Leaves of Absence

A student may request a voluntary leave of absence when personal circumstances interfere with their ability to engage with academics or they would otherwise benefit from time away from their studies. During a leave of absence, a student is not enrolled at Stanford and, thus, does not have the rights and privileges of registered students. Students are limited to 8 quarters leave of absence. There are specific circumstances that allow for additional leave quarters (i.e., pregnancy leave, parental leave, and leave for military service). Additional information and considerations on leaves of absence can be found on the Student Services website.

The university has specific policies for military leaves of absence and for pregnancy or parental leave.

Please note that not all leaves of absence are automatically approved. When considering a leave, please discuss your options with your advisor and your program's student services staff.