here is how you can confirm your leave/discontinuation action has been updated in MyBU Student:

• • • MyBU Student Dashboard → Academics → View Unofficial Transcript → Programs
      You will see a date, your academic program information and the status information “active in program”, “leave of absence” or “discontinued” (for a permanent withdrawal)

We recommend viewing these details on a device with a larger display screen (desktop computer, laptop, tablet) as some students report information may be truncated/cut off from view when displayed on a mobile phone.

Notes:

• • • Processing can be delayed by holds (immunization, financial, advising), so clear any holds as soon as possible.
    • Make sure you are viewing the “Programs” option on the View Unofficial Transcript page. (If you view the Programs option under the Academics page, you will not see the necessary details.)
    • Medical Leaves: If your leave is for health reasons, you will need to complete medical review before you attempt to re-enroll. Follow Student Health Services’ instructions and the medical review timeline so your return isn’t delayed. For medical review questions, contact Student Health Services.

A student on a leave of absence or in a non-credit certificate or exchange program cannot be paid as a student employee, but can be hired as a temporary employee/staff/faculty through Human Resources. See the policy “Student Work Hours for Employment at Boston University” for more information.

Check your leave start and return semesters carefully before submitting your request, especially if you’d like to leave the option open to take summer classes or work as a student employee for the summer.

Undergraduate students are allowed to take classes at other institutions, either in the summer months or while on approved leave of absence from BU. Your academic advisors are always your best resource in understanding how your path-to-degree is impacted if you are taking time away or transferring in external credits. Here are some important notes to keep in mind if you are taking summer classes outside of BU, or taking classes—in any term—while on approved leave from BU:

• • • enrollment status at the host (non-BU) school must be that of a “guest” student (also known as visiting, non-degree seeking, transient, or non-matriculated student)
    • you may not matriculate into a degree program at another school while you are matriculated in a BU undergraduate degree-program (if you wish to matriculate into a degree program at a school other than BU, you must first permanently withdraw from BU/discontinue your BU degree program)
    • there is no limitation on the number of credits you may enroll in at a host institution during a leave term
    • enrolling in credits at another school does not guarantee credits will transfer towards your BU degree; you must discuss your plans with your advising team at BU, to determine whether credits earned outside of BU can be applied towards your degree requirements, and then follow any instructions for approving/arranging transfer credit

No, part time status is not the same as taking a leave of absence. Undergraduates are expected to carry a full-time courseload each fall/spring term. If you aren’t able to enroll full-time for a semester (for medical, academic or financial reasons) but you could enroll part-time, then it’s important you connect with your BU resources to explore options. Reach out to your academic advising team and—if health/medical issues are involved—to the Office of Disability and Access Services (ODAS). They can help you compare and contrast opportunities to be approved for part-time enrollment (instead of arranging a leave of absence):

• • • If medically, appropriate, an academic accommodation for reduced courseload may be arranged through ODAS. You can explore this process at https://www.bu.edu/disability/accommodations/procedures/specific/reduced-course-load/
    • Your School/College may be able to approve part-time status, for example if you aren’t eligible for the ODAS academic accommodation or if you have a non-medical reason for reducing your courseload.

Enrolling part-time for a semester may impact path-to-degree, expected graduation term, your semester charges, and your eligibility for financial aid and loans, so be sure to consult with all appropriate resources.

First, contact the External Study Abroad Office for information and a comprehensive checklist of steps to take before, during, and after your semester studying away from BU. Then set up an appointment to speak with the Assistant Director for External Programs.  Once you have completed the necessary steps, then you may submit your leave of absence request following these instructions.  

International students should always discuss leave or discontinuation plans with an advisor in the International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO) before submitting a request.

Students are typically required to depart the United States for the duration of the leave.

• • • When arranging a leave or discontinuation in advance, it is important to clarify travel plans and departure requirements with an advisor.
    • When arranging a leave or discontinuation mid-semester (interrupting classes in progress due to health or other emergency) it is important to clarify travel/departure requirements and any exceptions available.

International students must complete both the academic leave process (all the same steps completed by domestic students) and the required requests in the ISSO portal.

Return-from-leave semester will vary based on your situation. If you are taking a planned-in-advance leave (for a non-BU study abroad, a work experience, or family reasons), determine how long you need to be away from your studies—usually a semester, or an academic or calendar year. Talk with your advisor about the time away, and go over course offerings to ensure you are returning in sync with the courses you need to complete your degree. You should also look through the return-from-leave/re-enrollment timelines, to ensure you will be able to complete all steps on time and in the suggested order, while you are away.

If you are taking a leave for medical reasons, especially due to a mid-semester health emergency, it is generally advisable to take at least one full semester away (in addition to the interrupted-study semester). That allows time to attend to health needs, and allows for completion of medical review and the smoothest possible re-enrollment.

If you aren’t certain about your leave duration, pick a shorter duration, and then extend as needed.

I understand it is my responsibility to keep contact information up to date in my student portal, and to check my BU student email account or to arrange email forwarding.*

I have obtained any necessary approvals or signatures and understand if I have not arranged this, my request may not be processed. I am aware my request is effective the date all required materials and approvals are received by the University, and my tuition and fees will be adjusted according to the published refund schedule, using that date.*

I understand the residence checkout process (if applicable) and how this affects financial adjustments to my student account. (Information on housing guarantee payment refunds as well as housing charge adjustments can be reviewed in the Terms and Conditions of the most recent version of the Residence License Agreement, available online at bu.edu/housing.

I understand that if I am studying on a student visa (F1, J1, etc) it is my responsibility to consult with the International Students and Scholars Office (isso@bu.edu) to discuss the implications of any action on my SEVIS/immigration records prior to arranging a leave or withdrawal. I understand that if I proceed with a leave or withdrawal, my SEVIS/immigration records will be updated accordingly; this may impact my ability to remain in the U.S. and/or to travel to the U.S. in the future.

I understand it is my responsibility to discuss my planned leave of absence or withdrawal with my head coach and the associate athletics director for compliance before finalizing any action with the University Service Center.

I understand it is my responsibility to consult with an academic advisor about the academic implications of a leave or withdrawal prior to finalizing this request.*

• • • • BU attendance policy: https://www.bu.edu/academics/policies/attendance/
      • BU bereavement policy for students: https://www.bu.edu/academics/policies/student-bereavement/
      • Registration: https://www.bu.edu/academics/policies/registration/
      • Withdrawal, Leave of Absence, and Reinstatement policy: https://www.bu.edu/academics/policies/withdrawal-leave-of-absence-and-reinstatement/