Returning to School

Last Updated

November 21, 2024

Introduction
Academic Requirements
Admissions
Conduct and Safety
Financial Aid
Non-Resident Students
Non-resident students fall into one of three categories:
-Students engaged in degree work full-time, not in Greater Boston/Cambridge, primarily with non-Harvard resources, for the majority of an academic term, are designated traveling scholars.
-Harvard Griffin GSAS degree candidates who are registered and studying at a Harvard faculty other than the FAS are designated as studying at another Harvard School.
-Students not engaged primarily in degree work may apply to take a leave of absence.
Registration
Residence Halls
Student Groups

On this page:

Students in Good Standing
Students Not in Good Standing and Students on an Involuntary Leave
Students on Medical Leave of Absence and Students Whose Health or Well-being is of Concern
Disciplinary Matters
Financial Aid, Loan Deferment and Term Bill Charges
Agreements to Engage in Treatment

Students in Good Standing

A student in good standing on a voluntary leave of absence ordinarily may return at the start of the next academic term by registering in my.Harvard. It remains the student’s responsibility to ensure that they have adequate time to complete the degree within the time limits established by the School.  

Students Not in Good Standing and Students on an Involuntary Leave

Students who were not in good standing at the time a voluntary leave of absence was granted, and students who were placed on an involuntary leave of absence, must petition the Dean of Students or designee for permission to return to the School and must demonstrate that the circumstances that led to their leave have been satisfactorily addressed and that they are ready to resume their studies. Petitions must be received twelve (12) weeks in advance of the start of the term. The decision whether to allow a student to return is made by the Dean of Students or designee in consultation with the chair of the Administrative Board or such other person as the Dean designates. 

Notwithstanding the above students who were placed on an involuntary leave for failure to register and enroll or for unfulfilled academic requirements ordinarily may be permitted to return the following term once they have satisfied the unmet requirements that led to their leave. In these instances, students should consult with the Associate Director of Academic Programs to confirm what unmet requirements must be addressed. 

Students on Medical Leave of Absence and Students Whose Health or Well-being is of Concern

If the leave, whether voluntary or involuntary, was for medical reasons, then the student must petition the Dean of Students or designee for permission to return to the School and must demonstrate that the circumstances that led to their leave have been satisfactorily addressed and that they are ready to resume their studies. Petitions must be received twelve (12) weeks in advance of the start of the term. In addition, so that the School may conduct an individualized assessment of their circumstances, students on medical leave ordinarily will be required to consult with HUHS (and to grant permission to HUHS to obtain their relevant treatment records and communicate with their treatment providers) so that a professional assessment about the student’s productivity during their time away and readiness to return can be shared with the School.

In addition, if the School learns of serious concerns about the health or well-being of a student who either has been hospitalized or visited the emergency room or whose behavior reasonably calls into question their ability to function as a student in the Harvard Griffin GSAS environment, then the School similarly may require the student to consult with HUHS (and to grant permission to HUHS to obtain their relevant treatment records and communicate with their treatment providers). For more information about the process of clearance to return to enrollment and/or residence after a hospitalization or emergency room visit, see Clearance for Return Policy. 

The purpose of such consultation is so that a professional assessment can be shared with the School about the student’s readiness to return and function in the student environment with or without reasonable accommodation. Note that while the input of a student’s treatment provider is an important consideration in the petition process, HUHS clinicians may have special knowledge of the University context to which students will be returning. 

In all such cases, the decision whether to allow a student to return is made by the Dean of Students in consultation with the chair of the Administrative Board or such other person as the Dean designates. Any student whose petition to return from a medical leave of absence is denied will receive a written explanation of the decision and may submit a written appeal of the decision to the Dean of Students or their designee within five calendar days based on the following grounds: (a) new materially relevant information has become available and/or (b) there is reasonable evidence of a procedural error in the decision-making process.

Disciplinary Matters

Any disciplinary matter must be resolved before a student on leave of absence may be allowed to return and, if the student has been required to withdraw while on leave of absence, any conditions for return after a required withdrawal must also be satisfied should the student apply for readmission. 

Financial Aid, Loan Deferment and Term Bill Charges

Students returning from a leave who wish to apply for financial aid must notify the Financial Aid Office and file the necessary application forms by mid-April for the following fall term and by October 1 for the following spring term. Late applicants cannot be assured that their aid will be available in time for registration payment deadlines.

Students who were on a leave of absence and who have borrowed money through Harvard must submit an annual loan deferment form to the Student Loan Office upon their return to Harvard. Deferment forms may be obtained through either the Student Loan Office or the Financial Aid Office and must be completed and certified by the Registrar immediately following registration. Failure to file a deferment form upon return will cause payments to be due on loans and could affect future borrowing eligibility.

A student will not be allowed to register in the University again until all previous term's bill charges have been paid and no loan is in default.

Agreements to Engage in Treatment

The School may condition a student’s enrollment and/or residence on certain terms or conditions, as set forth in a written contract between Harvard Griffin GSAS and the student, when the student’s conduct or circumstances have caused heightened concerns about the student’s safety and/or well-being and (a) the appropriateness of the student’s continued enrollment and/or residence or (b) the student’s readiness to return to the Harvard community. The agreement to engage in treatment may include, among other things, compliance with a medical treatment plan, regular consultations with health care professionals, communication with administrators, and limited disclosure of relevant medical information on a need-to-know basis such as compliance with treatment and restrictions on certain activities. The decision to require such an agreement is arrived at in consultation with HUHS after an individualized assessment of the nature of the student’s conduct and circumstances and any other pertinent factors. 