Requesting a Leave
There are many reasons why you might want or need to take time away from MIT—Student Support Services (S3) is here to help.
Approximately 100 students take a leave from MIT each year, for a variety of reasons, including:
- Personal or medical issues interfering with their academics
- Opportunities for professional experience, such as an internship
- Family or community commitments
- Desire to just take a break
No matter your reason, we are here to help guide you through the process of taking time away and returning.
Types of Leaves
Leave of Absence (LOA)
If you are in good academic standing and wish to take time away from MIT, you may request a Leave of Absence (LOA). Students may take one leave of absence, for a duration of one to four semesters, during their undergraduate career. Students are eligible to request a LOA up to ten days following the first day of classes of the semester. If your time away extends beyond two years, your return to MIT will follow the Request to Return process for a Personal Leave.
Personal Leave
A Personal Leave is typically sought when a student needs to attend to personal or family issues that arise unexpectedly. Students may request a Personal Leave through the last day of classes of the semester. Under the terms of a Personal Leave, a student usually takes at least one full semester away from MIT. Any request made after the last day of classes will be processed for the next semester and will only be granted after review by the Committee on Academic Performance (CAP) at end-of-term meetings. A Required Academic Leave voted by the CAP will supersede a student’s request for a Personal Leave.
Medical Leave
A Medical Leave is usually prompted when a student and their treaters feel that their mental or physical health is preventing them from participating in campus life, including academics. Students may request a Medical Leave through the last day of classes of the semester. A student cannot register again at MIT until they have been approved to return. In determining when a student can return, MIT will make an individualized assessment of the student’s medical and academic situation.
A Required Academic Leave voted by the CAP will supersede a student’s request for a Medical Leave.
Graduate Students can learn more about related policies from the Office of Graduate Education (OGE).
MIT usually expects students on Medical Leave to seek treatment outside of MIT Medical during leave. Students are encouraged to consult with clinicians at MIT Medical, in collaboration with outside medical providers, to develop and follow through on a treatment plan. Students are expected to work with S3 or OGE to clarify the expectations and plan for the leave. Leave expectations will be individually determined to reflect your unique needs and circumstances. For example, a student whose medical circumstances are coupled with academic challenges may benefit from coursework at another institution.
Preparing for Leave
Regardless of what type of leave you need to take, your first step must be an appointment with one of our S3 deans. During this meeting, they will talk through your specific situation, work with you to come up with a plan, and ensure you leave their office with a clear understanding of what to expect. Upon completion, you will receive a letter that documents the plan you developed together.
If you are looking for additional insight into the leave process, your dean can help connect you with a student who has been through a similar experience and is willing to share their leave experience.
Leave Request Checklist
Before going out on leave, be sure to review the following steps to see how they may apply to your situation.
If you have received student loans, you must complete an Exit Interview before leaving. Please contact Loan Services at 617-253-3343.
Tuition and housing charges will be prorated to your last date of attendance. Whether or not this results in a credit in your student account depends on when you leave. As part of the leave process, it is important for you to talk with your financial aid counselor in Student Financial Services (617-258-8600) about how taking a leave might impact your financial aid.
MIT will prorate tuition for students taking Medical Leave, consistent with the Registrar’s proration tables. See the official MIT policy on costs and tuition adjustments located on the MIT Registrar’s website.
A student on an approved Medical Leave is no longer registered for classes and no longer eligible to receive funding from or through MIT, including research assistantships or teaching assistantships. Under most circumstances, external fellowship funding is also suspended. However, students should contact their fellowship administrators directly to ask about applicable policies, since some fellowships pay stipends directly to students.
A student on Medical Leave must also contact Student Financial Services (SFS) to ensure that all charges for the term are paid in full or to ensure that a satisfactory payment arrangement is in place.
A student with education loans should contact SFS to request an exit interview with a student loan officer. Exit interviews are required of all MIT student loan borrowers on Medical Leave. SFS can discuss options that may prevent loan delinquency while a student is on Medical Leave.
