Whether voluntary or involuntary (as described below), students may be on one or more leaves of absence for no longer than five years in the aggregate, without the possibility of extension. Students who have been on a leave of absence for more than five years in the aggregate will be required to reapply for admission to the MBA Program in order to return; readmission is not guaranteed.

Voluntary Leaves of Absence

Following the completion of Term 1, students in good standing who wish to interrupt their studies at any time before graduation may request a leave of absence. Requests for a leave of absence may be granted by the Registrar in consultation with other officers of the University, as appropriate. With respect to a voluntary leave of absence for medical reasons, the Managing Director, MBA Student & Academic Services ordinarily will consult with Harvard University Health Services (which may consider information from the student’s current and/or former health care providers, if made available by the student). Students who have not completed Term 1 are not eligible to take a voluntary leave of absence; students in this situation who wish to discontinue their enrolment ordinarily are required to reapply for admission to the MBA Program in order to return, and readmission is not guaranteed.

Involuntary Leaves of Absence

Under certain circumstances, a student may be placed on an involuntary leave of absence. An involuntary leave of absence is not a disciplinary sanction. However, an incident that gives rise to a leave of absence, whether voluntary or involuntary, may subsequently be the basis for disciplinary action. A student who prefers to take a voluntary leave of absence for medical reasons rather than be placed on an involuntary leave of absence for medical reasons is ordinarily allowed to do so. Transcripts do not distinguish between voluntary and involuntary leaves of absence.

An involuntary leave of absence may be required for the following reasons:

  1. Medical circumstances:
    1. (i) The student’s behavior poses a direct threat to the health or safety of any person or has seriously disrupted others in the student’s residential community or academic environment; and (ii) either the student’s threatening, self-destructive, or disruptive behavior is determined to be the result of a medical condition or the student has refused to cooperate with efforts by Harvard University Health Services or other clinicians to determine the cause of the behavior.
    2. The student is not cleared to return to enrollment and/or residence at the Harvard Business School (HBS) following either: (i) a hospitalization or emergency room visit that raises serious concerns about the student’s health or well-being; or (ii) other circumstances that raise serious concerns about the student’s health or well-being and reasonably call into question their ability to function as a student in the HBS environment. For more about the process of clearance to return to enrollment and/or residence after a hospitalization or emergency room visit, see Section 1.12 Clearance for Return.

    The decision to place a student on an involuntary leave of absence for health related reasons is made in consultation with Harvard University Health Services (which may consider information from the student’s current and/or former health care providers, if made available by the student), after an individualized assessment of all of the pertinent factors, such as: the nature of the student’s conduct; the nature, duration and severity of the risk; the likelihood of potential injury; and whether reasonable modifications of policies, practices or procedures will mitigate the risk, such as course modifications. However, reasonable modifications do not include changes that would fundamentally alter the academic program or unduly burden the School’s resources or staffing capabilities or, with respect to the required level of care or monitoring, that would exceed the standard of care that a university health service can be expected to provide.

  2. Failure to adhere to the terms of an agreement to engage in treatment. The student’s continued enrollment and/or residence is conditioned on the student’s agreement to meet the expectations set forth in an agreement to engage in treatment, such as following the recommendations of the student’s treatment team, and the student has failed to adhere to the terms of that agreement.
  3. Alleged criminal behavior. The student has been arrested on allegations of serious criminal behavior or has been charged with such behavior by law enforcement authorities.
  4. Risk to the community. The student has allegedly violated a disciplinary rule of the School, and their presence on campus poses a significant risk to safety or to the educational environment of the community.
  5. Indebtedness. The student’s term bill is unpaid or the student has defaulted on a loan and the student has not made arrangements acceptable to the School to address the issue.
  6. Failure to provide medical documentation of required immunizations.
  7. Unfulfilled School requirements. The student has not met an academic or other School requirement, including without limitation, attending class or participating in required activities, and has not taken steps acceptable to the School to meet the requirement.
  8. Failure to register. The student has not registered as required at the beginning of each term.

The decision to place a student on involuntary leave is made by the Managing Director, MBA Student & Academic Services in consultation with other officers of the University, as appropriate. As noted above, in the case of an involuntary leave of absence for medical reasons, the School will consult with an appropriate person at Harvard University Health Services.

