Dropping and Withdrawing from Courses

Progress Toward Degree

• Discuss implications of dropping this class with your academic advisor.

Transcript Impact

• Review the chart below to determine how the course will appear on your transcript after your withdraw. If the course is canceled, no W will appear. The dates for the current semester can be found on the academic calendar.

Short and Irregular Courses: See the Short Course List regarding drop information for each of your short courses.

Contact your financial aid counselor

• About how dropping your courses can impact your financial aid and/or scholarships.

Dropping or withdrawing from ANY Coursework

• Will negatively impact your Satisfactory Academic Progress, meaning you may lose eligibility for federal or institutional aid in future semesters.  

Dropping below full-time status

• Could negatively impact grant and/or scholarship aid and may require you to repay some or all the aid you’ve received so far for the semester.

Dropping below half-time status

• Could negatively impact federal student loan aid and require you start repayment of any existing student loans.

Departmental & Outside Scholarships or Loans

• Many scholarships and private student loans have minimum enrollment requirements. Check with the awarding department, organization, or lender before dropping coursework. 

Check with your Residence Assistant or KU Student Housing for details on how dropping courses can impact your eligibility to remain in the halls. 

Dropping below full-time enrollment

• No longer eligible to live in campus residence or scholarship halls.  

Canceling housing contract

• Just like canceling a rental agreement early, there are financial penalties charged for canceling your housing contract early. 

Canceling / Changing meal plan

• Meal plan changes are only allowed very early in the semester or before the semester starts.

If you receive educational assistance as a military affiliated student dropping or withdrawing could have negative impact on your benefits. Contact the Lt. Gen. William K. Jones Military-Affiliated Student Center to learn more. 

 If you are an international student in F-1 or J-1 status, you MUST get permission from International Support Services BEFORE dropping below full-time to maintain legal status. Any student who works with International Support Services should reach out to discuss implications prior to withdrawing.

Student Money Management Services is committed to improving KU students' financial situations by empowering them to analyze their finances, make sound decisions, and commit to controlling their financial lives while at the University of Kansas and into the future.

Tuition and Fee refund periods are posted in the Academic Calendar each semester and established by the tuition and fee refund policy. If you believe your withdrawal has exceptional circumstances that may warrant a refund, review the Fee Petition information provided by the Office of the University Registrar.

Enrollment for next semester

• If you withdraw on the first day of class or after, you will be assigned an enrollment appointment time for next semester. Review considerations for enrollment to prepare to enroll.

If you do not enroll at KU for one or more semesters

• You must apply for readmission for the semester you want to return by the appropriate deadline.

If you cancel your enrollment prior to the first day of classes, a record will be kept of your enrollment, but it will not display on your academic transcript. A full refund of tuition and campus fees will be credited to your KU account if you withdraw before all your classes begin. This credit will apply to any other outstanding charges you may have with KU. 

To withdraw from classes, you may follow the step-by-step Withdrawal from All Classes instructions. 

Most students can withdraw from some classes in Enroll & Pay 

After the first day of the semester students in the below programs will need to use the withdrawal form to drop or withdraw from classes. Students may not withdraw after the second period drop ends.  

• Pharmacy  
• Engineering – undergraduate students only  
• Architectural Engineering – undergraduate students only  
• Applied English Center  
• Law  

The first day after the second period drop students in the below programs will need to obtain approval from their school and the no drop hold will be removed. You will then withdraw online via Enroll & Pay until 11:59 p.m. the same day the drop hold was removed. Students may not withdraw after the second period drop ends.  

• Architecture and Design  
• Education and Human Sciences – undergraduate students only  
• Social Welfare  
• Professional Studies  

Most students can withdraw from all classes in Enroll & Pay 

After the first day of the semester students in the below programs will need to use the withdrawal form to drop or withdraw from classes. Students may not withdraw after the second period drop ends.  

• Pharmacy  
• Engineering – undergraduate students only  
• Architectural Engineering – undergraduate students only  
• Applied English Center  
• Law  

The first day after the second period drop students in the below programs will need to obtain approval from their school and the no drop hold will be removed. You will then withdraw online via Enroll & Pay until 11:59 p.m. the same day the drop hold was removed. Students may not withdraw after the second period drop ends.  

• Architecture and Design  
• Education and Human Sciences – undergraduate students only  
• Social Welfare  
• Professional Studies  

A Leave of Absence may be granted upon request to the graduate program in advance of leave. A leave of absence may be granted in extraordinary circumstances (e.g. cases of illness, disability, emergency, financial hardship, military leave), to pursue family responsibilities, or to pursue full-time activities related to long-range professional goals. 

In certain exceptional circumstances, it is necessary for a student to withdraw from courses after the second period drop ends. Students are strongly encouraged to discuss the impact of this change with their academic advisor prior to submitting a request. These petitions may be considered an exception to policy or grade change.

Petition to Withdraw After the Deadline

In order to withdraw from classes after the second period drop ends, students with an active KU online ID may submit the Undergraduate Petition to Withdraw After Deadline which will require them to:

• Indicate the reason(s) of the withdrawal (administrative error, compassionate, employment, financial, grades, medical, or other)
• Provide an explanation of the exceptional circumstances and how it impacted their ability to withdraw during the semester
• Include supporting documentation for the exceptional circumstances

If a student does not have a KU online ID, they can create one at MyIdentity Account Setup.

Medical and Compassionate Withdrawal Reasons

Students who select medical and/or compassionate as their reason for withdrawal will have their request reviewed by a committee that consists of university staff, including a representative from the student's school or college.

Supporting documentation should include enough detail for the committee to understand why the student was unable to withdrawal during the outlined withdraw period for that class or how the exceptional circumstance occurred after the established withdraw period for the class. When it is necessary to withdraw from courses after the last course has completed, the committee considers:

• Extraordinary circumstances, such as a serious illness or injury, preventing the student from continuing classes. The medical withdrawal policy covers both physical health and mental health. 
• Extraordinary personal reasons, not related to the student's personal physical health or mental health, preventing the student from continuing in classes.

Tuition Refund Considerations

In some cases, tuition refunds may also be granted depending on a student's unique circumstances. The petition to withdraw after the deadline will include any fee petitions for consideration as a separate review process from the withdraw request.

Submitting a Petition on a Student's Behalf

Under exceptional circumstances if a physical or mental incapacity prevents the student from filing his or her own appeal, another individual on the student’s behalf, may petition. Please email studentrecords@ku.edu for an alternative form to submit.

Complete the following if you are:

• Called to active duty and need to withdraw from 1 or more classes OR
• Will be activated in between semesters and will miss a fall or spring semester

1. Notify your instructors in writing. Provide reasonable notice; don't wait until the last minute. Depending on the length of activation/time in the semester, some instructors may be willing to offer you an incomplete, allowing you to finish the course(s) once you return from active duty.
2. Turn in a completed an Active military duty request to withdraw form. You may send it to the Registrar's office