Introduction
This page defines the criteria for a Leave of Absence and Withdrawal from the Univerisity. All requests for Leave of Absence must be filed prior to the first day of the semester. As of the first day of class in a semester, students wishing to leave the University must withdraw and will forfeit part or all of their tuition depending on the timing of the withdrawal.
NOTE: New students may not take a Leave of Absence; they must request a deferral from the Office of Admission.
A printable document with more information may be found here.
Applying for a Leave of Absence
Students who plan to be away from the University in a future semester (or semesters) should file for a Leave of Absence by the deadline listed on the College calendar using the eForm in their SIS Student Center. All students returning from a leave must apply for readmission to the College of Arts & Sciences. Students should work with their Association Dean on the application for readmission. Students wishing to be readmitted to the University following an absence of 24 continuous months (4 consecutive spring and fall semesters) or longer must also receive permission from the Provost's Committee on Student Readmission.
Students who take a Leave of Absence and wish to earn credit during their leave may enroll in no more than 8 semester credits per semester. Students on suspension for any reason (academic or non-academic) may not transfer credit back to the College.
You may apply for a Leave of Absence using the eForm in your SIS Student Center.
EXCEPTION:
An active duty Leave of Absence is not bound by the regular Leave of Absence constraints. Such requests can be processed manually with a paper form (available from 101 Monroe Hall) instead of the electronic process. In order to process a Leave of Absence as being for active duty, The Office of the University Registrar (UREG) also needs to have a copy of the student’s active duty orders along with the request form. Click here for additional information.
Withdrawal from the University: General Conditions and Requirements
With the approval of your Association Dean, you may withdraw from the College (using the eForm in SIS) for personal or medical reasons. Students taking a medical withdrawal are encouraged to meet with someone in the Department of Student Health prior to leaving the University (see Medical Withdrawal below).
If you withdraw during the last 10 class days immediately preceding the Final Examination period, you are not permitted to re-enter the College the succeeding semester (see the College calendar for specific dates).
Students may withdraw from the College before the conclusion of a semester only if they fulfill the following requirements:
- Students under the age of 18 must give notice to their parents or legal guardians of their intention to withdraw. Evidence of this notice must be provided at the time of withdrawal.
- Applications for withdrawal must be made in writing to the student’s academic dean’s office and must be approved by the dean.
Failure to comply with the above regulations will subject a student to suspension from the University by the Vice President for Student Affairs. Any student who leaves without having obtained permission is recorded as having been suspended with a grade of F recorded for each course.
Notes:
1. Students who withdraw from the University voluntarily will have the notation "withdrew (date)" recorded on their permanent academic record and will receive a grade of W in each of their courses, even if a grade has posted.
2. Students who withdraw within 10 class days immediately preceding the final examination period are not permitted to re-enter the College for the succeeding semester nor to present transfer credit earned during the same time.
3. Students who withdraw in consecutive terms (spring to fall or fall to spring) must sit out for one full academic year.
4. Check with the Financial Aid office to determine how your withdrawal will affect your financial aid. A partial refund of tuition and fees is available depending upon when during the semester you withdraw.
5. All students who withdraw must apply for readmission to their school of enrollment. College students should contact their Association Dean.
Medical Withdrawal from the University
When students withdraw from a semester, a grade of W (withdrawal) is entered for each course in which the student was registered. Students taking a medical withdrawal are strongly encouraged to contact the Department of Student Health before they leave. Medical clearance from the Department of Student Health is required for readmission.
In very unusual medical circumstances, documented by professional certification, a College student has one semester in which to petition for a retroactive medical withdrawal. If approved, all grades convert to Ws and the student is obliged to be absent for a full semester before resuming full-time study.
Students who withdraw in consecutive terms (spring to fall or fall to spring) must sit out for one full academic year.
All students who withdraw must apply for readmission to their dean’s office.
Enforced Withdrawal
Students may be forced to withdraw from a class or the University for
- Habitual delinquency in class
- Habitual idleness
- Any other fault that prevents the student from fulfilling the purpose implied by registration at the University
Faculty who wish to remove a student from a class for habitual deliquency or habitual idleness must first notify the student in writing; students have five days to appeal their decision to the faculty member. If removal from the class occurs before the withdrawal deadline, a grade of W will be posted for the class. If it occurs after the class withdrawal deadline, a grade of F will be posted for the class.
Students who are forced to withdraw from the semester will have the notation "Enforced Academic Withdrawal (date)” entered on their permanent academic records. A grade of W (withdrawal) will be entered for each course in which the student was registered.
Students who were forced to withdraw must apply for readmission to their dean’s office in the same manner as suspended students.
Studying Abroad
Students who wish to study abroad in an accredited program or at an accredited foreign university must apply through the International Studies Office.
While studying abroad, a student must register at the University of Virginia as a non-resident and pay a non-resident fee; this indicates that he or she is pursuing educational interests elsewhere.
Students registered for an approved leave may pre-enroll for courses and do not have to apply for readmission to the University, although they must notify their dean’s office or the International Studies Office of when they intend to return.
Exclusion from Courses
A student who is making no progress in a course, or whose behavior is detracting from the course, may be excluded from that course by the dean with a grade of W or F.
Students have five calendar days following written notification of this exclusion in which to appeal. Until the final disposition of the appeal, the student is considered enrolled in the course. The appeal goes first to the chair of the department and then to the Associate Dean for Academic Programs.
Until the final disposition of the appeal, the student will continue to be enrolled in the course and may continue to attend classes with the approval of the dean and the instructor.