Leaves of Absence and Withdrawals

The CSS does not process graduate student leaves/withdrawals and does not process medical leaves of absence.

Please select an option below for more information:

• Undergraduate Student Leaves of Absence
• Undergraduate Student Withdrawals
• Request for a Voluntary Medical Leave (Medical Leaves of Absence)
• Graduate Student Leaves of Absence and Withdrawals
• Law Student Leaves of Absence and Withdrawals

Undergraduate Leaves of Absence (LOA)

A student who will not be registered at the university during a regular semester (fall and/or spring), but would like to return without applying for readmission, must request a leave of absence (LOA) by the last day to enroll in classes for that semester.

Students must file the official Undergraduate Student Leave of Absence form with the Center for Student Success located in the University Center, Room 114. The request must state the reason for which the leave is requested and the semester in which the student will again register at the university. Requests for an LOA must be approved by a professional staff member in the Center for Student Success.

• The leave of absence form is only available in the Center for Student Success. If you are outside of the San Diego area, please call the CSS at (619) 260-5995 to discuss the LOA process.
• Please bring your student ID card and allow 15-20 minutes to complete the required form.
  • The Center for Student Success is open Monday-Friday from 9:00am-5:00pm.
• Students may take an LOA for a maximum of two consecutive semesters.
• To incur no tuition charges, students should request an LOA before the first day of classes.
  • Click here to check the Undergraduate Academic Calendar for tuition refund deadlines.

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Undergraduate Withdrawals (WD)

A student withdrawing from the university during a semester or for a future semester must file an official Undergraduate Student Withdrawal Form with the Center for Student Success located in the University Center, Room 114. The official withdrawal form is only available in the Center for Student Success.

Failure to do so before leaving the campus or, in the case of illness or other emergency, as soon as the decision not to continue has been made, will result in non-passing grades in all courses, thereby jeopardizing eligibility to re-enter the University of San Diego or acceptance in another institution.

After the last day to enroll in classes, and continuing through the end of the 10th week of the semester (the last day to withdraw from classes), students may process a withdrawal to drop all their classes with grades recorded as Ws. After the last day to withdraw from classes, the student will receive grades for courses.

A student whose registration at the university is interrupted for one or more semesters must apply for readmission through the Office of the Registrar unless a leave of absence has been granted in writing.

• The withdrawal form is only available in the Center for Student Success. If you are outside of the San Diego area, please call the CSS at (619) 260-5995 to discuss the withdrawal process.
• Please bring your student ID card and allow 15-20 minutes to complete the required form.
  • The Center for Student Success is open Monday-Friday from 9:00am-5:00pm.
• Students who officially withdraw from USD may apply for readmission through the Office of the Registrar.
• To incur no tuition charges, students should request a withdrawal before the first day of classes.
  • Click here to check the Undergraduate Academic Calendar for tuition refund deadlines.

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Contact the Center for Student Success

For questions regarding undergraduate student leaves and withdrawals, please contact the Center for Student Success between Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Phone: (619) 260-5995
Email: css@sandiego.edu