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How to Apply for a Leave of Absence from University

Work through these steps if you're planning to take a leave of absence from university.

  1. Check which type of leave applies to you

    General leave, military service leave, and medical leave each come with different eligibility requirements and required documents, so figure out which category fits your situation first.

  2. Check the application period

    Leave of absence requests are usually only accepted within a set window, either before the term starts or partway through it, so confirm your school's specific timeline in the academic calendar.

  3. Prepare the required documents

    Depending on the reason, you may need supporting paperwork, such as a service enlistment notice for military leave or a doctor's note for medical leave, so gather these ahead of time.

  4. Submit your request through the academic system

    Log into your school's student portal, fill out the leave of absence request, and enter your reason and the intended leave period before submitting.

  5. Check how tuition and any student loans are affected

    If you already paid tuition, refund rules can vary depending on when in the term your leave takes effect, and if you're carrying a student loan, you may need to separately notify the loan provider that you're on leave.

  6. Confirm the approval result

    After submitting, check with your department office or the academic system to confirm your leave was approved and that your enrollment status has been updated.

Required documents differ by type of leave

General leave, military leave, and medical leave each ask for different supporting evidence and run on different application timelines, so the accurate procedure -- including exactly which documents your specific case needs -- is always worth confirming directly through your own school's academic system rather than assuming one type works like another.

If you're carrying a student loan, plan around the leave

If you're already repaying or holding a student loan while on leave, it's worth checking with your loan provider about how a leave of absence affects your repayment terms or any grace period, since the rules can differ from how they apply to enrolled students. Confirming this before your leave starts avoids surprises later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still use the library or campus facilities while on leave?

It depends on the school -- leave-of-absence students are often given more limited access than currently enrolled students, so check the exact scope with your school's academic system or library directly.

Do I still have to pay tuition during a leave of absence?

No -- once a leave is formally approved, you typically don't owe tuition for that term. If you already paid, refund rules can vary depending on exactly when your leave takes effect, so check with your school.