Vancouver Campus Leave of Absence

Leave of Absence 

A leave of absence allows students to interrupt their studies if necessary and may cover only one term with the privilege of renewal for one more consecutive regular term. A leave of absence may be granted for (1) medical, (2) financial, (3) employment or (4) military reasons.  Verification in writing must be furnished where applicable by the physician, employer or other authority. Students taking a leave of absence are not permitted to take class(es) at another institution. 

Students are only required to apply for a leave of absence if they need to take a break during the fall and winter terms. An approved leave of absence is not required for the optional summer term as it is considered regular scheduled break in the academic year.  

All leaves of absence must be approved in advance by submitting a Request for Leave of Absence Form to the Office of Enrollment and Student Services. Failure to receive approval will jeopardize the student’s status at the university and may have implications on the student’s immigration status in Canada. International students on a study permit are not allowed to work in Canada while taking a leave of absence. 

Undergraduate Students 

An academic leave of absence that permits an undergraduate student to temporarily discontinue their study and return without academic penalty may be granted only to a matriculated student with a cumulative grade point ratio of 2.00 or higher.   

Graduate Students 

Students who have been granted a leave of absence will be maintained as students in good standing during the term in which a leave of absence is taken. Students on leave are expected to register for the next regular term following the leave of absence, unless they request and are granted an extension of the leave of absence. 

Withdrawals 

Withdrawing from Classes/Revising Schedule 

Students have the option to revise their course schedule, add or drop courses using Self Service from the moment registration opens until the day before the start of the term. For the specific start date of each term, please refer to our Academic Calendar. Once the term begins, students must submit a Change of Schedule Form to the Office of Enrollment Services to add/drop or withdraw from classes. Students are required to consult with their academic advisor prior to dropping or adding a course. 

Students may revise their schedule, add or drop courses up until the add/drop deadline without academic penalty, meaning no record of registration will appear on their official transcript. However, tuition penalty may apply for dropping courses from the start of the term.

After the add/drop deadline and until the withdrawal deadline of each term, students can withdraw from classes and a “W” grade will appear on their official transcript.   

After the withdrawal deadline, withdrawal is not possible. Students will receive a final grade for the course. 

Students will be entitled to tuition refunds or cancellations of charges for tuition in accordance with the Refund Policy. Please note that the tuition deposit is non-refundable unless a student’s study permit is refused. Refunds are based upon payment of 100% of the tuition. While the University permits students to pay through deferred payment plans, refunds are not calculated on partial payments. 

The New Student, Orientation, and Technology fees are non-refundable after the first day of the term. 

Non-Attendance Withdrawal Procedures 

Students are required to attend classes regularly, arrive on time, and participate in all courses for which they are enrolled. Class attendance and participation are essential to academic progress. At the beginning of each term, instructors will inform students of the specific attendance requirements for each course according to the policies of their academic departments and colleges. All instructors are required to verify attendance in the first 2 weeks of the term. Students who never attended classes during these 2 weeks will be administratively withdrawn from the reported courses. There will be no tuition charges or penalties, and these courses will not be recorded in official transcripts. 

Administrative withdrawals due to non-attendance can impact international students’ full-time status, which is reported to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) each fall and winter term. According to IRCC, international students must maintain full-time status in Canada during each mandatory academic term (fall and winter) to be eligible for Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). Full-time means registered for 12 credits at the undergraduate level and 9 credits at the graduate level. Failure to maintain full-time status jeopardizes a student’s eligibility for PGWP. The only exception to this regulation is when a student in the final term before graduation needs less than a full-time course load to graduate.  

Withdrawing from the University 

Students must notify the Vancouver Office of Enrollment Services, in writing, of their intention to withdraw from study by submitting an Official Notice of Withdrawal form. Prior to withdrawal, students are encouraged to first speak with their academic advisor. Those who withdraw in good standing and wish to return at a later date must reapply through the Admissions Office. 

Withdrawals after the start of a term may be subject to financial penalties on tuition and fees assessed for class registration. Financial penalties for withdrawal can be found in the Refund Policy and on the registration and change of schedule forms. Students must pay all balances and penalties in full to receive official documents or be re-admitted should they wish to return. Outstanding accounts may be referred to a collection agency at the student’s expense. 

FDU NetID (student email) account will be cancelled one year after the withdrawal. Students who do not have access to their FDU NetID should fill out the Public Document Request form to request official documents.  

Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) Vancouver will notify IRCC and StudentAid BC of students who are no longer enrolled at the University.  

  • International students who wish to transfer to another designated learning institution (DLI) should be aware of recent updates from IRCC. According to the latest guidelines, students will need to apply for a new study permit to attend a different post-secondary institution. For more immigration related questions, please contact Vancouver Student Services.