There are four ways for a regular undergraduate student to interrupt active student status at MIT: leave of absence, voluntary withdrawal, medical withdrawal, and required withdrawal. Each is appropriate in a specific set of circumstances, and each involves completion of specific administrative procedures. A student may also do study abroad or domestic study away without interrupting his or her student status.

Leaving MIT

Leaving the Institute may at some point seem appropriate to an undergraduate, in order to take advantage of educational opportunities elsewhere or to allow for a needed change of direction or emphasis. Whether to stay, perhaps with a change in program, or to leave MIT may be a difficult decision for an undergraduate to make. In addition to friends and peers, many other people at the Institute are willing to discuss the situation with the student and to help him or her make the most appropriate decision. Early in the decision process, the student may wish to consult a dean in Student Support Services (S^3).

A student who has received financial aid should contact Student Financial Aid to discuss his or her obligations while not enrolled at MIT. If the student received financial aid that included student loans, or the student's parents borrowed from various parent loan programs, he or she must meet with a loan counselor because a student who is not registered is likely to become liable for loan repayments during an absence.

Leave of Absence

A leave of absence, which can be arranged for any period of time between one semester and two years, allows the student to arrange his or her own return to the Institute at the end of a specified time. At student is usually eligible for a leave of absence provided that the anticipated leave is not superseded by a required withdrawal voted by the Committee on Academic Performance (CAP).

Information packets describing procedures for arranging a leave of absence are available in Student Support Services (S^3). Students who wish to take a leave of absence should speak with a dean in S^3. The leave of absence request form should be submitted to S^3 at least one month prior to the anticipated leave. If a student has already completed registration and wishes to leave during the semester, he or she is not eligible for a leave of absence but may be eligible to take a voluntary withdrawal instead; in this case the student should speak promptly with a dean in S^3.

A student considering a leave of absence may also wish to consult his or her faculty advisor or other professors who would then interact with S^3. The student may also need to meet with his or her student account and loan counselors in the Student Financial Services (SFS). A leave is evident on a student's transcript only as a gap in registration.

The duration of a leave of absence may be lengthened or shortened by giving proper notice to S^3 as described in the information packet. However, leaves that extend beyond two years would necessitate the same readmission procedure as is required for students who withdraw from the Institute.

Voluntary Withdrawal

If a student wishes to take an unspecified period of time away and does not want the constraint of having to notify Student Support Services (S^3), of any change of plans, a voluntary withdrawal may be appropriate. The same is true if the student is uncertain whether he or she will return to MIT or if circumstances suggest that interaction with a dean in S^3 is advisable prior to readmission. The student's transcript will indicate that he or she withdrew if the withdrawal date falls within a term in which the student had been registered. A withdrawal for one or more full terms shows on the transcript only as a gap in registration.

A withdrawal is accomplished in the following ways:

  • A student can withdraw prior to the term away by making arrangements with S^3.
  • A voluntary withdrawal may be appropriate for a student who cannot complete a term due to extenuating circumstances. Withdrawing during the term has the effect of canceling registration and grades in all subjects for that term. Simply dropping all subjects for the term does not constitute withdrawal. Any student considering a mid-term withdrawal must consult with a dean in S^3 and his or her academic advisor. Withdrawal during the term may result in a tuition adjustment and may affect a student's financial aid package for that term.
  • A student eligible to continue registration is considered to have withdrawn from the Institute if he or she does not register for the term.

Finishing Current Term on Reduced Load

In some cases, a student having an unusually bad term academically may decide that he or she should take some time away from the Institute, yet may wish to salvage some of the present term. This should be arranged by the student, with the concurrence of a dean in Student Support Services (S^3), as follows:

  • Subjects that cannot be completed during the term should be dropped by Drop Date. Late drops require a petition to the Committee on Academic Performance (CAP).
  • The term may be completed with a reduced subject load by finishing the subjects that can be concluded effectively (the student should understand the definitions for I and OX grades). Reduction in tuition may result in reduced financial aid.
  • A withdrawal or leave of absence should be arranged for the next term.

The student must be aware, however, that his or her overall performance for the term will be assessed by the CAP - which may vote some appropriate action if the student's performance is judged to be unsatisfactory.

Medical Withdrawal

A medical withdrawal is usually prompted by a medical condition that interferes with a student’s ability to participate fully in campus life. A medical withdrawal is arranged with the assistance of a counseling dean in Student Support Services (S^3) and requires appropriate medical documentation.

A medical withdrawal can be arranged in advance for the following semester, or for the current semester. Withdrawing from the current term has the effect of canceling registration for that term. Simply dropping all subjects is not an appropriate withdrawal procedure.

