Taking a Break From Studies

Fall and Winter terms are considered regular academic terms for Undergraduate (UG) students at the University of Lethbridge and therefore as an UG student, you must remain enrolled during Fall and Winter terms in order to comply with your study permit conditions. Summer is considered a regularly scheduled break for UG students and therefore they are not required to remain enrolled in courses during summer term.

A Leave of Absence is for students studying at the undergraduate level who have extenuating circumstances (e.g., illness, family priorities, deployment, etc.) that may require them to step away from their studies for a period of time. 

Note: There may be some programs in which a Leave of Absence is not suitable. Students in the following programs need approval from their Faculty prior to being granted a Leave of Absence. 

• Bachelor of Education (combined degree or After Degree)
• Bachelor of Therapeutic Recreation
• Bachelor of Nursing 

A Leave of Absence must be submitted and processed prior to the first day of classes for the term in which the Leave is to begin. A Leave may begin in the Winter, Summer or Fall Terms. 

If you need to request a Leave of Absence, please complete this form and email it to student.records@uleth.ca or print the form and drop it off in-person at the SEARS office (SU140).  

Important Considerations

• Prior to submitting a Leave of Absence request, we strongly recommend that you meet with an Academic Advisor to discuss the academic implications of taking a break from your studies.

• Review the the Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) rules regarding your conditions as a study permit holder here.  

• Undergraduate students who are taking a break from their studies are not eligible to work on or off-campus using their study permit during the period they are on an approved leave. If you also hold a Co-op work permit, you cannot use the work authorization of your co-op work permit while you are on a break.

• If you take a break or enroll as a part-time student in the Fall or Winter term, you will not be eligible to work during the summer scheduled break. 

• Taking a break from your studies may impact your Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility as IRCC requirements for the PGWP program state that students must maintain continuous full-time status during their study period (with the exception of your final term of study and scheduled breaks in the academic calendar).

• Taking a break from your studies longer than 150 days may impact your Post Graduation Work Permit eligibility. 

• If in the past, you have a gap in your studies, no action is required at this time. However, at the time you are preparing your PGWP application, please consult with an International Student Advisor for assistance with drafting a letter of explanation to address the gap in your studies and supporting documents.

  • We recommend that you gather supporting documents that will help you explain the reason why took a break from studies to the IRCC processing officer when submitting your PGWP application. 

  • Depending on the reason you took the break, supporting documents may include medical note from the doctor for medical reasons, birth certificate of your child if you gave birth to a newborn, medical reports of a family member if a family member was severely ill, letter from a financial institution explaining the financial difficulty, documents confirming legal proceedings etc. Please note these are only examples of some of the supporting documents we suggest that you may include when submitting your PGWP application to IRCC, depending on your specific situation, supporting documents may vary.

• If you take a leave longer than 150 days, you must apply to change your status to a visitor or leave Canada. Depending on when your current study permit will expire, you may need to re-apply for a study permit to return to your studies.

• Schedule an appointment with an International Student Advisor here to discuss the implications of taking a break in studies on your study permit, work eligibility and PGWP.

Graduate students are required to maintain enrollment year round in order to comply with their study permit conditions. Note: Summer is not considered a scheduled a scheduled break for graduate students.

Graduate students who wish to take a break from studies are required to submit an application for leave. Detailed information about the leave process for graduate students can be accessed here. If you have questions about the Leave of absence application process, please email sgs@uleth.ca

Important Considerations

• Prior to submitting a Leave of Absence request, we strongly recommend that you contact the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) to discuss the academic implications of taking a break from your studies.

• Review the the Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) rules regarding your conditions as a study permit holder here.  

• Graduate students who are taking a break from their studies are not eligible to work on or off-campus using their study permit during the period they are on an approved leave. If you also hold a Co-op work permit, you cannot use the work authorization of your co-op work permit while you are on a break.

• Taking a break from your studies may impact your Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility as IRCC requirements for the PGWP program state that students must maintain continuous full-time status during their study period (with the exception of your final term of study and scheduled breaks (if applicable).

• Taking a break from your studies longer than 150 days may impact your Post Graduation Work Permit eligibility. 

• If in the past, you have a gap in your studies, no action is required at this time. However, at the time you are preparing your PGWP application, please consult with an International Student Advisor for assistance with drafting a letter of explanation to address the gap in your studies and supporting documents.

  • We recommend that you gather supporting documents that will help you explain the reason why took a break from studies to the IRCC processing officer when submitting your PGWP application. 

  • Depending on the reason you took the break, supporting documents may include medical note from the doctor for medical reasons, birth certificate of your child if you gave birth to a newborn, medical reports of a family member if a family member was severely ill, letter from a financial institution explaining the financial difficulty, documents confirming legal proceedings etc. Please note these are only examples of some of the supporting documents we suggest that you may include when submitting your PGWP application to IRCC, depending on your specific situation, supporting documents may vary.

• Students who plan to take a leave of more than 150 days must either leave Canada prior to the end of 150 days or submit an application to IRCC to change their status to a Visitor or Worker prior to the end of 150 day period.

• Schedule an appointment with an International Student Advisor here to discuss the implications of taking a break in studies on your study permit, work eligibility and PGWP, prior to taking a break.