Leave of Absence and Withdrawal

Leave of Absence

  • You are limited to two one-year leaves of absence.
  • A leave of absence (LOA) can begin at any time. If an LOA starts in the middle of a semester, after the add/drop deadline, you must also completely withdraw from any course(s) you are enrolled in.
  • You can return from an LOA only at the start of a term. You can apply once preregistration opens in the term you will resume studies or 30 days before the beginning of the term in which you wish to return.
  • Obtaining an LOA may affect your health insurance coverage and your stipend payments. The rules are a little complex, and how you may be affected depends on when you start your leave.
    • Talk to your program administrator in advance to understand any potential impact on these critical areas.
    • You should review the Emory University Student Health Insurance Plan information for health insurance coverage and contact Student Health Services with plan-specific questions.
    • For stipend payment-specific questions, you or your program administrator may need to contact LGS Funding.
  • Please note that your leave will go into effect on the last day you attended class.

The official request for an LOA does not ask you why you are requesting a leave. We encourage you to discuss and document those reasons and your return plan with your advisor and/or Director of Graduate Studies.

How to Apply for a Leave of Absence:

  1. Discuss with Your Program
    Meet with your Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) and/or faculty advisor to discuss the
    need for a leave of absence. This conversation should include a plan and timeline for your
    return that outlines timely academic progress. If questions arise, please contact a member
    of the LGS Student Affairs Team by emailing Jennifer M. Cason or Emily Neutens.
  2. Prepare Your Academic Plan
    As part of the request process, you will need to upload an academic plan that includes    :
    • A written summary of any modification to any academic deliverable and a timeline that outlines timely academic progress for degree completion.
    • Acknowledgement and an understanding that stipend payments and health insurance coverage will pause until you return.
    • A summary of communication with ISSS, if applicable.
  3. Submit the Leave of Absence Request Form
    Complete the Leave of Absence Request form in the Laney Connect Hub, under the "Enrollment" section. Log in with your Emory credentials and follow the instructions to locate and submit the form, including your academic plan.
    • Withdraw from Courses (if applicable)
      If your leave begins in the middle of a term, you must withdraw from all enrolled courses. In the Leave of Absence form, provide (1) the course subject and number, and (2) the course instructor’s name and email for each course.
  4. Meet with the LGS Student Affairs Team
    After your DGS approves the request, the form will be routed to the LGS Student Affairs Team. A team member will contact you to schedule a meeting to review your request and next steps. You may also proactively reach out to Jennifer M. Cason or Emily Neutens with questions or to request a meeting.
  5. Confirmation and Processing
    Following your meeting with LGS Student Affairs, your request will be processed. You and your program administrator will receive a confirmation email once the form is submitted and processed.

Withdrawal: Temporary or Permanent

If you withdraw during the semester, you must obtain the signatures of all instructor(s) in the course(s) you withdraw from.  If you withdraw from all your courses and intend to stay enrolled in your program and the Laney Graduate School, you must request a leave of absence. 

For detailed policies, consult the LGS Handbook.

How to Withdraw from a Course

  • Step 1:If you are withdrawing from a course and not from the entire degree program, please confirm with your program administrator that this is optional for your degree. If it is, please be sure to plan accordingly to take it in the future.
  • Step 2: Complete the Course Withdrawal Form in the Laney Connect Hub 
    • You will receive an email once LGS has processed your form.

How to Withdraw from Your Program

  • Step 1: If you plan to withdraw from your program, you must meet with an LGS Student Affairs Team member to initiate the process. Please email Jennifer M. Cason or Emily Neutens to schedule a time to meet.
  • Step 2: After you meet with an LGS Student Affairs Team member, please proceed to the Laney Connect Hub and complete the Withdrawal Form.
    • You will recieve an email once LGS has processed your form.