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Term Withdrawal FAQ
Overview
There are offices across campus that can be resources for you as you decide how a withdrawal may affect you and whether or not a withdrawal is right for you.
Please reach out to your academic advising office, your academic dean’s office, the Office of Student Assistance and Support (OSAS) (formerly the Dean of Students Office), and/or University Health Services if you have questions about how a withdrawal may impact you or if need support regarding your decision to withdraw.
Below is a compiled list of frequently asked questions regarding the term withdrawal process and potential implications.
Please contact the Office of the Registrar or the individual offices mentioned in this document if you have questions not answered or need additional clarification.
Withdrawal Process
What are the steps of the withdrawal process?
- You submit a withdrawal request via Student Center in MyUW. You will receive an automated email confirming that your withdrawal has been submitted and is pending approval. See Student Center - Withdrawing from a Term for step-by-step instructions.
- Your withdrawal request is routed electronically to your Academic Dean's Office for review.
- If your request is denied by your Academic Dean's Office, you will receive an automated email notifying you it has been denied. You will be encouraged to contact your Academic Dean's Office for more information.
- If your request is approved by your Academic Dean's Office, the withdrawal request will be routed electronically to the Office of the Registrar for processing.
- If you are an international student on a J-1 or F-1 visa, the withdrawal request will first be electronically routed to International Student Services for review before being routed to the Office of the Registrar.
You should meet with ISS before submitting a withdrawal request to understand the effect on your F-1/J-1 student visa status and stay in the U.S. - If you are a student-athlete, the withdrawal request will first be routed electronically to the Athletics department for review before being routed to the Office of the Registrar.
You should meet with your athletic advisor before submitting a withdrawal request to understand the effect on your status as a student-athlete.
- Once your withdrawal request is processed by the Office of the Registrar, you will receive an email confirming the process is complete.
Note: There is a deadline late in each term, after which you cannot initiate a withdrawal on your own in Student Center. If you wish to withdraw after the deadline has passed, such requests need to be made directly to your academic dean.
For contact information, see https://registrar.wisc.edu/enroll-permission/#dean
How do I know if my withdrawal has been approved?
You will receive a confirmation email from the Office of the Registrar after your academic dean and any other necessary offices (ISS and/or Athletics) have approved the withdrawal.
How is the official withdrawal date determined?
The day that you submit your online withdrawal request, unless otherwise determined by your academic dean’s office, will be considered your official withdrawal date
Your advisor or your academic dean might ask to meet with you to discuss your withdrawal and help you make a plan for returning before their final approval is given. Your official withdrawal date will still be the date you submit your request, even if it is not reviewed and processed by the Dean's office until a later date.
That official date is used to determine how your courses should be recorded on your transcript, and whether you are eligible for an adjustment (refund) on your tuition for that term.
You can review important dates and deadlines here.
What is the difference between withdrawing and dropping?
The university uses the term "drop" to indicate dropping a single course and the term "withdrawal" to indicate dropping all courses during a given term.
Note: You can drop all of your courses prior to the start of a term without going through the withdrawal process. This is considered "canceling your enrollment."
What is the difference between withdrawing and canceling enrollment?
Canceling your enrollment means that you are dropping all of your classes before the first day of the classes’ sessions. If you cancel your enrollment by that deadline, your UW–Madison transcript will not show any record for that session.
All classes are scheduled in blocks of weeks called sessions. The majority of classes take place in the “Regular” (A1) 15-week session. However, some classes are just a few weeks long, and take place in sessions with alphabet codes like AJJ or GFE.
The Fall, Spring, and Summer terms are the collection of all the sessions that are scheduled during that term’s dates.
- Cancel Fall and Spring regular sessions: Simply drop all your enrolled courses by 11:59 p.m. the day before the first day of the session.
See session dates here: https://registrar.wisc.edu/sessiondates-2/ - All other sessions, including any Summer term course: Drop the course by 11:59 p.m. on the Sunday starting the first week of your session.
Example: You enrolled in a three-week class that first meets on Wednesday, June 14 at 8:50 a.m.
If you drop that course by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, June 11, you will have canceled your enrollment. - Newly admitted students: In addition to dropping all enrolled courses, please inform the relevant admissions office you will not be attending.
Where can I find important deadline dates?
- Visit the Office of the Registrar's Dates and Deadlines page.
- For refund dates, check the relevant session.
- In Course Search & Enroll, follow the steps in this document: Course Search & Enroll - Dropping a Class.
- You will also be prompted to review the tuition adjustment schedule during the withdrawal request steps.
Class haven't started yet. Do I need to withdraw?
No. You should drop all enrolled courses (also known as "canceling your enrollment") using Course Search & Enroll.
If you are an international student on a J-1 or F-1 visa, you should meet with ISS before canceling your enrollment to understand the effect on your F-1/J-1 student visa status and staying in the United States.
What if I'm enrolled in a modular (short session) course?
If you have completed one or more modular courses, you cannot withdraw from the term but may drop your remaining courses if it is prior to the drop deadline. The completed course(s) will remain on your transcript.
If it is past the drop deadline, consult your academic dean's office.
