Taking Time Away from UCSC
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Taking Time Away from UC Santa Cruz
Sometimes students need to step away from UC Santa Cruz. This page explains your options for a withdrawal or a leave of absence, along with the steps, timelines, and considerations to help you make the choice that’s right for you.
Options for taking time away from UC Santa Cruz
For current students, there are two ways to take time away from UC Santa Cruz:
- Withdrawal: Ending enrollment either before or during a quarter, without setting a planned return date. Students who withdraw may return later by filing a Request to Return form. Withdrawing does not prevent you from completing your degree.
- Leave of Absence (LOA): A withdrawal with a pre-approved return date (between one and six quarters). If your return is scheduled for a fall quarter, you can also enroll in the summer session leading into that fall. Some university services remain available to students on LOA.
If you’ve been admitted for the upcoming quarter as a new first-year or transfer student but have not yet attended UC Santa Cruz, do not use this process. Instead, submit an Admissions Service Request to withdraw your Statement of Intent to Register (SIR).
Leaving UC Santa Cruz
Before the quarter begins
- File the online petition before the first day of classes.
- Once processed, you will be dropped from all courses for the upcoming term and will not be responsible for registration fees for that term.
During the quarter
- File the online petition and plan to follow up with your college advisor or preceptor.
- The amount of fees owed depends on your effective date of withdrawal.
- You may withdraw without documentation through the withdrawal deadline (see the academic calendar). After the deadline, documented medical or emergency reasons are required.
- If you withdraw after the deadline for medical reasons, you will not be eligible for a leave of absence. To return, you will need to submit a request to return.
Financial implications of withdrawal
Any refund of fall, winter, or spring registration fees paid will follow the refund schedule and be based on the effective date of the withdrawal. Financial aid recipients may be required to return funds, with proration of the aid based on the number of days you attended (Financial Aid Withdrawals). Please consult with the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office for more details. Please continue to check MyUCSC on a monthly basis as charges/credits may be processed after you have left the University. UCSC does not mail paper bills.
Other considerations
- International Students: If you are an F-1 or J-1 visa holder, a Withdrawal or Leave of Absence will impact your legal status in the U.S. Please review the International Student Services and Programs Withdrawal/Cancellation Dismissal information before submitting this petition.
- University Housing: If you contracted for university housing and you will not be attending UCSC, you must return to the Housing Portal (studenthousing.ucsc.edu) and cancel your application/contract. After taking residence, requests for housing contract cancellation must be initiated through the Housing Portal, pending review by the housing office at your residential community. Moving out or turning in keys without official approval will not release you from your contractual obligation, and you will continue to be billed accordingly. Note that taking time away may affect your priority eligibility for on-campus housing in future quarters.
- Moving: If you are moving, please be sure to update your Mailing Address and other contact information on MyUCSC.
- Health Insurance and Health Services (UC SHIP): If you are enrolled in UC SHIP in the current quarter when requesting a Withdrawal or Leave of Absence, you will lose your UC SHIP coverage once this request has been processed. If you are taking a Leave of Absence and you need to keep your UC SHIP coverage, you can re-enroll for the first quarter of your leave. To make this request contact: insure@ucsc.edu, or call (831) 459-2389.
- If you are on a Leave of Absence and you need insurance for more than one quarter, you may be eligible to purchase voluntary insurance coverage for a limited period of time.
- If you rely on UC SHIP for your health insurance it is very important you contact them as soon as possible. For deadlines and other information, visit the Student Health Insurance website, email insure@ucsc.edu, or call (831) 459-2389.
- Parking Permits: If you have an on-campus parking permit, you should notify Transportation and Parking Services of your withdrawal from UCSC.
- Student employment: If you are withdrawing or taking a leave and have a job at UCSC, your employment may be affected if it is based on your enrollment status. Please check with your supervisor and/or Career Success about this.
- Taking classes during your time away: If you plan to enroll at a different institution while away and then return to UC Santa Cruz, talk with an advisor about your plans before you leave. Academic policies may limit the number of transfer credits that can be applied to UC Santa Cruz degree requirements, and your number of quarters of enrollment eligibility can be affected by transfer credit. You may want to use ASSIST.org as a reference for finding transferable community college courses.
I have read the above information. I would like to begin the leave of absence or withdrawal process.
Returning to UCSC
Leave of Absence (LOA):
Leave of absence is a withdrawal with a pre-approved return — it is advance approval to enroll at UCSC in a future quarter. Some University services are available to students in LOA status. In general, students who are making satisfactory academic progress and who have completed at least one quarter at UCSC are eligible for a Leave of Absence. The filing fee is $70, and is nonrefundable and nontransferable.
If you have applied to graduate, then your graduation application will automatically be canceled upon LOA approval. You are responsible for reapplying to graduate for a future term, after your return.
If you wish to change your specified return term (return early, or extend your LOA up to a total of six quarters), you must contact your college advisor or preceptor before the first day of instruction in the term you were scheduled to return.
Students participating in an independent study abroad program must complete an online LOA process with the college as well as an online study abroad profile, registration, and waiver of liability through UCSC Global Learning.
Request to Return:
Students returning from a withdrawal must use the Request to Return eForm to resume studies at UCSC. The form fee is $70.
If you withdrew for medical reasons after the sixth week of the quarter, you must also verify your medical readiness to return to UCSC. To verify medical readiness to return, the readiness to return form must be completed by your health care provider and received by the UCSC Medical Director by the deadline listed on the form for the return term.