The student will be expected to provide documentation of the medical condition that has significantly interfered with his or her academic progress for the term. The student must also provide support for the medical withdrawal from a treating health professional at MIT Medical.

With a medical withdrawal, the student may be eligible to enroll in or continue enrollment in MIT student health insurance for up to one year. Student loan payments may also be deferred. Consult a student loan counselor in the Student Services Center (SSC).

Required Withdrawal

The Committee on Academic Performance (CAP) may require a student to withdraw from the Institute. A student who thinks that he or she may be required to withdraw is advised to contact his or her faculty advisor, a dean in Student Support Services (S^3), and the CAP Office.

Removal of Services

An undergraduate who is on leave of absence, has withdrawn, or is ineligible to register for other reasons may not use Institute student services. In particular, the Institute will take the following actions:

  • The right to live in MIT housing will be suspended.
  • The MIT card will be deactivated, and the individual will not be authorized to use the services for which the card provides access. These services include but are not limited to the libraries, the dining system, computing resources, and Institute housing.
  • The individual will be permitted to retain an mit.edu email address which will be forwarded to a specific outside provider until the normal graduation date. All other computer services, including Athena access and use of MIT licensed software, will be suspended.
  • The individual will be excluded from the student payroll and UROP.
  • The individual will not be placed on class rosters. He or she will not be allowed to participate in class projects. Work that is turned in for class will not be graded or returned.

Returning to MIT

In order to return to MIT following a leave of absence, voluntary withdrawal, medical withdrawal, or a first required withdrawal, the student should contact Student Support Services (S^3). A student requesting to return from a second required withdrawal will be reviewed by the Committee on Academic Performance (CAP) and should contact the CAP Office.

No application for readmission to the Undergraduate Program shall be considered from any applicant who has received a bachelor's degree or equivalent from another institution. If the returning student has earned an associate's or equivalent degree, no credit used in obtaining that degree may be counted toward an MIT degree.

If the student wishes to receive credit for coursework completed at another school, he or she should obtain a transcript from that school and follow the procedures for transferring credit to MIT.

A returning student is responsible for initiating contact and obtaining relevant information and deadlines from offices such as the Student Financial Services (SFS), Housing Office, and the International Students Office (ISO). An application for financial aid must be submitted by April 15, prior to the planned term of return, even if the request to return has not yet been decided upon by the Institute.

A student returning after a withdrawal also must receive financial clearance from Student Accounts and from Student and Parent Loans, both in the Student Financial Services (SFS). Any student with an unpaid balance with SFS will not be able to register until payment is made.

A student who has been in undergraduate housing may return to undergraduate housing on a space-available basis.

If in the semester prior to leaving MIT a student had designated a subject as Exploratory, the student has until Registration Day of the semester (fall or spring) in which he or she returns to MIT to change the status of the subject from credit to Listener.

To Return from a Leave of Absence

A student should complete the form entitled “Request to Reactivate Student Status after a Leave of Absence” and submit it to Student Support Services (S^3) at least a month before the start of the term. S^3 will then notify the Registrar's Office, the student's advisor, and other appropriate offices when the student's status has been reactivated.

To Return from a Voluntary Withdrawal

The student should make an appointment with one of the deans in Student Support Services (S^3) to discuss readmission. The student should be prepared to explain why he or she left the Institute, what activities have been pursued while away from MIT, and why he or she feels ready to return. A readmission application, available in S^3, should be completed and returned. A dean will advise the student as to the additional materials necessary to complete his or her application.

The student should also contact his or her former faculty advisor or, if applying to return to a different department, a faculty member in the department in which registration is being requested, to discuss his or her situation. The dean reviewing the readmission application will often consult with that faculty member for an opinion prior to acting on the readmission request.

Deadlines for readmission: July 1 for fall term, December 1 for spring term. A student should allow at least two weeks for the completed application to be processed.

To Return after a Medical Withdrawal

As in the case of a voluntary withdrawal, a student returning from a medical withdrawal should make an appointment with one of the deans in Student Support Services (S^3) to discuss readmission. The student will be expected to complete a readmission application and submit appropriate supporting documentation, including medical documentation from MIT Medical and outside heath care providers.

Deadlines for readmission: July 1 for fall term, December 1 for spring term. A student should allow at least two weeks for the completed application to be processed.

To Return after a First Required Withdrawal

Readmission to the Institute after the first required withdrawal is determined by the deans in Student Support Services (S^3). Circumstances leading to a required withdrawal may be academic or non-academic in nature, the latter including over-participation in extra-curricular activities, family crises, or other personal stresses. If it appears that a student could successfully resume study at MIT, he or she may apply for readmission.

