Leaves of Absence

Students who feel that the classroom is losing its attractiveness, or who simply wish to gain perspective on their education so far, may want to consider taking a leave of absence for a semester or a year. About 15% of the undergraduate population at Brown takes a leave at some point in their academic career during which they do not study elsewhere; about 90% of those who report back assure us that this was a good idea. Education is not something that begins or ends in the classroom, and for some students time away from college contributes more to personal development than any single year or semester at college. You may want to investigate a program that is not strictly speaking "academic," such as an internship, an apprenticeship, or some kind of visiting scholar program.

To explore the idea of leave-taking, talk with an academic dean, attend a leave-taking session in the Curricular Resource Center, or talk a peer counselor in the CRC.

Filing for a leave

Students must meet with an academic dean to file for a personal leave. All of the academic deans in University Hall are available to talk to students about leavetaking.

Readmission deadlines

To return in the fall from a personal leave, contact the Dean of the College Office no later than April 1. To return in the spring, contact the DOC no later than October 15. These deadlines allow readmitted students to participate in online pre-registration for the semester of their return.

Download a leave-taking checklist.