Leave of Absence

A leave of absence can be requested up to the last day of the second week of classes in a semester.

Your courses will be removed from your transcript. A notation of the dates of your leave of absence will be posted to your transcript.

The first step is to have a conversation with your academic advisor. Your advisor can explain the pros and cons of taking a leave. Then, you should apply for a leave of absence in Albert by selecting “leave of absence” under the academics tab, indicating that your leave is for personal or financial reasons. You will receive an email and link to a Google form. Fill out this form in order for your leave to be processed. Once your leave has been approved, you will receive a formal letter of acknowledgment.

There are several steps to requesting a medical leave of absence. 

1. You should apply for a leave of absence in Albert by selecting “leave of absence” under the academics tab and indicating that your leave is for health-related reasons. 

2. After your request is entered in Albert, you receive an email and link to a Google form. Fill out this form in order for your leave to be processed. If you are requesting a medical leave for the current semester after the first two weeks of classes, you should submit instead the Medical Withdrawal Request form.

3. For a medical leave of absence for psychological reasons, you must have an assessment by a counselor in Counseling & Wellness Services. You can make an appointment for an assessment by calling 212-998-4780 or emailing health.cwsfrontdesk@nyu.edu. For a leave of absence for physical reasons, please refer to this form for further instructions or contact the SHC at 212-443-1000.

4. Once your leave has been approved, you will receive a formal letter of acknowledgment.

There are no fees assessed for a leave of absence. However, students taking leaves after the first day of classes are subject to the University’s standard tuition refund schedule. For this reason, it is best to submit the request in Albert before the first day of classes.

Six weeks before the registration period for your intended semester of return, you should complete and submit the Return from Leave of Absence Google form. Students returning from medical leaves for psychological reasons must also contact Counseling & Wellness Services for an evaluation or assessment and submit a CWS Certificate of Readiness to Return. Students returning from a medical leave of absence for physical reasons must contact the Student Health Center and submit an SHC Certificate of Readiness to Return.

No, students on leaves of absence do not have access to University resources or facilities for the duration of their leave. However, students on a leave of absence maintain their NYU email account and access to Albert.

Students taking a personal/financial leave of absence lose their housing renewability and must apply to be housed off the housing waitlist. Students taking a medical leave of absence maintain their housing renewability.  The reason is that personal/financial leaves are considered to be voluntary, while medical leaves are taken for reasons beyond the student’s control.

A leave of absence does not affect the financial aid of undergraduates. Your normal financial aid package will be reinstated upon your return from your leave.  The situation is different for graduate students (except PhD students).  Since graduate funding is awarded on a cohort basis, graduate students going on a leave of absence are not guaranteed renewed funding upon their return; thus it is extremely important for graduate students to discuss fully the implications of taking a leave of absence with their advisor and/or department chair.

Students borrowing Federal Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loans receive a six-month grace period from repayment after graduating, leaving school, or dropping below half-time status. Students who re-enroll for at least half-time status before their six-month grace period has ended will resume in-school deferment where a payment is not required and will be eligible for their full six-month grace period after they have graduated or drop below half-time enrollment.  The Subsidized Loan does not accrue interest during the grace period or when a student is enrolled at least half-time.  The Unsubsidized Loan will accrue interest during enrollment and in the grace period.  Please consult with the Office of Financial Aid before making a final decision about taking a leave.  

Students borrowing a Graduate Plus Loan do not receive a grace period, but will automatically receive a six-month deferment period after they graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time status where a payment is not required (though interest will continue to accrue). Parent Plus Loan borrowers may request a deferment period where interest will continue to accrue after their student graduates, leaves school, or drops below half-time enrollment.  Please consult with the Office of Financial Aid before making a final decision about taking a leave.

For students who have taken out private student loans: Every private lender has different repayment requirements that are disclosed at the time that you accept the loan.  Please check with your lender to review the terms for taking a leave of absence. 

In short, yes. To avoid a lapse in your insurance, you may enroll in the NYU health insurance plan for up to one (1) year while on a school-sanctioned Leave of Absence. To apply for the NYU sponsored insurance plan, please contact the NYU Student Health Insurance Department at (212) 443-1020 or health.insurance@nyu.edu. A team member will contact you and provide next steps. Please consult this page for more information.

The Office of Global Services (OGS) has a website containing detailed information about leaves of absence for international students. It is extremely important to follow all of the guidelines there and to contact OGS with any questions.