NOTE: A student who has been required to withdraw from MIT is expected to be away from the Institute for a full academic year before readmission will be considered. The student should make an appointment with one of the deans in S^3 to discuss readmission. The student should be prepared to describe what activities have been pursued while away from MIT, and why he or she feels ready to return. A readmission application, available in S^3, should be completed and returned.

The following additional information may be required, as appropriate:

  • A letter from the academic department to which the student will return. The student should talk to his or her former advisor or, if he or she would like to change majors, a faculty member in the new department. The dean will likely consult with that faculty member prior to acting on the readmission request.
  • Letters of reference from employers or faculty if another school was attended while away.
  • Transcripts of coursework completed at other institutions while away.
  • A letter from the student explaining his or her academic difficulties while at MIT, including reasons for his or her perceived readiness to return.
  • If the applicant has been under the care of a physician for any serious or prolonged medical problem, his or her physician should send a letter to S^3 and to MIT Medical describing the situation.

Deadlines for readmission: July 1 for fall term, December 1 for spring term. A student should allow at least four weeks for the completed application to be processed.

If a student on required withdrawal is subsequently readmitted, his or her registration for the first regular term back at MIT will usually be restricted to 48 units (51 for an upperclass student if he or she is not taking more than four subjects).

To Return after a Second Required Withdrawal

In the case of a second required withdrawal, the student applies for readmission through the Committee on Academic Performance (CAP). In this situation, a student's lack of satisfactory progress will be more pronounced, and a more prolonged period of time away from MIT may be needed for the student to gain a better perspective on his or her problems and to go about resolving them. Because the student will have had severe academic difficulties for several terms, the student's academic ability comes into question. In most instances permanent separation from MIT would be the wise course. Students who are readmitted after two required withdrawals have had very poor records of success.

Guidelines for readmission through the CAP may be obtained from the staff to the CAP in the Office of Undergraduate Advising and Academic Programming (UAAP) who can also answer questions about the readmission process.

In a readmission application from a student who has had two required withdrawals, the CAP members expect to see evidence of good academic accomplishment from another college and a strong recommendation from an employer demonstrating that the student has made a valuable contribution. The letter of application that the former student submits to the committee is of particular importance, since it is the principal means of communicating his or her situation to committee members. This letter should describe the applicant's activities since leaving MIT, assess the events leading to his or her departure from the Institute, and indicate the reasons why the applicant now feels ready to resume his or her studies at MIT. An outline of the program that the applicant proposes to pursue should also be included. This letter should be accompanied by the following:

  • Letters of reference from any employers for whom the applicant has worked.
  • Transcripts of grades from any college the applicant has attended while away from the Institute, and possibly one or more letters of recommendation from the instructors.
  • A letter of recommendation from the applicant's previous faculty advisor (if he or she wishes to return to the same department as before) or from a faculty member in the department in which the applicant now wishes to major; this letter should also indicate whether the applicant's proposed program of study meets with the department's approval.
  • If the applicant has been under the care of a physician for any serious medical situation, the physician should send a letter describing the case to the Medical Department at MIT.

The applicant may also find it helpful to discuss his or her plans and application with a dean in Student Support Services (S^3). Members of this office are present at the CAP meetings and often act as valuable liaisons between the applicant and the committee.

The decision of the committee is derived from its assessment of the likelihood that the student will successfully complete his or her MIT degree requirements after readmission. NOTE: A student seeking readmission should contact the staff to the CAP by the middle of the previous fall or spring term to learn the deadline for a readmission request. A student seeking readmission for the fall must plan ahead since the committee does not meet from the latter part of June until the second week in September.

If a student on required withdrawal is subsequently readmitted, his or her registration for the first regular term back at MIT will usually be restricted to 48 units (51 for an upperclass student if he or she is not taking more than four subjects).

Readmitted Students

When a student is readmitted to the Institute after a period of absence, he or she must generally fulfill the requirements for the class with which he or she will graduate. However, any subjects previously taken to satisfy the General Institute or Departmental Requirements (GIRs) may often be counted. A student should contact the Registrar's Office and his or her faculty advisor to determine current degree requirements.

When a student is readmitted as a freshman after an absence of three terms or less, he or she will return under the grading policy and credit limits existing at the time he or she left the Institute. If a freshman returns after more than three terms of leave, he or she will return under the freshman grading policy and credit limits existing at the time of readmission.

A student who is away more than a year must have a fully completed and up-to-date Medical Report.