Undergraduate Leave of Absence

Per the Undergraduate Leave of Absence Policy, a Leave of Absence may be granted for any of the following reasons:

  • Maternity or parenting reasons
  • Personal or family health reasons
  • Professional development
  • Required military service


Considerations for a Leave

  • They will be granted for a period of up to 52 weeks.
  • They cannot be granted retroactively.
  • Supporting documentation to support your request is required.
  • Discuss your options with an OASIS Faculty Advisor.
    • Refer to this link to make an appointment with a faculty advisor.
  • The Leave of Absence notation - but not the reason - will be reflected on your academic record.
    • If at a later you are asked to provide the reason for your Leave - eg. by an immigration authority, graduate school admissions committee, or otherwise - you will have to provide that to them yourself. 
  • All decisions will be communicated to you via your McGill email address, including information about the your record (eg. missing grades in the previous term).


Eligibility

  • Newly-admitted students are not eligible for a Leave of Absence in their first term.
  • Students who have not received any credits for courses are not eligible for a Leave of Absence.
  • Students in Unsatisfactory academic standing are not eligible for a Leave of Absence.
  • Timing:
    • You must be actively registered for the term in which you are applying for a Leave.
    • Your request must be made before the end of the withdrawal with refund deadline of the term in which the Leave is requested.
  • If you have Holds on your academic record, you must first clear them before requesting a Leave of Absence.

 

To Submit a request:

  1. Submit your Leave of Absence request.
  2. Check your McGill email inbox for confirmation that your request was duly submitted. 
  3. For your supporting documents:
    1. Open a ticket via ARTS Oasis Service Desk Portal (select Leave of Absence).
    2. Attach your supporting documentation.
    3. Submit the ticket.


If approved:

  • For the term(s) in question, your courses will be dropped, and a ‘Leave of Absence’ notation will be entered on your academic record.
    • If enrolled in spanned multi-term course (eg. D1/D2 courses), the D1 portion will be withdrawn without refund, whereas the D2 portion will be dropped.
  • You will have access to course registration in the subsequent term and will not be required to apply for readmission.
    • If you do not re-enroll in the subsequent term, your record will be inactivated. You will need to apply for readmission to request a return to your studies.
  • You are not permitted to register for courses at McGill or at another University while on a Leave of Absence.
    • No transfer credits shall be considered or approved for courses taken elsewhere during your Leave.
  • International students:
  • Refer to the following for information regarding possible impact to your rate of tuition:
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