Leave of Absence

Any student not subject to any academic or conduct separation wishing to seek a leave of absence from their degree program may consult with their respective college dean’s office or the Office of the University Registrar. Reasons for requesting a leave of absence may include financial, academic, personal, or health reasons. Students who request a leave that begins while they are enrolled for a given semester will be subject to the rules governing refunds and the award of a grade of W. Students on a Leave of Absence, including a health leave of absence, may only request prior approval to take classes at another university for a term in which they are otherwise eligible to return to UNH. More information regarding this process, including details regarding when students are eligible to return, can be found in the transfer credit policy. Students are prohibited from study away program participation during the duration of the leave.

Any student taking a leave of absence from UNH for health reasons may consider the Health Leave of Absence process. More information about Health Leaves can be found on the Dean of Students website. Students who are granted a Health Leave of Absence must submit a letter of support from a treatment provider to be reviewed by the Dean of Students prior to approval and reinstatement. Students who are granted a Health Leave of Absence with an effective withdrawal date after the 5-week drop deadline must remain on leave for one complete semester following the semester in which the leave was granted.

To minimize issues with course availability, it is recommended that students returning from a leave notify the appropriate office (Registrar for leave of absence and Dean of Students for Health Leave of Absence) by June 1 when returning for the fall semester and by November 1 when returning for spring semester. Students who request reinstatement on or after the first day of classes will be denied. Students will be reinstated into the same major they were enrolled in at the start of their leave. Leaves of absence may not exceed two academic years or four semesters, exclusive of January Term and Summer Session. Military students who are deployed for longer than one year will be allowed to reactivate into original program requirements as long as they can provide official orders corresponding with their absence from the college. Failure to return from a leave of absence or to formally withdraw is considered a lapse in a student’s degree status in the next semester after two academic years have elapsed. In these cases, a transcript notation is recorded “degree status discontinued,” and will require students to apply for readmission as a previously enrolled student. Students who apply for readmission will still be asked to fulfill any outstanding responsibilities including receiving approval from the Dean of Students if they took a Health Leave of Absence. Exceptions to the leave of absence policy may be granted by the University Academic Standards and Advising Committee and only in unusual circumstances.