Student Status

For Full-Time MBA Program students, the University of Chicago defines full-time status as being registered in 300 units of credit or more in a quarter. Full-Time MBA students are eligible for university health insurance and may apply for financial aid through Chicago Booth Financial Aid.

When considering an internship or a change in registration of less than 300 units of credit in a quarter, Full-Time MBA students should investigate the implications carefully with Academic Services.

Full-Time MBA students cannot take more than 500 units per quarter.

Students with F-1 or J-1 visas must enroll in a minimum of 300 units of credit per quarter, except for summer or in their graduating quarter if they do not need 300 units to fulfill their degree requirements. Graduating students with student visas who do not need 300 units of credit to meet degree requirements must submit a petition form to the UChicago Office of International Affairs (OIA). Student visa holders applying for permanent residency or any other visa type that does not require a full-time course load are maintained under student visa status until their change of status is final.

For Evening MBA and Weekend MBA Program students, the University of Chicago defines part-time status as being registered for at least 100 units of credit per quarter.

Evening MBA and Weekend MBA students registered in at least 200 units of credit are eligible to apply for federal loans or loan deferments. Part-time students cannot take more than 400 units per quarter. Evening MBA and Weekend MBA students who take more than 200 units per quarter are not considered to have Full-Time MBA Program status.

Students are placed on inactive status under the following circumstances:

• Leave of absence for any reason
• Have not registered for courses (except Summer Quarter)

Students will be notified by email that they have been placed on inactive status. Students’ Chicago Booth email accounts remain active while on inactive status, but are removed from the administrative email distribution lists. Inactive students do not have access to the following Booth and university privileges:

• Password-protected information, such as iBid and other password-protected academic information, such as course evaluations, restricted course materials, and Canvas
• Career Services coaching, programming, GTS, and other Career Services resources
• Student Directory
• Financial aid
• Health insurance, except for Full-Time MBA students taking a leave of absence for medical reasons
• Health services provided to Full-Time MBA students at Student Health Services and Student Counseling Services
• University libraries
• University athletic facilities
• Attending or participating in Chicago Booth or university-sponsored events (unless an event is open to the general public), including virtual programming
• Maintaining student group membership
• BoothGroups
• Maintaining any student group or other Chicago Booth or university leadership roles
• Students’ university CNetID becomes dormant for students who are not registered for courses for six or more months.

Students regain access to all Chicago Booth and university privileges listed above in the quarter of registration.

Students may elect to take a leave of absence from their studies by completing a Leave of Absence form available on the intranet, under the Academic Forms quick link.

Student-Initiated Leave of Absence

Full-Time MBA students wishing to take a leave of absence may do so only after completing their first quarter of enrollment. Students should meet with Academic Services, complete a Leave of Absence form and be aware that:

1. Students must contact both Chicago Booth Financial Aid and Career Services.
2. Visa-holding students also must complete an additional Leave of Absence form with the UChicago Office of International Affairs.
3. Students planning an internship quarter, other than the Summer Quarter, should notify Academic Services and Career Services to understand the implications of this decision.

Students should also be aware that late fees may be assessed for unpaid balances even during a leave.

Evening MBA and Weekend MBA students not planning to register for one or more quarters should meet with Academic Services.

Students are responsible for contacting Chicago Booth Financial Aid to notify them of the leave.

Evening MBA and Weekend MBA students who do not enroll in courses for more than four quarters and do not notify Academic Services will be put on leave of absence “unknown” indefinitely until a resumption of study is requested through Academic Services.

Parental Relief Leave of Absence

A student who becomes a parent during their program may request a one-quarter Parental Relief Leave of Absence to care for the new child, and pregnant students, for whom it is medically necessary, may request a Parental Relief Leave of Absence during pregnancy. Such leaves may be granted by the area dean of students of the student’s school or division. Students are still eligible for university privileges during a Parental Leave of Absence. (For more information, refer to the Graduate Student Parent Policy).

Military Personnel Leave of Absence

Military personnel are subject to specific considerations when requesting leave for active duty.

1. Students should present official documentation of their status as Armed Forces active personnel or reservist to Academic Services.
2. Students receiving VA or military-related benefits should speak with the designated advisor to veterans in the Office of the University Registrar.
3. Students called to duty before Week 5 of the quarter will be allowed to drop their courses and will receive a tuition refund if taking a complete leave of absence. Students who request to drop select courses only (without leave), will be subject to regular late drop penalties.
4. For students called to duty during Week 5 or thereafter, appropriate registration/grading options will be determined on a per course basis.

Administrative Leave of Absence

Chicago Booth reserves the right to place a student on an administrative leave of absence for lack of academic progress or performance, disciplinary sanctions, restrictions (see section on Restricted Registration), and other such circumstances. When the dean of students determines, in consultation with the deputy dean of MBA programs and the student counseling services director (or their designee), that a student’s continued presence on campus poses a substantial risk to the safety and well-being of others or may cause significant disruption to the functioning of the university, a leave of absence may be initiated. The student may be in a better position to recover from or manage their symptoms at home or in a less stressful environment. The student also may benefit from specialized counseling or treatment away from the university. The student will be given the opportunity to take a leave of absence voluntarily. If the student declines to take a voluntary leave of absence, the dean of students has the authority to restrict or cancel existing and further registration of the student.

