Students are expected to complete the M.P.P. program in two consecutive academic years and the M.A.S. program in one academic year. Students who wish or need to interrupt their study temporarily may request a leave of absence. There are three types of leave—personal, medical, and parental—all of which are described below. Request for a leave of absence for the purpose of employment (e.g., to continue a summer internship full-time during the following year) is discouraged.

All leaves of absence must be approved by the assistant dean for graduate education in consultation with the assistant dean for student affairs. Students who wish to take a leave of absence must petition in writing no later than the last day of classes in the term in question. Medical leaves also require the recommendation of a physician, as detailed below.

The normal duration of a leave of absence is either one term or one year; with the approval of the assistant dean for graduate education, extension of a leave may be approved for one additional term or year. A student who has been on leave for a total of four terms or two years must return to resume their degree program in the subsequent term or be dismissed from that program. Students who are dismissed from a degree program for failure to return after exhausting the maximum leave time must reapply to that program should they wish to return to complete their degree at a later date.

International students who apply for a leave of absence must consult with OISS concerning their visa status.

Students on leave of absence are not eligible for financial aid, including loans. Students who have received loans or other financial aid must notify the financial aid office about the leave of absence, as loans are only available to enrolled students. They should also consult the University Student Loan Office (246 Church Street) so that they have a full understanding of the grace period and repayment provisions for federal loans. In most cases, students must begin repaying loans during a leave of absence. Upon re-enrolling, students will be eligible to defer loan repayment until they graduate or leave school.

Students on leave of absence are not eligible for the use of any University facilities normally available to enrolled students.

Students on leave of absence may continue to be enrolled in Yale Health by purchasing coverage through the Student Affiliate Coverage plan. In order to secure continuous coverage from Yale Health, enrollment in this plan must be requested prior to the beginning of the term in which the student will be on leave or, if the leave commences during the term, within thirty days of the date the registrar was informed of the leave. Coverage is not automatic; enrollment forms are available from the Member Services department of Yale Health, 203.432.0246.

Students on leave of absence do not have to file a formal application for readmission, except under the conditions stated above. However, they must notify the Jackson School registrar in writing of their intention to return. Such notification should be given at least six weeks prior to the end of the approved leave.

Students who fail to register for the term following the end of the approved leave will be considered to have withdrawn from the program thus it is essential that students complete the required LOA/Withdrawal form to ensure their change of status has been formally processed.

Personal Leave of Absence

A student who wishes or needs to interrupt study temporarily because of personal exigencies may request a personal leave of absence. The general policies governing leaves of absence are described above. A student who is current with degree requirements is eligible for a personal leave after satisfactory completion of at least one term of study. Personal leaves cannot be granted retroactively and normally will not be approved after the tenth day of a term.

To request a personal leave of absence, the student must request a leave by submitting an online form, available on the Jackson School website, before the beginning of the term for which the leave is requested, explaining the reasons for the proposed leave and stating both the proposed start and end dates of the leave and the address where the student can be reached during the period of the leave. If the assistant dean for graduate education and assistant dean for student affairs find the student to be eligible, the leave will be granted. In any case, the student will be informed in writing of the action taken. Students who do not apply for a leave of absence, or who apply for a leave but are not granted one, and who do not register for any term, will be considered to have withdrawn from the program.

Medical Leave of Absence

A student who must interrupt study temporarily because of illness or injury may be granted a medical leave of absence with the approval of the assistant dean for graduate education and assistant dean for student affairs and on the written recommendation of a physician on the staff of Yale Health. The general policies governing all leaves of absence are described above. A student who is making satisfactory progress toward degree requirements is eligible for a medical leave any time after matriculation. Forms for requesting a medical leave of absence are available on the Jackson School of Global Affairs website. Final decisions concerning requests for medical leaves will be communicated to students in writing.

The Jackson School of Global Affairs reserves the right to place a student on a mandatory medical leave of absence when, on recommendation of the director of Yale Health or the chief of the Mental Health and Counseling department, the dean of the School determines that, because of a medical condition, the student is a danger to self or others, the student has seriously disrupted others in the student’s residential or academic communities, or the student has refused to cooperate with efforts deemed necessary by Yale Health and the dean to make such determinations. Each case will be assessed individually based on all relevant factors, including, but not limited to, the level of risk presented and the availability of reasonable modifications. Reasonable modifications do not include fundamental alterations to the student’s academic, residential, or other relevant communities or programs; in addition, reasonable modifications do not include those that unduly burden University resources.

An appeal of such a leave must be made in writing to the deputy dean of the Jackson School no later than seven days from the effective date of the leave.

An incident that gives rise to voluntary or mandatory leave of absence may also result in subsequent disciplinary action.

Students who are placed on a medical leave during any term will have their tuition adjusted according to the same schedule used for withdrawals (please see Tuition Rebate and Refund Policy in the chapter Tuition and Fees). Before re-registering, a student on medical leave must secure written permission to return from a Yale Health physician.

Leave of Absence for Parental Responsibilities

A student who wishes or needs to interrupt study temporarily for reasons of pregnancy or child care may be granted a leave of absence for parental responsibilities. Any student planning to have, adopt, or care for a child is encouraged to meet with the assistant dean for graduate education and assistant dean for student affairs to discuss a leave of absence and other possibilities such as short-term arrangements not requiring a leave. For many students, short-term arrangements rather than a leave of absence are possible. The general policies governing all leaves of absence are described above. A student who is making satisfactory progress toward degree requirements is eligible for a parental leave of absence any time after matriculation.

Students living in University housing units are encouraged to review their housing contract and the related policies of Yale Housing before applying to the School for a parental leave of absence. Students granted parental leave may continue to reside in University housing to the end of the academic term for which the leave was first granted, but no longer.

Students who wish to suspend their academic responsibilities because of the birth or adoption of a child should meet with the assistant dean for graduate education and assistant dean for student affairs, who will help accommodate the students’ program responsibilities when the birth or adoption occurs.