Withdrawing from GSAS

Last Updated

February 04, 2023

Introduction
Academic Requirements
Admissions
Conduct and Safety
Financial Aid
Registration
GSAS students are classified as resident students (full time or part time) or non-resident students and must either check in and register through the FAS Registrar’s Office or apply for an alternate status through the Non-Residential Application Portal. The Registrar’s Office also tracks students’ year of graduate study (known as G year), which is calculated from the first date of registration in GSAS.

On this page:

Student Withdrawal
Program Withdrawal
Related Contacts and Forms

Students may withdraw from GSAS or be withdrawn by their program. Withdrawn students may later apply for readmission.

Student Withdrawal

A degree candidate who wishes to withdraw from GSAS must complete a withdrawal notice form. The date the form is signed becomes the effective date of withdrawal. Additionally:

Withdrawing students should review the HUSHP Leave of Absence/Withdrawal Policy for important information.
Withdrawing students should review the HUIT policies on what happens to Harvard accounts and online access after leaving the University.
Withdrawing students do not retain physical access to facilities on campus.
If withdrawal becomes effective mid-term, masters students will be charged relevant tuition and fees. (See below.)
All registered courses will be dropped automatically for students who withdraw before the drop deadline. If a student withdraws after the deadline and before the start of the examination period, the courses will remain on the transcript with a WD (withdrawal) designation. If a student withdraws later, they will receive a grade for the course.

Tuition Associated with Mid-Term Withdrawal

The Academic Calendar indicates the last dates by which students may cancel registration for the fall and spring terms without being liable for tuition.

Registered master's students who formally withdraw from GSAS after those dates are charged tuition according to the following schedule. The student will be charged the full active file fee regardless of when the withdrawal takes place. When an official deadline falls on a holiday observed by the University, the effective deadline is the next working day.

Fall: on or before	September 9: no tuition October 1: one-fourth tuition October 28: one-half December 3: three-fourths After December 3: full tuition
Spring: on or before	January 31: no tuition February 25: one-fourth tuition for the term March 22: one-half April 27: three-fourths After April 27: full tuition

Payment of less than a full term of tuition cannot be counted toward the minimum financial requirements for a degree.

Program Withdrawal

Students who have not met satisfactory progress requirements or who have not maintained contact with their programs for more than two terms may be withdrawn at the discretion of their program.

The program will make a reasonable effort to contact the student to outline what actions must be taken to return to satisfactory progress. If the effort to make contact is unsuccessful and/or if the student continues to not make satisfactory progress, the student will then be withdrawn.

When a student leaves the University for any reason, all outstanding charges are due and must be paid in full.