Academic Policies

Undergraduate Leave of Absence

The Undergraduate Student Leave of Absence assists and encourages students to return and graduate after a one or two semester absence from campus. Students with this status need not apply for or pay readmission fees, and may register for classes during their priority registration period.  Leave of Absence applications are available through Registration and Transcripts website (http://registrar.arizona.edu/registrarforms).  For assistance with the form, contact your college dean's office. See contact information below.

Attention:

• Residence Hall students should immediately contact the Residence Life office at 621-6501 or 621-1241.
• Nursing students must follow the procedure for Leave of Absence in the College’s Baccalaureate Student Handbook. 
• International students leaving the University should contact the Office of International Student Programs and Services, 621-4627.
• Students in UA-sponsored Study Abroad programs, this Leave of Absence is unnecessary and, therefore, unavailable. On the other hand, it is appropriate and available to students participating in non-UA-sponsored study abroad programs.
• Students who will be receiving Financial Aid from the University of Arizona during their time away should not apply for this leave.  Contact the Office of Student Financial Aid. 

The deadline for a completed Leave of Absence application to be received (not mailed) in the Administration Building, Room 210, from the college dean’s office, is by 4:00 p.m. on the last regular business day before school starts.  Final decisions regarding approval or disapproval of Leave of Absence requests will not be available until the posting of grades for the semester immediately preceding the term for which the leave is requested.  Students should note that the timing of the final decision depends on the timing of the application.  Therefore, students may not receive a decision on the request for Leave of Absence before the first day of class if their application is received just before the opening of classes.  Incomplete applications will be sent back to the colleges. If the deadline is missed by this action, the student will not be eligible for the leave.

To qualify, students must satisfy the following criteria:

1. be registered during the semester immediately prior to the beginning of the leave;
2. have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 -- both at the time of application for leave and following the posting of grades for the semester immediately preceding the term of the requested leave of absence;
3. have their University accounts paid in full, both at the time of leave application and following the posting of grades for the semester immediately preceding the term of the requested leave of absence; and
4. have no pending disciplinary action.

After processing the application, the Office of the Registrar will e-mail the student confirmation and send the college their copy.

First semester freshmen and transfer students, due to personal or family emergencies, may need to drop their courses or withdraw from the University during their first semester; those students should consult with a supervisor in the Office of the Registrar on their leave options.

Students, when they do not return at the end of the approved leave, must apply for readmission and comply with readmission rules.

While on Leave of Absence, the University:

1. reports enrollment status to lenders and loan service entities as "not attending" (students are advised to contact their lender(s) for repayment information and grace period expiration); and
2. suspends student’s insurance and use of University facilities.

College Contacts for Leave of Absence

For further information about these policies contact your academic advisor or:

Office of the Registrar
The University of Arizona
Administration Building, Room 210
Phone:  (520) 621-3113
Email: reghelp@email.arizona.edu

Related Links:

• Complete Withdrawal from the University
• Medical Withdrawal
• Military Leave of Absence