A change in your academic status can affect tuition, credits, scholarships, housing, visas, and your expected graduation date. Before submitting a request, check the official dates and consequences with your university. The rules below are a planning guide; each institution sets its own procedures.
Start here: Find the current academic calendar and the latest notice from your registrar or academic affairs office. Do not rely on an old notice, a classmate’s experience, or a general online summary.
1. Know which decision you are making
| Decision | What it means | First question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Leave of absence | A temporary pause in enrollment, with the possibility of returning under university rules. | What is the application window, and how will tuition already paid be handled? |
| Return / reinstatement | Reactivating your student status after an approved leave. | When must I apply, register for courses, and pay tuition? |
| Change of major / department transfer | Moving into another academic program within the university. | Am I eligible, and which completed courses will count toward the new degree? |
| Withdrawal | Ending enrollment at the university. This is generally a permanent step unless readmission is allowed. | What is the final withdrawal procedure, refund schedule, and readmission policy? |
2. Check the dates before you decide
Universities often set different windows for ordinary leave, medical leave, military leave, return from leave, major changes, and withdrawal. Some requests require supporting documents or approval from more than one office. Starting an online request may not complete the process: check whether a department signature, document upload, adviser approval, or final confirmation is still required.
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Check the current academic calendar and confirm that your request has been fully submitted.
| Before submitting | Confirm |
|---|---|
| Application period | Opening date, deadline, time zone, and whether late applications are accepted |
| Required documents | Medical certificates, military-service documents, forms, or other evidence, if applicable |
| Approval route | Whether your adviser, department, college, registrar, or another office must approve it |
| Final status | Where to check that the request was approved and your student record actually changed |
3. Understand tuition refunds and other financial effects
Tuition treatment depends on the university, the reason for the request, and the date it is received or approved. Depending on the policy, an early application may result in a larger refund, while a later request may result in a smaller refund or no refund. Some universities may carry tuition forward for an approved leave instead of issuing a refund. Never assume the same schedule applies to leave and withdrawal.
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Ask the finance office to explain the amount and the date used to calculate any refund.
Ask the finance or student accounts office for a written estimate that covers:
- The refund or tuition-carryover amount and the date used to calculate it
- Scholarships, grants, tuition waivers, or student loans that may be adjusted or returned
- Housing, meal plans, insurance, lab fees, or other charges billed separately
- The expected payment date and whether you need to submit bank details or another form
4. Protect the credits you have already earned
Credits already completed usually remain on your transcript, but their role in your degree can change. A course may count as an elective but not as a required course for a new major. Courses in progress when your status changes may be treated differently from completed courses. Ask for a degree audit or written credit evaluation before changing programs or withdrawing.
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Ask an academic adviser to map completed credits to the requirements of your intended program.
| Situation | Credit question | What to request |
|---|---|---|
| Taking a leave | Will courses completed this term receive final grades, and what happens to courses still in progress? | A course-by-course explanation from the registrar or department |
| Returning | Will my original curriculum or a newer curriculum apply? | Your current degree audit and any changed requirements |
| Changing majors | Which credits count toward major, general education, and total graduation requirements? | A written credit map from the receiving department |
| Withdrawing | Can I request an official transcript, and what would be required for future readmission? | Transcript and readmission instructions before your status ends |
5. Calculate the effect on your graduation date
A semester away does not always add exactly one semester to your degree. The impact depends on course sequencing, courses offered once a year, prerequisites, internship or thesis requirements, credit limits, and whether your program admits students to required courses only at certain times. For a major change, compare the remaining requirements in both programs before submitting your request.
Ask your department to help you answer these questions:
- Which required courses are offered only once per academic year?
- Will a leave affect a capstone, clinical placement, internship, thesis, or graduation application?
- Do I need to complete a minimum number of semesters or credits after changing majors?
- Could the change affect scholarship eligibility, housing priority, or program-specific funding?
6. Special checks for international students
If you study on a student visa, speak with your university’s international student office before taking leave, changing programs, or withdrawing. Ask how the change may affect immigration reporting, visa status, permitted stay, scholarship, and your return-to-study plan. Get instructions for your specific circumstances before finalizing the request.
Your final checklist
- ☐ I checked the current academic calendar and official notice.
- ☐ I confirmed the exact deadline, required documents, and approval steps.
- ☐ I received a clear explanation of tuition refunds or carryover, scholarships, loans, and fees.
- ☐ I checked how completed and in-progress courses will appear on my transcript.
- ☐ I reviewed my degree audit and estimated graduation date after the change.
- ☐ I asked about housing, financial aid, visa, and other status-related effects where relevant.
- ☐ I saved the approval confirmation and a copy of every submitted document.
Make the decision with a written plan
Before applying, write down your intended status, the deadline, the financial outcome, the credit impact, and your next academic milestone. If an office gives you an answer by phone, follow up by email so you have the guidance in writing. A short conversation with the registrar, department, finance office, and—when relevant—the international student office can prevent a costly administrative surprise.
Important: Policies and refund schedules differ by institution and can change. This article is a general checklist, not a substitute for the official regulations of your university.
Official university examples
These examples show why students should check institution-specific rules; they are not universal policies:
- Yonsei University: Leave of Absence, Return, Withdrawal, and Dismissal — its procedures and tuition-refund rules. www.yonsei.ac.kr
- University of Seoul: Department Transfer — eligibility and screening steps. www.uos.ac.kr
- Pusan National University: Leaves of Absence and Re-enrollment — leave and return procedures. www.pusan.ac.kr
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