Leave of Absence & Readmission
The Leave of Absence policy allows undergraduate students to take a leave from Emerson for a period of up to two years. During this two-year period, undergraduate students are allowed to be readmitted to the College through the Academic Advising Center without having to reapply through the Office of Undergraduate Admission.
Reasons students take a leave include: health issues, financial difficulties, familial obligations, and personal issues.
To take a Leave of Absence, undergraduate students must report to the Dean of Students Office (150 Boylston Street, 2nd Floor) to fill out the appropriate paperwork. Read the Leave of Absence/Withdrawal Fact Sheet (PDF). Resident students who take a leave are required to vacate student housing immediately.
Undergraduate students considering taking a leave of absence are encouraged to talk with an academic advisor about options, the process of taking a Leave of Absence, and the procedure and timeline of applying for readmission.
Graduate students should contact the Office of Graduate Studies (180 Tremont, 12th Floor) with any questions regarding academic policies and procedure.
Withdrawal from Emerson
Undergraduate students who wish to leave Emerson and have no intentions of returning to complete their studies at a later date will withdraw from the College.
Reasons students withdraw include: transferring to another institution. In order to withdraw, undergraduate students must report to the Dean of Students Office (150 Boylston Street, 2nd Floor) to fill out the appropriate paperwork. Resident students who withdraw are required to vacate student housing immediately.
Readmission Criteria
Students are eligible to be readmitted to the College up to two years from the date of their Leave of Absence. In order to be readmitted, students must submit an Online Request for Readmission to the Academic Advising Center.
The following criteria will be considered when a request for readmission to Emerson College is submitted:
- GPA at Emerson at time of your leave
- The number of credits you earned at the time of your leave
- Your overall standing at Emerson at the time of your leave
- Your activities during your leave
For Readmitted Students
After you've been readmitted, certain procedures and policies apply for tuition, financial aid, housing, health forms, and credit transfers. Visit our Information for Readmitted Students page for more details.
Readmission Deadlines
NON-INTERNATIONAL STUDENT DEADLINES
Summer: May 15
Fall: August 25
Spring: January 5
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT DEADLINES
Summer: March 15
Fall: July 15
Spring: November 15
Course Registration Info
Emerson’s course registration for the fall semester occurs in April; registration for the spring semester occurs in November. For best course selection, complete the Request for Readmission no later than March 1 or November 1.
Readmission Eligibility
Last Date of Attendance
You can be readmitted up to two years from your last date of attendance. If it has been longer than two years since you attended Emerson, you must contact the Advising Center at 617-824-7876.
Academic Status
You will be readmitted under the same academic and social standing as when you left. For example, if you were on probation when you took your leave, you will remain on probation for the semester that you are readmitted.
Leave of Absence
If you have not taken an official leave of absence through the Dean of Students Office, you MUST do so prior to being readmitted to the College.