Why does the form ask me to provide a reason for withdrawal?
This helps the university understand why students are withdrawing. It also provides the academic dean reviewing your request some background about your decision.
Oops, I changed my mind. Can I cancel my withdrawal request?
You will need to contact your academic dean's office as soon as possible.
For contact information, see https://registrar.wisc.edu/enroll-permission/#dean
Do I need to pay tuition/fees if I withdraw? Or if I've already paid, will I get a refund?
It depends on the date you withdraw.
The Office of the Registrar will process your withdrawal according to the official date you submit the withdrawal request in MyUW Student Center. If you withdraw during the refund period, your fees will be reduced and, if applicable, a refund will be issued to you.
The Regular (15-week) session has a 100% and a 50% adjustment deadline. Other sessions may have a 100%, a 50%, and a 25% adjustment deadline, or some combination, or none at all, depending on how many weeks long the sessions is (and other factors).
The refund schedule can be found on the Session Dates page of the Office of the Registrar's website.
You will also be prompted to review the tuition adjustment schedule during the withdrawal request steps.
If you have any questions regarding the assessment of fees, please contact the Bursar Office at tuition_assessment@bussvc.wisc.edu.
I have more questions about withdrawing. Who should I talk to?
- Please contact your academic dean's office. For contact information, see https://registrar.wisc.edu/enroll-permission/#dean.
- International Student Services for F-1 and J-1 student visa holders: Contact ISS at iss@studentlife.wisc.edu.
Academic Standing Implications
How will withdrawing affect my transcript?
- Up to a certain day each session, you can withdraw and have no record of enrolled classes for that term on your transcript.
- If you withdraw after the first deadline, your transcript will show that you withdrew and any courses that you were still enrolled in will show as dropped (“DR”). No other letter grades will show for those classes.
- If you stop attending classes or do not take final exams, and have not withdrawn from the university, you may have grades of F recorded. Your enrolled classes and grades for that term will remain on your transcript.
The following example shows how a withdrawal appears on a student's transcript. In this example, the student dropped a course on 1/30/2019 and then on 3/27/2019 withdrew completely, at which point the final course was dropped via the withdrawal process.
Will these credits count towards my degree?
No, your courses this term will not count toward your total degree credits.
How will withdrawing affect my progress toward completing my degree?
When you withdraw, none of your in-progress classes or credits will count toward your degree. When you return to classes, you may be eligible to retake those courses.
Please check with your advisor before you begin your withdrawal to review your academic plan and look ahead to future terms.
Financial Aid Funding
How will withdrawing affect my federal, state, and institutional financial aid?
- For Fall/Spring Terms: It will depend on when you withdraw. If you withdraw:
- After the 60% point in the term, then no federal refund calculation is required and you are entitled to all the funds disbursed to you.
- Any time before the 60% point in the term, you may be required to repay portions of the financial aid you received.
- Any tuition refund will also be applied to repaying aid in order: federal, state, and institutional.
- Worksheets used to calculate the amount of federal funds to be returned are available upon request.
- For Summer Term: It will depend on when you withdraw. If you withdraw:
- After the 60% point of the total days for which you were enrolled for the Summer term, then no federal refund calculation is required and you are entitled to all the funds disbursed to you.
- Any time before completing 60% of your enrollment for your combined Summer sessions, you may be required to repay portions of the financial aid you received.
- Any tuition refund will also be applied to repaying aid in order: federal, state, and institutional.
We strongly encourage you to meet with a financial aid advisor to talk through how withdrawing can impact your aid eligibility. You can schedule an appointment on Starfish or by calling the Office of Student Financial Aid at (608) 262-3060.
If I withdraw, will I have to repay scholarships from my academic department or private donors?
There is no one standard answer; it is up to the individuals and organizations providing the scholarship.
You should contact the scholarship provider to ask what the policy is on your specific scholarship.
Some scholarships are renewable and withdrawing could affect your future eligibility for that scholarship.
If I withdraw am I eligible for future financial aid?
Yes, with a couple of provisions: that you fulfilled any requirement to repay federal funds from the term you withdrew from and are not jeopardized by failing to make financial aid satisfactory academic progress, i.e. a 67% completion rate of all credits attempted, as a cumulative. See https://financialaid.wisc.edu/eligibility.
Repayment includes paying the school for funds they returned to the Title IV programs on your behalf and the lack of a hold on your enrollment for a past due balance.
I am a graduate student with an RA/TA/PA/fellowship. Will I lose my tuition remission if I withdraw?
- For Fall/Spring Terms: In most cases yes, but it depends on the date that you withdraw. If you withdraw in the middle of a term, you will lose your tuition remission if the duration of your appointment is not sufficient to meet the 33% for 4.5 months appointment requirement. See https://bursar.wisc.edu/student-tuition-account/payment-methods/tuition-remission/tuition-remission-policy for more information.
- For Summer Term: If you had tuition remission in the Spring term, you will automatically have it for the Summer term, even if you choose to withdraw from the Summer term. However, if Summer is your first term with an assistantship or fellowship, you will lose tuition remission for the Summer if you withdraw.
