CGS Summer leaves of absence

Leave of Absence/Withdrawal Inquiry

Student Experience Questionnaire

Leave/Withdrawal Request Form

Handshake appointment: log in with your BU credentials to schedule a University Service Center  appointment.  Appointments are being prioritized for CGS Summer 2025 leave requests between April 23 and May 12. Please note: If there are no open appointments in Handshake, use our Zoom drop-ins to meet with the team (see schedule posted on our Contact Us page). Be sure to complete all the linked forms above at least one business day before your appointment / drop-in meeting. Review the linked informational pages and jot down questions so you can review at the appointment.

International students studying on F-1 or J-1 visas must also fill out required information on the ISSOPortal:  https://issoportal.bu.edu/_portal/, “Request Center”.

Read through the “Implications of a summer leave” section below, where we answer some commonly asked questions.  Be sure to jot any other questions or concerns down, and bring those to your required meeting with our team (Handshake or Zoom drop-in).

Submit all forms as described in #1 above, and complete your meeting with the USC staff no later than May 12.

• International students (those studying on an F-1 or J-1 visa) must also complete required paperwork through the ISSOPortal  (https://issoportal.bu.edu/_portal/) in the “Request Center”.  This will allow the smoothest possible re-enrollment / avoid any issues with your immigration or travel paperwork.  See image below, and email isso@bu.edu for assistance if you have questions about your ISSOPortal request.

Once you’ve completed steps 1-3, above, we should be able to approve your request and update your records within 2-5 business days.  (If you have any holds–immunization, financial, advising, or others impacting enrollment/registration–in MyBU, the timeline for updating your records will be extended.  Please resolve all holds promptly.  Our team is not able to remove your holds.)

You can view your approved leave of absence or discontinue (permanent withdrawal) status by taking the following steps:

• log into MyBU Student
• select the “My BU Student Dashboard” tile
• from your dashboard view, select “Academics“
• select “View Unofficial Transcript”
• in this view, click the expandable button for “Programs”

The images below show an example of a confirmed leave of absence for Fall 2024 (return semester Spring 2025), as well as a permanent withdrawal, which is noted as “Discontinue” in MyBU.

Sample views of status screens in MyBU

Leave of Absence Fall 2024 (Spring 2025 return)

Discontinue (permanent withdrawal) for Fall 2024

Suggested deadline for Summer CGS 2025 leaves (for the London and New England programs) is May 12 (for full cancellation of tuition and fees, minus any nonrecoverable costs for the London program). 

Leaves of absence arranged after May 12th will have tuition and fees adjusted in accordance with the CGS Summer 2025 tuition cancellation schedule.    

Tuition and fees are adjusted based on the timing of your approved leave request.

• If you arrange your leave of absence by May 12 (all steps above completed and your request approved and visible in MyBU), your summer tuition and fees will be canceled in full, minus any nonrecoverable costs associated with the London program.
• If you arrange your leave of absence after May 12, your tuition and fees will be adjusted in accordance with the Tuition cancellation schedule for 1st year CGS Summer London / New England programs, Summer 2025.

Financial aid adjustments as part of a summer leave will depend on the types of aid in your award, and the timing of your leave of absence in relation to the start of your summer program.  USC staff will discuss these specifics with you at your phone/Zoom appointment.

University policy requires that all students who take leaves for medical reasons complete the medical review process with Student Health Services prior to re-enrollment. Information on the medical review process is outlined under the returning from leave options on this site.
It is not necessary to provide medical documentation at the time of the leave of absence. Providing medical documentation at the time of the leave or soon thereafter, however, can facilitate the medical review process as part of the return from leave arrangements.

The University establishes semester deadlines for leaves of absence and withdrawals.  The last day to arrange a leave of absence for the CGS Summer 1 programs (London, New England) is June 20.  The last day to arrange a leave of absence for CGS Summer 2 program (London) is August 1.

• 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, contact your CGS advisor right away to discuss options.
• The University Service Center can assist you should you need to arrange a leave of absence for the fall semester.

See expandable step #4 above, for instructions on how and where you can view the leave of absence approval (and your expected return from leave / re-enrollment date) in MyBU.

When your leave of absence is approved, your course registration will be cancelled for the summer semester and your name removed from class lists.  You will not earn any academic credit for the summer program.  Your summer courses may be dropped with “W” notations, if you are arranging your leave after the program is underway.
If you are arranging a leave of absence for medical reasons, you will need to complete a medical review process / arrange re-enrollment permission before you can resume studies at BU.  This means your fall course enrollment may need to be canceled as well as your summer course enrollment.
The University Service Center staff can explain more about this at your leave of absence appointment. 

If you are arranging a leave for the London semester:

• After May 10 (Summer 1) / after June 20 (Summer 2), in addition to the steps above, contact the Student Life team in London to let them know you are arranging a summer leave

If you are arranging a leave for the New England semester:

• By May 12: your on-campus housing assignment will be cancelled and the space reassigned.
• If you’ve already moved into on-campus housing at the time of your leave you may take up to 48 hours to vacate the residence and return keys; see BU Housing’s webpage for more detailed checkout instructions.

For information on requesting on-campus housing for your semester of return, see Planning Your Return From a Leave of Absence.

Allow five business days for tuition/fee adjustments to be reflected in your online invoice once the University Service Center staff have approved your request and updated your records.  Adjustment of financial aid funds may take up to thirty days. We recommend you not request a refund of any payments via your MyBU Student portal until after all financial aid adjustments are complete.  

Yes, student and parent educational loans may go into repayment status if the student isn’t enrolled full-time.  Information on payment amounts, grace periods, etc., can be obtained from the lender.  For contact details for federal loan programs, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.  

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. 

During a leave of absence, you will not have access to BU services such as FitRec membership, library borrowing privileges, etc.  If you are resolving an incomplete during your leave of absence and need access to library materials, speak with your advising team. 

Your BU Email and (select components of your) MyBU portal access remain active for each semester you are officially registered for classes or are on an approved leave of absence.  If your records lapse (you don’t enroll and don’t extend your leave of absence), then your BU Email and MyBU portal access may be discontinued.  To avoid discontinuation, ensure you are enrolled for the semester or on an approved leave of absence.