Medical Withdrawal (see also Undergraduate Medical Withdrawal Policy)

A Medical Withdrawal is usually prompted when a decision is made that, for reasons pertaining to mental or physical health, a student is unable to participate in campus life including, but not limited to, an inability to complete or make satisfactory progress towards Institute academic requirements. Under the terms of a Medical Withdrawal, a student must take at least one full semester away from MIT, and complete the prescribed course of medical and/or mental health treatment before being considered for readmission. A student cannot register again at MIT until he/she has been readmitted.

Medical Withdrawals are arranged with the assistance of one of our deans and require appropriate medical documentation. Students must obtain support for the Medical Withdrawal from a treating clinician at MIT Medical. Medical Withdrawals can be arranged in advance for the following semester or for the current semester. A Required Withdrawal voted by the Committee on Academic Performance will supersede a student's request for a Medical Withdrawal for a subsequent term. Withdrawing from the current term has the effect of canceling registration and grades in all subjects for that term.

Simply dropping all subjects is not an appropriate withdrawal procedure. Withdrawals should be formally processed through S³. Please contact S³ to set up an appointment to discuss your leave. If necessary, phone appointments may be available.

Please see the MIT Undergraduate Withdrawal and Readmission Guide for more information.

Important Information Regarding Medical Withdrawals

• Students withdrawing medically from the current term will be required to pay the MIT Health Plan fee. This is necessary to ensure coverage for charges incurred during the semester for which student status has been rescinded. Students with questions about health insurance coverage should contact the MIT Health Plans Office (E23-308; 617-253-4371).
• Students enrolled in the MIT Student Extended Health Insurance Plan who are medically withdrawn may be eligible to continue coverage for up to two semesters following the semester of withdrawal. In exceptional cases, students may petition to extend Medical Withdrawal status for a third and final term. See MIT Medical Withdrawal Policy for more information on extending Medical Withdrawal status. Deadlines for requesting continuation of coverage are September 1 for the fall term, and February 1 for the spring/summer term. Requests should be made in writing or via e-mail to S³.
• If you have received student loans you are required to contact Loan Services for an Exit Interview before leaving MIT (11-120; 617-253-3343). Failure to receive an Exit Interview will result in a hold being placed on any future registration. You should also discuss eligibility for a medical deferment on your student loans.
• If you receive financial aid you should be in touch with Student Financial Aid(11-120; 617-258-8600).
• International students should be in touch with the International Students Office (5-133; phone 617-253-3795) regarding their visa status.
• Students who withdraw from MIT are automatically ineligible for Institute approved housing. Students are expected to move out of MIT dorms/FSILG’s in a timely fashion. Contact Undergraduate Housing (W59-200; 617-253-2811) and your house manager to make arrangements for your departure.
• A dean will work with you to outline expectations regarding your time away from MIT. You should have a full understanding of these expectations at the time of your withdrawal. Clinicians in MIT Medical will want to speak with your treatment providers within the first month of your withdrawal about what would be expected in a treatment plan. If circumstances change during withdrawal, it is not unusual for expectations to be added or modified by the deans. Decisions about withdrawal expectations or changes to withdrawal expectations are made together with the student, but the final decision rests with the deans in S³.
• There are requirements and deadlines for students requesting readmission to MIT. Information is available from the S³ website. Failure to comply with deadlines will result in denial of readmission.
• Withdrawing has the effect of suspending student status and terminating access to Institute services and privileges.

Deadlines

Students may request a Medical Withdrawal through the last day of classes of the semester. Students must withdraw by Add Date to be eligible to apply for the next semester.

Any request made after the last day of classes will be processed for the next semester and will only be granted after review by the Committee on Academic Performance (CAP) at end-of-term meetings.

A Required Withdrawal voted by the CAP will supersede a student's request for a Medical Withdrawal.