I am a graduate student with an RA/TA/PA/fellowship. Will my health insurance be affected?
Yes, health insurance will be affected according to the withdrawal date.
Contact the Office of Human Resources for full information about premiums and coverage: https://hr.wisc.edu/contact/.
I have a student hourly job on campus. Will this be affected by withdrawing?
Once you withdraw, you cannot continue to hold a student hourly job. Please be sure to tell your supervisor of your intent to withdraw.
How does withdrawing affect my University Housing contract or private lease?
You cannot continue to live in University Housing if you are not currently enrolled. You must notify University Housing at assignme@housing.wisc.edu or (608) 262-2522 when you submit a withdrawal request to begin the contract cancellation process. Students must move out of their residence hall within 24 hours of withdrawal from the University.
You may consult the Campus Area Housing office with concerns regarding private leases.
Readmission/Returning to UW–Madison
I withdrew but plan to return to my studies next term. Do I need to reapply?
No, you will be considered a continuing student even after you withdraw and will automatically be eligible to enroll for the following term.
If you withdraw from the Fall term, you will be eligible to enroll for Spring courses.
If you withdraw from the Spring term, you will be eligible to enroll for Summer and Fall courses.
An enrollment appointment time will be assigned for you automatically, and displayed in MyUW and Course Search & Enroll.
If you are an international student on a J-1 or F-1 visa, you must contact ISS before your intended return to receive a new valid DS-2019 or I-20.
I didn't withdraw, I canceled my enrollment. Do I need to reapply?
- Undergraduates students: You will need to apply for reentry to be eligible to enroll in a future term.
- Graduate students: You must complete a new online application for admission.
- Law School: Contact the school.
- School of Medicine and Public Health: Contact the school.
- School of Pharmacy: Contact the school.
- School of Veterinary Medicine: Contact the school.
- Adult Career and Special Students: Contact the Division of Continuing Studies.
Does this withdrawal automatically drop my courses in future terms?
No, your withdrawal only affects your classes for one term. For example, if you withdraw from the Fall term in November after you already enrolled in some Spring classes, you are still considered enrolled in those Spring courses and you are eligible to return to class in January.
If you do not intend to maintain your enrollment in a future term, you must drop any enrolled classes for that term. For example, if you withdraw in November and do not plan to attend UW–Madison in the spring either, then you must drop those Spring term classes (in addition to completing your withdrawal for the Fall term). If you drop the spring classes before the start of the Spring term, you will be canceling your enrollment.
I was called to active U.S. military service. Do I need to reapply when I return?
No, University Veteran Services will automatically request an enrollment appointment for the semester you indicated unless you tell them otherwise.
If your return plan changes, please email UVS at veterans@wisc.edu.
Eligibility Implications
Will my International Student Visa status be affected by withdrawing?
Yes, withdrawing during the fall or spring semester will impact your F-1 or J-1 student visa status. You cannot legally remain in the U.S. on your F-1 or J-1 student visa if you are not enrolled full-time or have an approved ISS Reduced Course Load (RCL).
Consult ISS before you withdraw.
Summer Term Withdrawal: Your status will be impacted if this is your first or last term at UW–Madison; please consult with International Student Services (ISS) before you withdraw.
If you are a continuing student who was enrolled for the previous Spring term and will enroll for the upcoming Fall term, Summer enrollment is not required by your student visa; continuing students may withdraw for the Summer term without consulting ISS.
Contact International Student Services at iss@studentlife.wisc.edu.
Can I still live in campus housing after I withdraw?
No, you cannot continue to live in University Housing if you are not currently enrolled. You must notify University Housing at assignme@housing.wisc.edu or (608) 262-2522 when you submit a withdrawal request to begin the contract cancellation process.
Students must move out of their residence hall within 24 hours of withdrawal from the University.
How does withdrawing affect my enrollment in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)?
Please review the SHIP withdrawal and refund policies located in the appropriate SHIP plan document for you below:
- Domestic Student SHIP Plan Document: https://www.uhs.wisc.edu/ship/domestic/domestic-document/
- International Student SHIP Plan Document: https://www.uhs.wisc.edu/ship/international/international-document/
Please contact the SHIP office directly with any specific questions not answered clearly in the plan document: shipmail@uhs.wisc.edu or (608) 265-5232.
Will I have access to MyUW using my NetID after I withdraw?
Yes, your NetID will always be valid and you will have access to Student Center after you are no longer enrolled.
I'm a military-connected student. How does withdrawing affect me?
If you have G.I. Bill benefits, please contact the University Veteran Services.
If you are being called to active duty, contact UVS for help and talk with your advisor. UW–Madison has a special policy for enrolled students called to active U.S. military service.
Note: If you are returning after a period of active duty, you aren't required to complete a reentry application.
Can I use university recreational facilities after I withdraw?
No, you must be currently enrolled to use all Recreation and Wellbeing facilities. After the withdrawal is approved, your membership and eligibility for all rec facilities on campus will be canceled overnight.
For more information on membership for non-students: https://recwell.wisc.edu/memberships/.