Interrupting Your Studies

We understand that after joining CBS circumstances may change, resulting in the need to suspend studies for a period of time, or take fewer credits during a term and creating a need for more than four semesters of study (stretch). Columbia Business School is aligned with the University’s Withdraw and Leave of Absence Policy. Please review this page carefully as it contains important information.

Leave of Absence

Leave of Absence (LOA) generally refers to scenarios where a student demonstrates compelling reasons and necessity to interrupt their studies. There are multiple leave of absence types a student may pursue or otherwise be subject to, including those arising from Voluntary and Involuntary circumstances. Types of leaves include voluntary, medical, military, and involuntary leave.

Note that students who begin the Full-Time MBA Program in August are permitted to take the summer off between their first and second years; this summer break is not considered an LOA. Those who begin the program in January are expected to complete four consecutive terms, including the summer semester, without interruption.

Students must start the program at the entry point to which they were admitted. A leave of absence cannot be taken prior to the completion of the first semester of the program. In the event that students cannot begin the program at the entry point to which they were admitted, they should contact Admissions.

Students in their first semester cannot request to withdraw from the semester until at least one (1) class is completed and a grade is earned. Students who take a Leave of Absence in their first semester must return at the entry point to which they were admitted. For example, a student who begins the program in the spring semester and takes a Leave of Absence after finishing one (1) course will be eligible to resume their studies the following spring. Students may not come back from an LOA during the summer semester unless all first-semester core classes are complete.

Withdraw

The University uses the term Withdraw to formally indicate that a student has ceased attendance in all scheduled courses for a given term. Students must alert CBS if they intend to withdraw from a semester. If a student cease attending classes without notification, that student is considered to have Unofficially Withdrawn from the University. Students who fail to enroll by the end of the registration period without prior approval from the Office of Student Affairs will be withdrawn and may be required to re-apply through the Office of Admissions, with no guarantee of re-admission.

Resources, Requirements, and Implications

To fully understand the impact of a Withdrawal or Leave of Absence from school, you must understand the ramifications.  There are many other areas that should be considered as part of a student's decision to temporarily or permanently interrupt their studies. 

This includes, but is not limited to:

• Financial Implications, including those related Tuition & Fees, Title IV Federal Student Aid and Other Financial Assistance
• School and University Services including Columbia Health and the Health Insurance
• Columbia Residential (Graduate Student Housing)
• International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO)
• Students returning from a separation will not receive an additional opportunity to attempt exemption exams for withdrawn, incomplete courses, or Core courses not yet attempted, as this opportunity occurs in advance of matriculation.

Regardless of the type of separation requested or enforced, students who suspend their studies will not have access to some CBS systems, CBS-specific services such as Career and Academic Advising, or University facilities and services outlined in the University Policy. While separated, students are not permitted to participate in CBS academic, career, club, community, or social events unless they are open to the general public. When preparing to return from a leave, students must notify OSA in writing with the expected semester of return to devise a plan for return.

There are many support resources available to students considering interrupting their studies. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Academic Advisor (OSA): Schedule an Advising Appointment.
• University Life: focuses on enhancing the student experience across Columbia’s 17 schools and colleges and is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive campus culture where students can thrive in all dimensions of their lives. Please review the Resource Directory for more information.
• Center for Student Success and Intervention: provides multiple on-campus and off-campus resources to assist students with meeting basic needs and serves as a space to access and obtain necessary support and services to help as a part of your journey here at Columbia.
• Religious Life

Next steps

Students must Schedule an Academic Advising Appointment with their designated Academic Advisor before submitting a Withdrawal and Leave of Absence Notification Request Form to the University.

Stretch Policy

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is a STEM-eligible degree, completed in four semesters of full-time study at Columbia Business School. A semester ‘stretch’ allows students to extend their studies and perhaps take fewer credits per semester due to extenuating circumstances that dictate the need for an additional semester (otherwise known as a “stretch”).

Stretches may be granted in cases of incapacitating illness and/or serious family emergency, or in situations of comparable gravity.  Students who are experiencing such circumstances and are considering studying for more than four semesters must schedule an appointment with their academic advisor to discuss their concerns and academic progress. Stretching does not result in additional ranking opportunities. Students will build their additional semester schedule via add/drop (i.e. change of program period) in Vergil.

Extending time in the MBA program (stretching) does not result in additional or extended campus recruiting opportunities, which include company events, job applications, and CBS-facilitated interviews. Students in the September-entering MBA program may participate once in campus recruiting for summer internship opportunities and once for full-time opportunities. Students in the January-entering MBA program may participate in campus recruiting once for full-time opportunities; January-entering students are not eligible to participate in the summer internship campus recruiting, regardless of whether there is a change of degree conferral date. All graduates of CBS receive lifetime access to the CMC, including job postings and career advising, workshops, and resources. For questions about recruiting and stretch, it is recommended that you contact the CMC.

Please note, that all degree requirements must be met within five years of the date of matriculation and there may be tuition, financial aid, student visa, student housing, and/or health insurance implications as a result of stretching. Students are approved to Stretch for one semester. All remaining requirements must be completed in one Stretch semester unless the student receives approval from the Office of Student Affairs to continue due to extenuating circumstances. Students unable to complete their degree in five years (including leaves of absence and stretch semesters) must reapply to the degree program.

Additionally, all full-time MBA students are required to take at least 12 credits of coursework each semester. This is regardless of whether you have been granted a stretch semester. The 12 credits can be spread out through the duration of the semester, including block weeks, A-term, B-term, and full-term courses. If a student is unable to take 12 credits in a semester, they should speak with their academic advisor regarding their options, which may include taking a Leave of Absence. Part-time study is not available for the full-time MBA program.