Course Withdrawals
University Withdrawals
University Withdrawals
Withdrawing from all your courses in any one term constitutes a University withdrawal. It is your responsibility to initiate the withdrawal process, non-attendance at classes does not constitute a University withdrawal. To view the University's Regulations Concerning University Withdrawal, click here.
It is recommended that you visit the Seeking Readmission webpage before withdrawing from the university, as you may consider returning to your studies in the future.
Note: You are considered to be withdrawn from the entire academic year (i.e., Fall and Winter terms) if you withdraw from the University in the Fall term. Follow your the procedures for readmission if you plan on returning for the Winter term (if applicable) or for any future term.
If you are readmitted, your rate of tuition may be different from when you were last enrolled at McGill. For more information, please visit the following websites:
You should determine the impact that a university withdrawal and this break in enrolment will have on the timely completion of program requirements, your academic goals and access to any university services. If you are considering withdrawing from the university, please consult the Withdrawal Checklist below.
Withdrawal Check List (some items pertain to a course withdrawal)
Students who are considering withdrawal from the University should view the information found below that is pertinent to their particular situation:
Student Accounts
Health/Dental insurance
Students, who withdraw late in the term from the University, may not necessarily be eligible for a fee refund of health insurance charges. During the period of withdrawal with full refund, the University will confirm with the insurance providers that the various health insurance plans are eligible to be nullified. This may depend on whether or not claims are being made. After this period, should a student be exceptionally granted a retroactive withdrawal, they will be contacted by Student Accounts to inform them of a refund of Health Insurance premiums. The refunds of the Health Insurance premiums will be processed only if no claims have been made with the insurer. The insurer requires that students must be registered in order to remain eligible for the insurance coverage.
Department fees/Field trip fees
Depending on timing, some of these fees may not be refunded, or may be refunded if materials are returned in good condition. Check with your department if you wish to know if charges specific to your program/course are refundable. Information regarding the policy applicable to these fees may also be available on the Fee descriptions page of the Student Accounts website.
Registration Cancellation Charge
To be applied when withdrawal happens after 1 September for the Fall term, or after 1 January for the Winter term. If there was an admissions deposit for the term of the withdrawal, the deposit is forfeited and no Registration Cancellation Charge is applied. For the current amount of this charge, please check here.
Outstanding McGill loans
Any outstanding McGill loans should be repaid. For repayments, please send an email to loansadmin.finserv [at] mcgill.ca with “McGill Loan” in the subject line to arrange a payment plan.
Admission deposit
Any admissions deposit will be forfeited if the withdrawal is in the same term as the deposit. This is independent of the date of withdrawal.
Other deposits
Any other deposits on file are reviewed to determine if they are refundable to the student, refundable to an external scholarship provider or sponsor, or should be forfeited.
External scholarship/bursaries
If there are external scholarships/bursaries in the term of withdrawal, or any subsequent terms, the external scholarship/bursary agency will determine if the award needs to be returned to them. This can potentially create a balance owing to the University on the student fee account. In this situation, the student must then pay their account in full.
Third Party Sponsorship
Any third party sponsorships will be reviewed to see if the sponsor will pay for any withdrawn courses that are still being charged to the student, or if any penalties (i.e. Registration Cancellation Charge) will be covered. Anything not covered by the sponsor will be the student’s responsibility to pay.
Education Tuition Assistance
As a condition of receiving the Education Tuition Assistance for McGill employees courses must be successfully completed. If a course is withdrawn after the Withdrawal with Full Refund period and the fees are still being charged, the Education Tuition Assistance amount will be reversed, as the course was not successfully completed. The cost of the course is then the responsibility of the student to pay by the next fee payment deadline.
Housing/Residences
Monthly Rent
Depending on the date that the student vacates their residence/housing, rent for the month will need to be adjusted and future months’ rent will need to be reversed.
Housing deposit
Depending on the date that the student vacates their residence/housing, the housing deposit may be forfeited, either partially or fully.
Damages charges
There may be damages charges applied to the fee account at the time the student vacates their room, or at a later date.
More information on this topic may be found here.
Food and Dining Services
Depending on the type of meal plan a student is enrolled in, there are different policies on what is eligible to be refunded to the student’s fee account. Please speak with a representative in Food and Dining Services.
More information on this topic may be found here.
Scholarships & Student Aid
If a student has an internal scholarships/bursaries in the term of withdrawal or any subsequent terms, it may be revoked. If the award paid into the student’s fee account, it will be reversed out of the fee account, potentially creating a balance owing to the University. If there were internal awards paid by direct deposit or cheque that will be revoked, these will also be charged to the student’s fee account and potentially create a balance owing the University. The decision to revoke undergraduate and need-based awards is undertaken by the Scholarships & Student Aid Office. The decision to revoke graduate awards is undertaken by Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
If the student had a US Direct Loan, US Parent Plus loan, or US Grad Plus Loan in the term of withdrawal, Scholarships & Student Aid will need to do a Return to Title IV calculation to determine if any of the loans needs to be returned by Student Accounts to the US government. This may create a balance owing to the University on the student’s fee account.
More information on this topic may be found here.
Other charges that may affect you
uPrint charges
Minerva > Student menu > uPrint – Campus Printing Menu
These charges are only applied to the student’s fee account once a month. Students can review any new charges since the last e-bill on Minerva.
Library fines
Students should review their library account to see if there are any outstanding fines to be paid.
Withdrawal Prior to the Deadline
To withdraw from the University, you must withdraw from all your courses on Minerva BEFORE the deadline for University Withdrawal.
Withdrawal After the Deadline
Permission to withdraw from the university after the university withdrawal deadline may be granted for serious and well-documented extenuating circumstances such as an illness or death of a family member through Service Point. If you wish to request permission to withdraw from the university after the deadline, you must complete and submit the Late Course Withdrawal request form and provide any relevant supporting documentation to Service Point who will review your request and inform you of their decision.
Please note that access to your McGill email account will be impacted if you withdraw from the university.
Your Record
If you drop all your courses on Minerva BEFORE the course add/drop deadline, you will not have a record of study for this term and your student record will remain inactive.
If you were granted a University Withdrawal after the deadline, your record will indicate "Withdrew from the University" and the date on which your withdrawal became effective.
If you withdraw in the Fall term, you are considered withdrawn from the entire academic year and your Winter term is deleted.