Graduate students must maintain graduate student status throughout their graduate program. If you need to take one or more quarters off without registering, you may request on-leave status for each quarter. This prevents loss of graduate student status and avoids the reinstatement/re-entry process. See Graduate School Policy 3.5 for full details.
LOG IN TO MYGRAD TO REQUEST ON-LEAVE STATUS
Who Can Request On-Leave Status
You may request on-leave status if all of the following apply:
- Your graduate program approves the leave request. Note that some programs, by program policy, do not approve on-leave status.
- You were registered or on leave the previous quarter
- You have completed at least one quarter of graduate study at UW
- You are not currently registered, graduated, inactive, non-matriculated, or in a visiting student status
- International students (F-1/J-1) must confirm eligibility with International Student Services
Additional notes:
- Students in two graduate programs must have both programs approve the request; only one request and one fee is required.
- Students may drop all courses before the first day of the quarter to become eligible for leave.
- Students with financial aid, loans, or GAIP insurance should consult the Office of Financial Aid or UW Benefits Office to avoid loss of coverage.
- Students do not need to be registered to maintain graduate student status in Summer and on-leave status is not available. Students in programs that require summer work should contact their program if they require a pause in study.
What On-Leave Status Provides
| Status | You Keep | You Lose |
|---|---|---|
| On-Leave | UW email, library access, very limited faculty and staff counsel/resources, Hall Health Primary Care Center (pay-for-service basis), IMA (UW Seattle campus students only, extra fee) | Most faculty advising/resources, exam privileges, thesis/dissertation filing, university housing, student insurance, financial assistance |
Students not registered in summer maintain the same privileges as students in on-leave status.
How to Request On-Leave Status
- Log in to MyGrad and click “Request Leave”.
- Review leave requirements before starting the request.
- Submit your request in MyGrad (opens two weeks before the quarter starts).
- Obtain departmental approval (both programs if enrolled in two).
- If your department approves, you will receive an email notification from the Graduate School with instructions and the deadline.
- If your department does not approve, contact your graduate program advisor for next steps.
- Pay the $25 non-refundable fee via MyGrad by the deadline.
- Military personnel with deployment orders must still log in and click “Pay” after approval but you will not be charged.
- Receive email confirmation for your records.
Multi-Quarter Requests:
- Peace Corps, military deployment, UW Fulbright, or Bonderman fellows may request up to three consecutive quarters.
- Fees: $25 per quarter (e.g., $50 for two, $75 for three)
- Summer quarter: no fee required.
- Military with deployment papers: no fee required.
Deadlines & Reminders
- Request opens: Two weeks before the first day of instruction each quarter
- Student request deadline: 5:00 p.m. PST, last day of instruction (one week before quarter end).
- Early requests: Students are encouraged to submit their requests 5 business days before the first day of classes to better ensure that they can register for credits if their request is denied.
- Department approval deadline: 5:00 p.m. PST, last day of the quarter
- Payment deadline: 5:00 p.m. PST, last day of the quarter
- Loan deferment: Complete the request and pay by the 2nd Friday of the quarter to stay eligible for loan deferment reporting.
- Incomplete Requests: Requests not paid or approved by the deadline will be withdrawn automatically. You must request reinstatement and/or re-entry to return.
Reinstatement & Re-Entry
If you did not maintain graduate status (no registration or complete the on-leave status process in full with approval):
- Request reinstatement (degree programs) and/or re-entry (certificate programs) through your department
- Pay the reinstatement fee to the Graduate School, only for degree programs.
Students enrolled in both degree and certificate programs must submit separate requests for each program.
For more information, see Reinstatement & Re-Entry.
Contact & Support
For questions about:
- Eligibility, requirements, or department approval → Contact your Graduate Program Advisor (GPA/GPC) first.
- International student status (F-1/J-1) → Contact International Student Services (ISS) at iss.washington.edu or 206-221-7857.
- Financial aid or loan deferment → Contact the Office of Student Financial Aid at finaid.uw.edu or 206-543-6101.
- Technical issues with MyGrad or leave payment problems → Email uwgrad@uw.edu or call 206-685-2630.
- Reinstatement after missing deadlines → Contact your graduate program first, then the Graduate School if needed.
Revised October, 2025, April 2026