A leave of absence may be requested for up to two consecutive semesters (summer and winter not included) for any of the following reasons:
- Childbearing/Adoption
- Dependent care (such as children, ill or injured partners, or aging parents)
- Financial hardship
- Serious health condition (physical and/or mental)
- Military service
This leave stops the time to degree clock. A leave of absence should be requested and approved prior to the start of the academic term for which it is being requested. Students who need to request leave should contact their campus advisor for the appropriate form and next steps. Beginning Fall 2025, a Leave of Absence must be submitted by the student via TerpEngage. Visit https://gradschool.umd.edu/forms for information and submission instructions. The information is found under "Petitions, Requests, and Waivers" and follow the link to "Now Available in TerpEngage: Request for Leave of Absence & Petition for Waiver of Continuous Registration"
Students who take a leave of absence must submit a Return from a Leave of Absence Form to their campus advisor prior to the beginning of the term the student intends to return to active study. Students who were on a leave of absence for medical reasons will be required to submit a Supplemental Information Form completed by the student's health care provider as noted above. Students should contact their campus advisor for the appropriate forms.