Take a Leave or Withdraw from the University
Students* who need to take time away from their studies, whether a temporary leave or a withdrawal, must formally request to do so using the Time Away Form. This helps ensure enrollments, grades, accounts and statuses are updated properly. For students requesting a temporary leave, this process helps maintain academic continuity and ensures that students have the necessary resources when planning their return. Relevant campus partners will be notified upon submission to provide support and resources, and any required review and approval.
Time away requests for Spring 2025 or Summer 2025 must be submitted using the Time Away Form.
Time away requests for Fall 2025 and beyond should make the request using Workday.
*School of Medicine students must contact their program coordinators directly for guidance specific to their program. All other students must follow the instructions on the form to start the process.
Return to the University
Students seeking to return to their studies at Washington University in St. Louis after a period of time away must follow the reinstatement process outlined below. This process facilitates a smooth return to academic engagement and provides access to essential institutional resources and support.
Students who have been away from the university for less than two years can initiate their return directly through Workday. Those who have been away for more than two years must file a “Request to Re-enter” form outside of Workday. It is recommended that students should ensure they understand requirements to return as documented when they left the university originally, and consult their school’s advising office to confirm eligibility and any additional requirements for reinstatement.
Students should submit their reinstatement request at least six weeks prior to the desired semester of return to allow for sufficient processing time.
- If the time away was less than two years, instructions on how to initiate the process can be found in Workday.
- Students away for more than two years should submit a re-entry request that will route to the school in which they were last enrolled. Depending on the circumstances, the length of time away and whether their program has undergone curricular revisions since their enrollment, additional steps or documentation may be required to fully consider a request to re-enter.
Students returning from a Medical Leave of Absence must provide documentation from a licensed healthcare provider confirming their readiness to resume academic responsibilities. In addition, they must participate in a consultation with the university’s health services to assess their preparedness for returning to the academic environment. The submitted documentation and consultation outcomes will be reviewed to determine readiness for reinstatement. If reinstatement is recommended, a letter will be sent to the student’s school or program, which will make the final decision and notify the student accordingly.
Students on an F-1 visa must contact the Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS) to discuss the implications of their leave on visa status and obtain any required documentation for re-entry. For more information visit oiss.washu.edu.
Students receiving financial aid should contact Student Financial Services or, for graduate students, their school’s financial aid office as soon as possible to ensure all required documentation is submitted and tuition payment deadlines are met.
Once the reinstatement request has been reviewed, an official communication regarding the outcome will be sent to the requestor. If approved, they should consult with their academic advisor to plan their course schedule and address any academic concerns.
Post-Term Withdrawal from Courses
Undergraduate students may, beginning in Fall 2024, petition for a post-term withdrawal of all courses.