Policies and Guidelines

While on a leave of absence, students are placed on inactive status. Students should review the section on Inactive Status and the following policies and guidelines to understand the implications of a leave of absence:

1. Bidding for Classes: Students should not bid for classes for the quarter(s) they will be on leave. Students who have bid for classes for the upcoming quarter should drop all classes in the next phase of bidding. Tuition fees are incurred for dropping a course after the final phase of bidding. Students receive a percentage of bid points back according to the bid point penalty schedule. Access to iBid is restricted during the leave quarter(s).
2. Tuition & Fees: Students are not charged new tuition or fees while on a leave of absence. If a previous balance remains unpaid additional late payment fees may accrue.
3. Financial Aid: Students who receive financial aid and/or loans must inform Chicago Booth Financial Aid of their intention to take a leave of absence.

The following are specific considerations for students in the Full-Time MBA Program:

1. Student Health Insurance: Students do not maintain health insurance coverage while on a leave of absence. The only exception is for students taking an approved medical leave of absence. In those instances, they may elect to maintain and pay for insurance coverage for the duration of the current plan year (through August 31). In electing a continuation of insurance coverage, students are assessed the quarterly university health services fee, unless they will be residing more than 100 miles from campus. For more information, visit UChicago Student Wellness.
2. Health Services and Activities Fees: Unless on an approved medical leave of absence, students do not pay these fees while on leaves of absence. If students on a medical leave of absence elect to maintain and pay for health insurance, then they are required to pay for the health services fee in the same quarters. Please see detailed information provided by University Heath and Counseling Services.
3. Career Services: Students should discuss their leave of absence plans with a career coach in Career Services. Leaves of absence affect internship and full-time employment position recruiting cycles and students must understand these implications prior to departure.
4. International Students: International students also must complete a Leave of Absence form with the Office of International Affairs and inquire about what documents will be required upon resumption. Taking a leave of absence may affect international students’ eligibility for Curricular Practical Training or Optional Practical Training. Students should inquire about eligibility requirements at the Office of International Affairs or Academic Services.
5. Student Employment: Students on a leave of absence cannot hold work-study, be a teaching assistant or maintain university student employment positions.

Students should contact Academic Services prior to their expected return to ensure they have time to bid for courses. Completion of a Resumption of Student Form (available on the intranet, under Academic Forms) is required. A student with a good record and verifiable reason for the extended absence is usually permitted to resume, subject to the time limit for completion of the degree and approval from the deputy dean of MBA programs. Students who return to the program may be subject to conditions of the program. Resumption of studies to a student’s program is not automatic.

Military personnel should contact Academic Services at least six weeks prior to their expected return. Students may petition for an extension of the eight-year time limit to degree, if applicable. Please also refer to the policy on the Transfer of Course Credit Earned Elsewhere.

Chicago Booth does not allow students to transfer between degree programs (e.g., from Full-Time MBA Program to Evening, Executive or Weekend MBA Programs, Master in Management or Master in Finance Programs, from Evening or Weekend MBA Programs to Executive or Full-Time MBA Programs, Master in Management or Master in Finance Programs, Executive MBA Programs to Evening, Full-Time or Weekend MBA Programs, Master in Management or Master in Finance Programs, Master in Management to Evening, Executive, Full-Time or Weekend MBA Programs or Master in Finance Programs or Master in Finance to Evening, Executive, Full-Time or Weekend MBA Programs or Master in Management Program).

Evening MBA and Weekend MBA students may petition online to transfer between the Evening MBA and Weekend MBA Programs. Academic Services reviews the student petition with the deputy dean of MBA programs. Students must be registered for two quarters before requesting to transfer and may only transfer once during their MBA program.

MBA Program Withdrawal

Students wishing to withdraw from an MBA program, including students in joint-degree programs, must submit in writing or email to the dean of students their intention to leave the degree program. The dean of students reserves the right to administratively withdraw a student from the program if a student has been marked inactive and it has been determined that he/she can no longer complete the program within the time limit for the completion of the degree.

Once withdrawn from the program, students may only return by reapplying and gaining admission to their program of application. If approved to return, students may count previously taken courses following these conditions:

1. A student should petition to transfer University of Chicago courses via email to Academic Services by the end of the quarter that the student returns to Chicago Booth.
2. The maximum number of course credits accepted is 300 units.
3. Courses are applied to the MBA degree if the student satisfies the degree requirements for the MBA within eight years. The eight-year degree completion deadline begins with the quarter/year of the first course approved to count. Courses are conditionally approved to count until an application for graduation is submitted.
4. Neither Chicago Booth courses nor University of Chicago courses are approved to count toward the MBA if: a. They have been or will be counted toward other university degrees, or b. The coursework was graded pass/fail, R, or any grade lower than C.
5. Students will receive 2,000 bid points per approved course.

If a student withdraws or is administratively withdrawn in the current quarter, the Chicago Booth account and privileges are disabled effective 14 days after the official withdrawal date.

Joint-Degree Program Withdrawal

Students wishing to withdraw from a joint-degree program, but remain in the MBA, must email their intention to Academic Services and their other department. Students may count previously taken coursework from their other department using the following guidelines:

1. The maximum number of course credits accepted for transfer is 600 units. These units will be counted toward the total 2,000-2,200 units required for the MBA degree.
2. Courses are applied to the MBA degree if the student satisfies the degree requirements for the MBA within eight years. The eight-year degree completion deadline begins with the quarter/year of the first course counting for the MBA. Courses are conditionally approved to count until an application for graduation is submitted.
3. University of Chicago courses will not count for the MBA if the coursework: Has been or will be counted towards other University degrees, or was graded Pass/Fail, R, or any grade lower than C.