Leave of Absence (LOA) Policies & Procedures

To request a leave of absence from Penn Engineering, use the form found on the Undergraduate Forms page.

• Note:
  • While on leave, you cannot receive Penn transfer credit for courses taken at another institution. There may be some circumstances that permit requests to transfer credit while on leave. Specific requests must be made in writing to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education prior to doing so.
  • If you are not in good academic standing when requesting a leave, you will have the same status when you return (e.g. academic probation, drop warning.)
    • CU enrollment will be limited for students on probation or drop warning.
  • If you receive financial aid, you should determine the financial aid impacts of a leave by looking at the Student Financial Services website and speaking with your assigned financial aid counselor.
  • If you have campus housing or a university dining plan, you will need to contact those offices as you prepare for leave.
  • There may be other offices on campus you need to connect with as you take a leave, such as Student Health and Counseling and the Center for Community Standards and Accountability, more information can be found at the following site: https://srfs.upenn.edu/student-records/withdrawals-leaves
  • If taking a leave of absence for medical reasons, we expect you to seek appropriate treatment to address the health concerns that have precipitated this separation. You will be expected to submit documentation to Student Health and Counseling upon your return. Please see the RLOA Policies & Procedures page for more information.
• Discontinuance of study without permission from the University does not constitute a leave of absence.
• The maximum time allowed for a Leave of Absence is two academic years, or four academic semesters, not including summer sessions. Students may request an extension beyond two years as needed. Students who do not contact the Office of Academic Services (OAS) prior to the two-year period to request an extension will be automatically withdrawn from the University.
  • Additionally, all students must adhere to the Sunset Rule, which outlines the maximum amount of time a student has to complete their degree. Taking a leave of absence does not extend this deadline.
• The use of University facilities is not permitted while on a leave of absence. Additionally, access to certain software (Zoom, Microsoft, etc), email (SEAS Gmail), and library resources may be disrupted while a student is on leave of absence.

To return from a leave of absence, please review the Return from Leave of Absence (RLOA) policies and procedures.