We understand that life can be unpredictable. Whether you're facing personal, family, or professional challenges, you may need time away from your studies. A leave of absence allows eligible undergraduate students to take a break without permanently withdrawing from McGill.
The maximum duration of a leave of absence is 52 weeks. If your request is granted, a leave of absence will appear on your transcript, but the reason will not be shown.
Eligibility
To request a leave of absence, you must:
- Not be in your first term at McGill (newly admitted students are not eligible)
- Have earned at least one McGill credit
- Be in satisfactory academic standing
- Have no holds on your student record
Before making a request, you must saoadvisor.macdonald [at] mcgill.ca (email your faculty advisor) to confirm your eligibility.
Accepted reasons for a leave of absence
- Maternity or parenting
- Personal or family health concerns
- Professional development
- Required military service
Submitting a leave of absence request in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Leave of absence requests must be submitted during the term in which the leave is needed, before the withdrawal with refund deadline (requests submitted after this deadline or for past terms will be denied).
All requests must include supporting documentation.
Updates will be sent to your McGill email, including any issues with your record (e.g., missing grades) and our final decision.
If your request is approved, your courses for the leave term will be dropped. For D1/D2 full-year courses, the D1 (fall) component will be withdrawn without refund and the D2 (winter) component will be dropped.
You'll retain access to registration for the following term. If you do not re-register, your record will be inactivated, and you'll need to apply for readmission.
You cannot take courses at McGill or elsewhere during your leave. No transfer credits will be approved for this period.