Students sometimes find that they need to withdraw from school. Whatever the reason, you should first discuss your decision with an academic advisor in your college or department. They can direct you to resources that are available and guide you through the withdrawal process. Financial Aid recipients who withdraw may lose all or some of their financial aid eligibility. For more information regarding the effects of withdrawing on Financial Aid, please review our Guide to the Return to Title IV Aid Fund or our Return to Title IV funds policy.
Unofficial Withdrawal ("Walk-Away")
Do not stop attending your classes without officially withdrawing. Students who are given all F, U (Unsatisfactory), or NP (No Pass) grades in a term are considered to have walked away from school, and will be treated as unofficially withdrawn. This means their disbursed financial aid will be reduced according to federal regulations - unofficial withdrawals are calculated at the midpoint of the term (50% completion). This 50% reduction (bill back) of aid applies to both federal and institutional funding. *Please note: Withdrawal policies are separate from our Census Date Policy, which can be viewed
here.
Returning to UCSB
If you wish to register at UCSB after having been absent for at least one quarter, after having been lapsed, or after a complete withdrawal, you must file an application for readmission with the Office of the Registrar. Please keep in mind that there are strict deadlines for readmission applications. Graduate students who wish to register after a break in enrollment must petition for reinstatement with the Graduate Division.
If you are readmitted to UCSB and you have applied for Financial Aid for the academic year in which you are returning to UCSB, our office will reinstate your Financial Aid award.