Filling out the Housing Cancellation Form in your Housing Portal will prompt Housing and Residential Services to cancel your room assignment and update your billing once you have checked out of your building. Be sure to contact your house manager to make arrangements for your departure.
Students who take a leave from MIT are automatically ineligible for Institute-approved housing and are expected to move out of MIT dorms or Fraternities, Sororities, and Independent Living Group housing in a timely fashion. Resources are available to assist with departure if necessary.
Personal Leave and LOA
Students taking a Personal Leave or a Leave of Absence are currently not eligible for the MIT Student Health Insurance Plan (MIT SHIP), so you will want to make other arrangements for insurance coverage.
Students requesting a Personal Leave during an active term will be required to pay the MIT Health Plan fee. This is necessary to ensure coverage for charges incurred during the semester.
Medical Leave
If you are currently enrolled in MIT SHIP and requesting a Medical Leave, you are eligible to continue coverage for up to two semesters and a summer following your leave. After that, you can request an additional semester of coverage in writing to be reviewed and approved by the Student Health Plans Office. MIT may grant the extension if you can provide documentation showing that you are actively engaged in appropriate treatment and are likely to return to satisfactory participation in campus life at the end of that additional semester. Let your dean know whether or not you would like to continue coverage. If you choose to continue coverage, you will be responsible for premium payments billed in monthly installments. Coverage will be discontinued if the student fails to pay premiums in a timely manner.
Coverage for family members, including a spouse, partner, and/or children, is not available to students on Medical Leave. See the MIT Health Leave and Return Policy for more information.
Have questions about health insurance coverage? Contact the MIT Health Plans Office at 617-253-4371.
If you are an international student, be sure to contact the International Students Office (ISO) at 617-253-3795 to discuss the implications to your visa status.
International students who are authorized for Medical Leave and want to remain in the U.S. for medical treatment are usually eligible to obtain “Authorized Reduced Course-load” from the ISO under the United States Department of Homeland Security visa regulations. This can continue for up to a total of 12 months during their academic program. To remain in the U.S., the Medical Leave must be updated each term, with a new letter from the student’s clinician. This allows the ISO to obtain proper visa authorization for the student to remain in the U.S. while the Medical Leave continues. This authorization does not allow students to work, and they must maintain their health insurance coverage.
If an international student continues to need Medical Leave after a total of 12 months, the student will probably not be eligible to remain in the U.S. When the student is able to begin studying full-time again, they may need to get new documents to reenter the U.S.
Contact your advisor/academic department and anyone else you think should be notified of your plans (e.g., athletic coach, UROP Supervisor, GRT).
MIT will notify a student’s academic advisor, academic administrator, and/or other relevant offices that the student has taken a Medical Leave. MIT will also notify the International Students Office when an international student is granted a Medical Leave. These notifications will not include details about the reason for the leave.
Staying Connected
There are many ways you can remain connected to the MIT community, even in your absence. While on leave, you may:
- Contact and visit with individuals, including advisors, faculty, academic department staff, S3 deans, housemasters, friends, and alumni
- Participate in any MIT activities that are open to the public
- Access your MIT email address for up to two years after leaving with the option of being sponsored for additional time by MIT faculty or staff
- However, certain resources at the Institute are available only to registered students, including:
- Residence in MIT-owned or affiliated housing (including Fraternities, Sororities, and Independent Living Groups)
- Class attendance
- UROP program participation
- Athena and MIT licensed software access Use of your MIT ID Card
As a student, regardless of your leave status, you are expected to uphold MIT community standards as outlined in the Mind and Hand Book.
If you have a question about access to the MIT campus and MIT resources while you are on leave, please contact your dean at S3.
Contact Us
Student Support Services values your privacy. However, health and safety concerns, sexual misconduct reports, or legal requirements may require sharing information with relevant parties. We encourage you to discuss any privacy concerns with your S3 dean.