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Students who find it necessary to interrupt their graduate studies may apply to the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies for on-leave status.

Requirements

To apply for leave of absence, students have to meet these requirements:

• Get approval by the student's home graduate program.
• A leave has to begin on the first day of a term, for a period of four, eight or twelve months.
• Students with on-leave status will not undertake any academic or research work, or use any of the University's facilities during the period of leave.
• Students must inform the University immediately upon return.

Regulations

Leave, not including parental leave or leave to pursue concurrent programs, for master's or doctoral students is limited to one year.

The time spent on-leave is not counted as part of the allowed time to completion for the degree. On-leave students continue to be registered and must pay a reduced fee (Master's / Doctoral) for the leave period.

Types of leave

Personal

Students may request leave for personal reasons for a maximum of three terms. The reasons need not be stated for leave to be granted.

Parental

A graduate student who is bearing a child or who has primary responsibility for the care of an infant or young child is eligible for parental leave. A request for parental leave should be made through the student's graduate program for a minimum leave of four months to a maximum of twelve months.

Medical

Requests for leaves for medical reasons must be accompanied by a doctor’s note recommending the leave. Exemptions from submission of a medical note will be approved on a case-by-case basis.

Concurrent: to pursue another program

Following academic consultation, graduate students may apply for leave of absence from one program to pursue a second program of study. In this case, the student is responsible for both on-leave tuition fees as well as the tuition fees associated with the second program. A leave of absence for these reasons may exceed one year. Time to completion of the first degree program would be extended by the span of time on the leave of absence.

Leave policy for awards

Graduate students who hold awards will receive the full amount of the award for which they are eligible, however students cannot receive awards while they are on a leave of absence. Students will receive the balance of their awards when they return to full-time registration status.

The graduate advisor or head of the department must submit the written recommendation for leave to Student Academic Services in the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Graduate Awards staff is provided any change in registration information for all graduate students, and adjusts award payments accordingly. Students must inform Graduate Awards staff when they return to full-time registered status.

• NSERC or SSHRC or CIHR award holders are eligible for Paid Parental Leaves.
• NSERC or SSHRC award holders are also eligible for Leaves for Relevant Work Experience. 

Graduate programs can fill out the Request for Leave of Absence forms.