Students are notified in writing that they have been placed on involuntary leave. A student may petition the Managing Director, MBA Student & Academic Services for reconsideration, generally within five calendar days, and may appeal a final decision to the Executive Director, MBA Program.

While on Leave of Absence

Students who go on leave of absence during the academic year are charged tuition and any applicable fees, including rent, per the Tuition and Fee Adjustment Calendar (see below). Students receiving scholarship or other financial aid should consult the Financial Aid Office concerning the financial implications of going on leave.

US immigration rules do not allow students on a leave of absence to remain in the US on a student visa. International students should consult the Harvard International Office concerning their status.

The date a student goes on leave will affect the student's enrollment in the Harvard Student Health Insurance Plan (HUSHP), if applicable. For details, review the Leave of Absence policy on the HUHSP website, or contact the Student Health Insurance Office, Member Services, at 617-495-2008 or mservices@huhs.harvard.edu.

Libraries and other facilities normally may be used only by students who are currently enrolled. Students on leave may not participate in extracurricular activities. Students on leave do not have access to Rock Center resources, including its fellowship programs. Students on a leave of absence do not have ID card access to campus buildings. A student on a leave of absence may be instructed by the Managing Director, MBA Student & Academic Services, to remain away from the University and HBS campuses.

Students on leave do not have access to the HBS Intranet nor do they remain on Section Email Lists, and ordinarily are permitted to use their HBS email account until shortly after the class with which they entered graduates. The School may determine that it will end a student’s email access sooner and will provide them with advance notice if this is the case. Students on leave should not represent themselves as actively enrolled students. Students are strongly encouraged to set up forwarding to an external email address and to export their own copy of their HBS emails. Two weeks after the original graduation date, email access will end although HBS will continue to maintain the email archive. Once a student’s return to the MBA Program is confirmed, a new HBS Username/Email address will be provided consistent with the student’s new graduation year, and access to the email archive will be re-established. If the terms of a student’s leave expire and the student does not return to the MBA Program, the email archive will be permanently deleted. 

Students going on leave are reminded that all degree candidates, whether currently registered or not, are expected to maintain a satisfactory standard of conduct.

Following an individualized assessment, the School may require students who are on leave for medical reasons to comply with a treatment plan during their time away.

Returning to School

A student in good standing on a voluntary leave of absence must return to complete the program within five years of when their original leave was initiated. Ordinarily a student may return by notifying the Registrar’s Office by June 1 of the previous academic year and indicating their preferred term of return. Depending on the overall capacity of the MBA Program, the student may need to wait to return until space in the class is available. It remains the student’s responsibility to ensure that they have adequate time to complete the degree within the time limits established by the School.

Students who were not in good standing at the time a voluntary leave of absence was granted and students who were placed on an involuntary leave of absence must petition the Managing Director, MBA Student & Academic Services for permission to return to the School and must demonstrate that the circumstances that led to their leave have been satisfactorily addressed and that they are ready to resume their studies. The decision whether to allow a student to return is made by the Managing Director, MBA Student & Academic Services, in consultation with other officers of the University, as appropriate.

If the leave, whether voluntary or involuntary, was for medical reasons, then the student must petition the Managing Director, MBA Student & Academic Services for permission to return to the School and must demonstrate that the circumstances that led to their leave have been satisfactorily addressed and that they are ready to resume their studies. In addition, so that the School may conduct an individualized assessment of their circumstances, students on medical leave ordinarily will be required to consult with Harvard University Health Services (and to grant permission to Harvard University Health Services to obtain their relevant treatment records and communicate with their treatment providers) so that a professional assessment about the student’s productivity during their time away and readiness to return can be shared with the School. In addition, if the School learns of serious concerns about the health or well-being of a student who either has been hospitalized or visited the emergency room or whose behavior reasonably calls into question their ability to function as a student in the HBS environment, then the School similarly may require the student to consult with Harvard University Health Services (and to grant permission to Harvard University Health Services to obtain their relevant treatment records and communicate with their treatment providers). For more about the process of clearance to return to enrollment and/or residence after a hospitalization or emergency room visit, see Section 1.12 Clearance for Return. The purpose of such consultation is so that a professional assessment can be shared with the School about the student’s readiness to return and function in the student environment, with or without reasonable accommodation. Note that while the input of a student’s treatment provider is an important consideration in the petition process, Harvard University Health Services clinicians may have special knowledge of the University context to which students will be returning. In all such cases, the decision whether to allow a student to return is made by the Managing Director, MBA Student & Academic Services, in consultation with other officers of the University, as appropriate. Any student whose petition to return from a medical leave of absence is denied will receive a written explanation of the decision and may submit a written appeal of the decision to the Executive Director, MBA Program or their designee within five (5) calendar days, based on the following grounds: (a) new materially relevant information has become available; and/or (b) there is reasonable evidence of a procedural error in the decision-making process.

