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WITHDRAWALS AND LEAVES OF ABSENCE

Voluntary Withdrawals 

A voluntary withdrawal occurs when a student chooses to leave Emory during a term and requests to be withdrawn from all classes after the Add/Drop/Swap deadline has passed. A student who decides to withdraw from their program of study should consult with the DGS or PD. International students must discuss their withdrawal plans with International Student and Scholar Services to determine how the withdrawal will impact their visa status. If the student is a veteran, they must contact the Office of the Registrar at registrar@emory.edu to confirm that their enrollment change does not affect their certificate of eligibility. 

Involuntary Withdrawals 

A student may be withdrawn involuntarily from Emory if the university determines that the student represents a direct threat to their health and safety or the health and safety of others by: 

  1. Engaging or threatening to engage in behavior that poses a high probability of substantial harm to themself or others, or 

  2. Engaging or threatening to engage in behavior that would cause significant property damage, would directly and substantially impede the lawful activities of others, or interfere with the educational process and the orderly operation of the university. 

Withdrawals in such cases normally incur no academic penalty for the term the student is enrolled, and a tuition refund, if any, shall be based on the schedule established for voluntary withdrawal. 

Because the involuntary withdrawal policy applies to cases where there is a concern about the safety of the student or others, the Dean or their designee may require a student involuntarily withdrawn under this policy to be re-evaluated before readmission. 

Leaves of Absence 

A student may be granted two one-year leaves (no more than six terms) of absence upon recommendation of the student’s program and approval of the Dean or their designee. Leaves of absence (LOA) are available to students only within five years of admission. The student must demonstrate that during this period, they interrupt progress toward the degree. The student should be aware that the university will not certify to loan officers or government agencies that a student on an LOA is enrolled in or actively pursuing a course of study. International students must discuss their LOA plans with International Student and Scholar Services to determine how the LOA will impact their visa status. If the student is a veteran, they must contact the Office of the Registrar at registrar@emory.edu. 

In most cases, a student must be in good standing and have no incomplete assignments to be eligible for an LOA. In addition, time spent on an LOA does not count toward the nine-year limit for the doctoral degree or the five-year limit for the terminal master’s degree. Students beyond these limits are not eligible for leave but may apply for an extension of the time allowed to complete degree requirements as per the rules governing such extensions. 

In most cases, an LOA is not used to resolve academic difficulties or finish incomplete assignments. Instead, this policy is intended to allow students to leave academic life for a specified period of time. During which they do not progress toward the degree. Examples of an LOA include: 

  • a unique professional or educational circumstance, 

  • short-term disabilities, or 

  • competing responsibilities that preclude meaningful progress toward the degree. 

Circumstances pertaining to pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare should first be considered through our Parental Arrangement policy, but may also be addressed through the LOA policy. Students should develop a written plan and timeline for their leave and return, and consult their DGS, Faculty Mentor, and the LGS Student Affairs office before submitting a request for an LOA. A student returning to the  LGS after an LOA should submit a return of leave form at least 30 days before the beginning of the term they wish to return.