Leaves of Absence

When students are faced with medical or mental health concerns that may impact study habits, course attendance, or class preparation, they are urged to consult with their advisors and/or The Office of Student Wellness to discuss taking a medical leave of absence from the university. A student who must interrupt study temporarily because of physical or mental health concern may request a Medical Leave. The medical or mental health professional who has been providing treatment to the student will, with the student's written consent, confirm in writing that a Medical Leave is warranted. Students who are hospitalized during an academic term or who miss class for more than two weeks due to health issues are advised to take a medical leave from the term in progress. Medical professionals at Medical Services as well as Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) can also help students evaluate whether a medical leave is advisable.

Students must provide documentation from a health care provider whose specialty is appropriate to the associated condition to support their requests for medical leaves of absence during the specified time requested. 

A medical leave can be granted for a minimum of one term and a maximum of two years for SPS students. If a student does not return from a leave upon completion of the agreed upon time, they will be considered withdrawn from the program and must reapply to return. During the leave, if a student determines that they cannot return at the agreed upon date, the student may request an extension of the leave of absence (again, for up to a maximum of two years.) In order to be eligible for an extension, the student must provide updated documentation concerning the reason for the extension.

Students who will be taking a Medical Leave of Absence may meet with The Office of Student Wellness to ensure the appropriate documentation is submitted and they have access to the necessary support and resources while on leave. You may schedule an appointment here or contact the office at sps-wellness [[at]] columbia [[dot]] edu 

A voluntary leave from the University is granted to students who wish to take time away from their studies for a variety of reasons, including employment opportunities, personal or family circumstances, the desire to travel, or simply to gain perspective on their academic and career priorities. After a temporary leave from the University, students often return better prepared to make the most of academic opportunities at Columbia. Students are urged to pay particular attention to the deadlines for requesting readmission.

Students are required to check their Columbia email while on leave as this is the official means of communication used by the University. Advisors in the SPS Office of Advising should be consulted with any questions.

A leave can be granted for a minimum of one term and a maximum of one year. As a general matter, the expectation is that a voluntary leave of absence will not extend beyond a one-year leave of absence (whether cumulatively or consecutively). Students who withdraw from their studies after the eleventh week of the semester are not permitted to return for at least one academic semester (or 4 months) to allow time to address the personal situation. 

Unless a student is granted an exception in extenuating circumstances, a student is permanently withdrawn after they exceed the maximum time period and must reapply for admission through the school’s regular admissions process.

Any student who is a member of the National Guard or other reserve component of the armed forces of the United States or of a state organized militia and is called or ordered to active duty will be granted a military leave of absence for the period of active duty and for one year thereafter. 

Upon return from military leave of absence, the student will be restored to the educational status attained prior to being called or ordered to such duty without loss of academic credits earned, scholarships or grants awarded, or tuition or other fees paid prior to the commencement of active duty. The University will credit any tuition or fees paid for the period of the military leave of absence to the next enrollment period or will refund the tuition and fees paid to the student, at the student’s option. 

A student who does not submit a timely notification of intent or provide an attestation within the designated time limits may not be eligible for the benefits outlined herein.

All students who withdraw or take a Leave of Absence during a semester in which they are registered are charged a $75 withdrawal fee. Tuition is refunded on a prorated basis. No fees are refunded after the second week of the semester. The Registrar's office publishes a schedule of refunds for tuition and fees based on the week in the semester during which the withdrawal or leave is approved.

Students who leave in good academic standing will return in good academic standing; students who leave on academic warning or probation will return on academic warning or probation. If you leave before your academic standing has been determined (i.e. in the middle of a semester), your academic standing decision will be made in your absence.

A student’s academic progress is considered to be satisfactory when a student maintains at least a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average, completes a minimum of 67% of their total attempted credits in a semester, and completes their program within the maximum time frame of their respective program. 

Students should consult with their advisor to learn whether or not they will meet satisfactory academic progress. We also recommend that students who are in danger of not meeting satisfactory academic progress work with their advisor and academic programs to create a reasonable academic plan to ensure completion of the degree in the required timeframe. Students are not permitted to earn credits toward the degree or complete work for outstanding Incomplete grades while on leave from the University, as the purpose of the leave is to take care of personal responsibilities in order to return and resume graduate study.

If a leave begins after the last day of classes, courses will remain on the transcript, and the semester will count toward the maximum time frame allowed for the student’s academic program. If a student withdraws after the term has begun but before the last day of classes, their courses will be removed from their transcript and notation will appear stating a withdrawal or leave was processed.

It is vital that students direct all financial aid questions to the Office of Student Financial Planning at 212-854-7040 or by visiting 202 Kent Hall. A student who is away from the University for more than a semester may be required to begin loan repayments. Therefore, it is important to schedule an exit interview with Financial Aid to discuss the options for a particular loan before leaving. A student who defaults on a loan will be unable to receive any further aid until appropriate payments are made. A student who owes money to Columbia will be put on financial hold and will thereby not be able to register for classes; it is the student's responsibility to be aware of any debts that could prevent registration.

If you are considering a leave of absence (LOA) or withdrawing, please speak with ISSO in advance to see how it will affect your immigration status and employment eligibility when you return. 

 Contact the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) to discuss your plans at isso [[at]] columbia [[dot]] edu (isso[at]columbia[dot]edu) or 212-854-3587. Visit the ISSO website for more information.

SPS Division of Student Affairs will notify Columbia Residential of your leave however, it is required that the student notify Columbia Residential via the Housing Portal. Students are required to vacate housing within 48 hours of receiving their leave approval. 

Failure to provide proper and timely notice of your move out may cause you to continue to remain liable for payment of rent or cancellation fees. You are billed until all personal items are removed and keys are returned to your superintendent. Please follow the below instructions and visit Columbia Residential's website for more information: 

• Log into the Housing Portal and select the "Moving Out" tab;
• Contact your superintendent to discuss your building's specific move-out procedure;
• Remove all personal belongings from the unit;
• Clean unit: empty refrigerators and cabinets, remove all trash and sweep all floors;
• File your forwarding address with the United States Postal Service;
• If applicable, officially disconnect utilities with Con Edison and cable services with Spectrum or Verizon;
• Return all keys to your superintendent before 4 PM on the day you move out. You will be billed until the day keys are returned.

Please note, if you take a voluntary leave you will not be guaranteed housing for the remainder of your time at Columbia.

Students are not permitted to audit classes, be involved in student groups or Columbia University affiliated activities, or otherwise spend time on campus during a leave. To reinforce this expectation, the student ID and swipe access are deactivated during the leave.

Students in good standing, who are approved for a medical leave of absence by their school are eligible to remain on The Columbia Plan for a cumulative maximum of two semesters during the course of the student’s entire enrollment within a particular school at Columbia, regardless of the length of program. The two semesters are cumulative but do not need to occur sequentially.

Please review eligibility requirements and address insurance questions to studentinsurance [[at]] columbia [[dot]] edu , 212-854-3286.