Voluntary Leaves of Absence

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.
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On this page:

Length of Voluntary Leaves of Absence
Voluntary Leaves of Absence for Medical Reasons
Voluntary Family Leaves of Absence
Related Contacts and Forms

Students who wish to interrupt their studies at any time before graduation may apply for a leave of absence for a single term or a year. In preparation, students should discuss their plans with their advisor and with their financial aid officer. Requests for a leave of absence should be made through the Non-Residential Application Portal (NORA) and may be granted by the Office of Student Success in consultation with other officers of the University, as appropriate. 

Students may not be approved for a voluntary leave of absence prior to matriculation into their academic program. Prior to matriculation, students may request to defer their admission to the following year.
Students should consult with their financial aid officer concerning the financial implications of going on a voluntary leave of absence.
Students who wish to take a leave of absence during the period after final exams for the current term but before the first day of classes for the next term must consult with the Office of Academic Programs prior to applying for a leave.
Students who plan to teach more than six-fifths over the course of a year must apply for a voluntary leave of absence and serve as a teaching assistant instead of a teaching fellow. Information regarding employment is available at Regulations Regarding Employment.

Length of Voluntary Leaves of Absence 

Voluntary leaves of absence of longer than one year are granted only in unusual circumstances, for example, if the student wishes to obtain a separate professional degree or if they are on active service in the US military or other documented military service. Students on a voluntary leave of absence who have not maintained regular contact with their programs for more than two terms may be withdrawn at the discretion of their department or Harvard Griffin GSAS.

Voluntary leaves of absence generally are not approved for longer than two years. Students who are not approved for a longer voluntary leave of absence and who do not return after two years, including without limitation students who do not successfully petition to return from a leave of absence, ordinarily will be withdrawn by their department or Harvard Griffin GSAS.

Voluntary Leaves of Absence for Medical Reasons

In reviewing requests for a voluntary leave of absence for medical reasons, the Office of Student Affairs may consult with Harvard University Health Services and/or the Disability Access Office, who may consider information from the student’s current and/or former health care providers, if made available by the student. Following an individualized assessment, the School may require students who are on leave for medical reasons to comply with a treatment plan during their time away.

Voluntary Family Leaves of Absence

Students of any gender enrolled at Harvard Griffin GSAS may take a voluntary family leave of absence of up to two terms for the birth or adoption of a child, childcare, or care of an immediate family member with a serious health condition.

Students should review the Parental Accommodation and Financial Support program before deciding to apply for a family leave of absence.

Students are expected to notify their advisors and their directors of graduate studies as early as possible about their plans to take a family leave of absence so that appropriate accommodations can be made to cover any teaching or research responsibilities.
Students taking a voluntary family leave of absence are eligible for a departmental G-Year adjustment of one year, regardless of whether they take leave for one or two terms; requests should be made through their academic program administrator or graduate program coordinator.
Academic requirements (such as postponement of exams and course requirements) may be adjusted in consideration of the student’s leave.