Any disciplinary matter must be resolved before a student on leave of absence will be allowed to return and, if the student has been required to withdraw while on leave of absence, then any conditions for return after a required withdrawal also must be satisfied.

Students returning from a leave who wish to apply for financial aid must notify the Financial Aid Office and file the necessary application forms by mid-April for the following fall term, and by October 1 for the following spring term. Late applicants cannot be assured that their aid will be available in time for registration payment deadlines.

Students who have been granted a leave and who have borrowed money through Harvard must submit an annual loan deferment form to the Student Loan Office upon their return to Harvard. Deferment forms may be obtained through either the Student Loan Office or the Financial Aid Office and must be completed and certified by the Registrar immediately following Registration. Failure to file a deferment form upon return will cause payments to be due on loans and could affect future borrowing eligibility.

A student will not be allowed to register in the University again until all previous term-bill charges have been paid and no loan is in default.

Agreements to Engage in Treatment

The School may condition a student’s enrollment and/or residence on certain terms or conditions, as set forth in a written contract between the School and the student, when the student’s conduct or circumstances have caused heightened concerns about the student’s safety and/or well-being and: (a) the appropriateness of the student’s continued enrollment and/or residence; or (b) the student’s readiness to return to the Harvard community. The agreement to engage in treatment may include, among other things, compliance with a medical treatment plan, regular consultations with health care professionals, communication with administrators, and limited disclosure of relevant medical information, on a need-to-know basis, such as compliance with treatment and restrictions on certain activities. The decision to require such an agreement is arrived at in consultation with Harvard University Health Services after an individualized assessment of the nature of the student’s conduct and circumstances and any other pertinent factors.

Tuition and Fee Adjustment Calendar

Students who go on leave in the first two weeks of the term typically are not charged tuition for that term. Policies may vary for other expenses, such as materials fees, housing, and health fees. Beyond the two-week period, students who go on an involuntary or voluntary leave will ordinarily be charged tuition according to the following Tuition and Fee Adjustment Calendar, based on the date of the leave:

Fall Term (on or before)
After first two weeks of the term, but on or before September 15: Student charged one-fourth tuition for the term
On or before October 15: Student charged one-half
On or before November 15: Student charged three-fourths
After November 15: Student charged full tuition
Spring Term (on or before)
After first two weeks of the term, but on or before February 15: Student charged one-fourth tuition for the term
On or before March 15: Student charged one-half
On or before April 15: Student charged three-fourths
After April 15: Student charged full tuition

Any student who leaves the University with an amount due on their student bill that is unpaid for 60 days or more may be subject to collection activities. The costs associated with collecting an unpaid account will be added to the student’s outstanding debt and must be paid in full.

Students expecting a refund should email finaid@hbs.edu. If direct deposit is set up, the refund will be provided within 5-7 business days from the date the request is made. If direct deposit is not set up, the refund should be mailed within 7-10 business days.

Financial Aid

For students who have a need-based HBS scholarship, the amount will be prorated based on the tuition charged. The remainder will be forfeited. Please be aware that the student will need to reapply for financial aid upon return to the MBA program. Financial aid is not available for the time the student is not actively enrolled at HBS. Contact finaid@hbs.edu with questions about financial aid.

