Submitting an Official Leave of Absence or Withdrawal Request

This page serves as a year-round reminder of leave/withdrawal process steps for (non-Metropolitan College) undergraduate degree candidates.

For Spring 2023 leave / withdrawal requests, work through Steps 1, 2, 2 addendum (if applicable), and Step 3, immediately, using the expandable links below.

The established tuition and housing cancellation schedules apply for undergraduate leaves and withdrawals:

Tuition cancellation schedule (see “Spring 2023”): https://www.bu.edu/reg/calendars/refund/
Housing cancellation/refund schedule for undergraduate students can be found within the Terms and Conditions of the 2022-23 Residence License Agreement. Remember, students residing in on-campus housing may take up to 48 hours to vacate their residence and return their keys, following BU Housing’s detailed checkout instructions.

Click the “+” sign next to each step below to view details.

Step 1: Review important information

Step 2: Initial forms and appointment/discussion with the USC

Step 2 Addendum (for students studying in the U.S. on F-1/J-1 visas)

Step 3: Last form: submit the official leave/withdrawal request to the USC for approval

If you are arranging a leave of absence, don’t forget to look through our “Planning Your Return From Leave” pages. If you are interrupting studies for health reasons, you must complete the medical review process as well; you can find details about the necessary steps on our “Medical Review” page.