Leaves, Transfers, and Withdraw

Students considering a leave of absence are strongly encouraged to request a leave prior to the start of the semester in question. If a student has been granted a leave after the semester has started, the following deadlines apply:

• Students who request a leave of absence after the drop deadline but prior to the withdrawal deadline will be withdrawn from their courses, with a notation of “W” on their transcript for those courses.
• Requests to take a leave of absence after the withdrawal deadline will be considered only in extremely extenuating circumstances and only with the proper supporting documentation.

To request a leave of absence:

1. Meet with an advisor in the Office of Academic Affairs to discuss your request and to develop a revised plan of study.
2. Complete the Leave of Absence Request Form, and be sure to include a detailed description regarding the reasons for your request and how you plan to use your time away from the University.
3. Contact the Office of Academic Affairs, Suite M-18, Fagin Hall or nursenet@nursing.upenn.edu if you have any questions.

The leave request will be evaluated by the Office of Academic Affairs. If the request is approved, students will receive a confirmation letter outlining the terms of the leave and any conditions that must be met prior to making a request to return. Once approved, students should consult with the Office of Student Information (Suite M-24, Fagin Hall, compliance@nursing.upenn.edu ) regarding any clinical compliance requirements that will need to be maintained while on leave, depending on the desired semester of return and the revised plan of study.

The Student Registration and Financial Services website will provide a list of other offices (including housing, dining, financial aid, etc.) students may need to contact as they prepare to take a leave of absence. Students are required to review this information and follow up as necessary.

International students should also contact the International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) office to discuss any immigration considerations and paperwork related to the leave, 215-898-4661, isss@pobox.upenn.edu.

BSN students who are on an approved leave of absence and who wish to resume their studies must complete the Leave of Absence Return Form. 

Students should refer to their leave of absence letter for information on their return, including deadline dates and conditions. It is important to take note of these dates in advance and to plan ahead. The School of Nursing may deny any requests to return that come in after the specified deadlines. 

Students who wish to participate in advance registration for the semester in which they are planning to return should submit their request at least two weeks prior to the advance registration period in cases where this occurs before the specified deadline to request a return. 

In addition to the above information, please note the following policies:

• Students who have holds on their record must have these holds cleared before their return can be approved. Holds may be placed by Student Health Service, the Office of Student Conduct, and Student Financial Services, among other offices, and students are responsible for contacting the respective offices directly.

• Students who were not in good academic standing at the time of the leave of absence request will return to the same academic standing status they held (for example, probation) when they left.

• Students cannot receive Penn transfer credit for courses taken at another institution while on leave of absence.

• A leave of absence does not automatically change the time limit (5 years) for completion of the program. Students who are on leave for more than two years in total may be withdrawn from the program and asked to re-apply. These restrictions do not include time spent in the military.

To request a return from leave of absence:

1. Complete the Leave of Absence Return Form. Please be sure to include detailed information addressing how you have used your time on leave, why you feel ready to resume your studies at this time, and your plans for reintegrating into the academic community. 

2. Students returning from a leave taken due to medical reasons will be required to submit documentation they are ready to resume their studies and rejoin the campus community. Such evidence includes documentation from the student’s health care provider as well as consultation with Student Health Service (SHS) and/or Student Counseling as needed. Detailed information regarding the necessary documentation and conditions of the leave that must be met prior to returning are noted in the student’s leave of absence confirmation letter.

3. Submit these materials to the Office of Academic Affairs, Suite M-18, Fagin Hall or nursenet@nursing.upenn.edu.

The return from leave request will be evaluated by the Office of Academic Affairs. If the request is approved, students will receive a confirmation letter outlining the terms of the return and any steps that must be taken. Once approved, students should consult with the Office of Student Information (Suite M-24, Fagin Hall, compliance@nursing.upenn.edu) regarding any clinical compliance requirements that need to be fulfilled, depending on the student’s semester of return and revised plan of study.

The Student Registration and Financial Services website will provide a list of other offices (including housing, dining, financial aid, etc.) students may need to contact as they prepare to return from leave of absence. Students are required to review this information and follow up as necessary.

International students should also contact the International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) office to discuss any immigration considerations and paperwork related to the leave, 215-898-4661, isss@pobox.upenn.edu.

Students in the School of Nursing MUST remain in their home school (Nursing) for one full year and MUST complete the required nursing curriculum in the fall semester before applying for internal transfer. 

It is strongly recommended that students meet with an advisor in the school to which they wish to transfer to determine eligibility for transfer (i.e., GPA requirements) and the requirements for their major of choice, and to discuss a plan for completion of those requirements. It is not guaranteed that students will be accepted for internal transfer to another school.

Students who are not accepted for internal transfer after their first attempt are permitted to take one additional semester of non‑nursing courses in a second attempt to transfer. Students who take more than two semesters of non-nursing courses without successfully transferring to another school within the University may be withdrawn from the School of Nursing.

External transfer students to Penn Nursing from another college or university are not permitted to apply for internal transfer to another school at Penn.

A 3.0 GPA is required for internal transfer to the School of Nursing from one of the other undergraduate schools at Penn, and a particular emphasis will be placed on students’ performance in their science and Nursing courses. All Nursing courses taken while the student was in the previous school may be counted toward the BSN degree, and other courses may count toward sector requirements or electives. 

Students who are interested in internal transfer to the School of Nursing should meet with the Director of Advising and Student Affairs as early as possible to discuss the internal transfer process, review the Nursing curriculum and requirements, and develop a tentative plan of study. Email advisor@nursing.upenn.edu to set up an appointment. The School of Nursing’s Internal Transfer Application details can be found here.

Students who are accepted for internal transfer will be assigned a faculty advisor in the School of Nursing.

It is extremely rare for students in Penn’s College of Liberal and Professional Studies to apply for an internal transfer into Penn Nursing. Please contact advisor@nursing.upenn.edu with questions about eligibility.