Important details for student loan borrowers:

  • Because the student is no longer enrolled, he/she may go into repayment on the student loan(s). Please note that federal loans have a one-time, six-month grace period. Private loan repayment terms vary. The student should contact the loan servicer to confirm when repayment will begin. Once reenrolled in the MBA program, the student will be eligible for in-school deferments.
  • If the student has a Federal Direct Student Loan (i.e. a Federal Unsubsidized or Graduate PLUS Loan), MBA Financial Aid will do a required Return of Title IV calculation to determine the amount that must be returned to the US Department of Education. This calculation is based on the time of withdrawal.
  • All students who have borrowed a Federal Direct Student Loan or a private loan from the Harvard University Employees Credit Union (HUECU) are required to complete exit counseling. The purpose of the exit counseling is to inform the student of the rights and responsibilities for the loans received while enrolled at HBS. Financial Aid will provide exit counseling information via email.
  • It is important that students stay in good standing on student loans. If a student has any trouble making payments, he/she is encouraged to contact the loan servicer right away. Deferment or forbearance options may be available.

Leaves Due to Voluntary or Involuntary Military Service

In accordance with federal regulations, 34 C.F.R. § 668.18 and the Department of Defense (DoD) Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Harvard Business School (HBS) will promptly readmit service members who seek readmission to a program that was interrupted due to a uniformed service obligation. This policy shall apply to:

  • Service members who are unable to attend classes for more than 30 consecutive days due to required military service. 
  • Service members who are unable to attend classes for less than 30 days due to required military service when such an absence would result in a withdrawal from the School.

A student is eligible for readmission under this policy if, during an absence, the student performs uniformed service, voluntary or involuntary, in the Armed Forces, including the National Guard or Reserve, active duty, active duty for training or full-time National Guard under Federal authority (but not State authority).  

A student must provide orders, or written notice by Commanding Officer, of a Uniformed Service Obligation, such as Temporary Duty (TDY), etc., to the HBS Registrar’s Office or designee as far in advance as possible, unless precluded by military necessity. Such notice does not need to indicate when the student will return to HBS.   

The cumulative length of all absences for uniformed service (service time only) must not exceed five (5) years. The student must give oral or written notice of Intent to Return to HBS within three (3) years after the completion of the period of service. Immediately upon the student's return to school, the student must provide notice that he/she may be entitled to the tuition and enrollment benefits outlined in this policy. For a service member who is hospitalized for or convalescing from an illness or injury incurred in, or aggravated during, the performance of service, notice must be provided not later than two (2) years after the end of the period that is necessary for recovery from such illness or injury.  

A returning student must be charged the same tuition and fees in effect during the last academic year the student attended unless veterans' education benefits or other service member education benefits will pay the amount in excess. For subsequent academic years, the returning student may not be charged tuition and fees more than what other students in the program are charged.  

Once intent to return notification has been given to HBS, a returning student will be permitted to reenroll. Because of the cumulative nature of the first-year MBA curriculum, returning students who left HBS during the first year of the MBA Program will be required to re-enter the program in the same term (fall or spring) in which they were enrolled at the time of their departure. For example, first-year MBA students who were enrolled in the fall term at the time of their departure will be required to reenroll at the beginning of a future fall term and cannot reenter into a spring term. The student may reenter the program at the start of the next appropriate term after providing their intent to return or they may request a later date of reenrollment. Returning students who left HBS during the second year of the MBA Program will be able to reenroll at the start of the next upcoming term unless the student requests a later date of reenrollment.

A returning student will be readmitted into the same academic program the student was enrolled in prior to the military service obligation. If the exact program no longer exists, the student must be admitted to the program that is most similar, unless the student requests or agrees to admission to a different program. Returning students will be reenrolled with the same enrollment status, number of completed credit hours, and academic standing as the last academic year of attendance.  

If a student fails to provide notice of intent to return within the applicable time period set forth in this policy, the student does not automatically forfeit their eligibility for readmission. The student’s ability to return then becomes subject to the institutions’ established leave of absence policy and general practices.  

If HBS determines that a returning student is not prepared to reenroll in the same academic program with the same academic status or is unable to complete the program, the School must make reasonable efforts to enable the student to resume or complete the program at no additional cost to the student. If such efforts are unsuccessful or place an undue hardship on the School, the School is not required to readmit the student.  

In accordance with federal regulations, returning students who receive a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge, or a court martial from the Armed Forces (including the National Guard and Reserves), or a sentence to confinement in a Federal or State penitentiary or correctional institution are not eligible for readmission under this policy.