Student Status and Change of Status

Course load at the Weitzman School is measured in course units, and the number of course units for which a student is registered determines their enrollment status. Except in rare and extenuating circumstances when students request and receive permission from their Department Chair to enroll in fewer course units than outlined in the standard course of study, students have full-time status. For this reason, Weitzman is a full tuition school and students are automatically assessed the full-tuition rate each term. Each degree program has established a specific curriculum for each semester that constitutes full-time status. See "Tuition and Finances" for additional information.

Full-Time Masters Enrollment

• Three or more course units in a semester
• Only MSD-AAD students have required full-time enrollment in the Summer term

Full-Time Doctoral Enrollment

• Three or more course units/courses in a semester
• Registration in ARCH 9925 or CPLN 9925 (dissertation preparation coursework for students who have earned 20 CUs but have not yet passed the Candidacy Exam or are ready to formally begin Dissertation Status)
• Dissertation Status (ARCH 9950 or CPLN 9950; full-time status but eligible for reduced tuition beginning in Year 4 if coursework is completed)

Part-Time Enrollment

• Less than three course units in a term
• Part-time status is approved only in rare and extenuating circumstances. MUSA students may be admitted with part-time status, but all other students need to report their part-time status directly to the Weitzman Registrar at the beginning of each term by completing the Part-Time Status Form. The form requires approval by the student’s Department Chair.
• Doctoral students are not eligible for part-time tuition and fee adjustments based on course enrollment. 
• International Students who are enrolled in less than 3 CUs in a Fall or Spring term (or Summer term for MSD-AAD students) must apply for a Reduced Course Load (RCL) with International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS). The RCL request form is available in iPenn.

All Weitzman School students are discouraged from enrolling in more than five course units in a term, as reflected in their department’s curriculum. Students must complete the Overload Enrollment form and obtain the approval of their program director to enroll in more than five course units in a term. The deadline for declaring overload is the end of course selection (available on the Weitzman Academic Calendar), although students are strongly encouraged to declare overload status well in advance of the deadline in order to identify any course registration problems.

Masters students who enroll in more than five course units for grades in the Fall or Spring semesters will be charged the per-CU tuition rate for the overload course(s). These charges will be applied after the add/swap period ends. Students will receive a confirmation email from the Weitzman Registrar when the additional tuition has been applied to their student account. Students who are auditing a course as a sixth CU are not charged additional per-CU tuition for the audited course.

Doctoral students completing coursework generally enroll in four course units per term. Architecture PhD students who are also taking ARCH 8201 or 8202 for 0.5 CUs may take 3.5 or 4.5 CUs in a term, in order to earn 8 CUs over the course of the year. Doctoral students who wish to take a fifth CU in a term (either for credit or as an audit) need permission from their graduate group chair to do so; if approved, the fifth CU does not result in additional tuition or fees. 

A student may be admitted to the Weitzman School on the recommendation of a department chair as a “non-degree student” for a period not to exceed one academic year. Under this status, a student is allowed to take a maximum of five course units per semester. If the student is later admitted into a degree program, the department chair will evaluate course units earned as a non-degree student to determine whether they will be accepted for the degree. No more than 5 course units or 25% of the total number of credits required for the degree, whichever is less, will be accepted.

A student may voluntarily withdraw from the Weitzman School at any time. To voluntarily withdraw (which leaves open the possibility of re-admission in the future; see below), students submit the Withdrawal form to their department chair and then send the signed version to the Weitzman Registrar. If the student is enrolled in a dual-degree program, the student must received permission from both department chairs to withdraw. Upon receipt of approval, the Weitzman Office of Student Services will make the appropriate adjustment to the student’s academic record and send confirmation by email to the student. Non-attendance does not constitute an official voluntary withdrawal. For the schedule of percentage of refunded tuition after a voluntary withdrawal, refer to the Weitzman Academic Calendar. Note:

• Lab fees are non-refundable after the second week of classes.
• A student who is required to withdraw because of a violation of University policies shall receive no refund by reason of such withdrawal.
• Refer to the Return of Funds Policy: Federal Regulations require the University to calculate a return of federal student aid funds for students who withdraw (officially or unofficially) from all classes on or before the 60 percent attendance point in the semester and for students who withdraw from any module-based courses.

Students who stop attending all classes without officially withdrawing or taking a leave of absence are considered Unofficial Withdrawals and will be subject to a return of federal student aid funds, the amount of which is calculated based on the last documented date of attendance as determined by the University of Pennsylvania.

Students who do not meet the Academic Performance standards of their program may be academically withdrawn. For more information, refer to the policy on Academic Performance.

Students who voluntarily withdraw may pursue re-admission within three years of withdrawing. Students who wish to be readmitted after having withdrawn must submit a written request for reinstatement to the Weitzman School Office of Student Services. Students who are withdrawn for non-attendance or dismissed for unsatisfactory academic performance are not eligible for readmission. The reinstatement request must include reliable evidence of measures taken during absence from the school and an explanation and plan as to how conditions relating to the original need for withdrawal will be prevented from reoccurring. If, upon re-entry, the student’s GPA is below 3.0 then their academic status will automatically be probationary. The department chair must endorse readmission prior to any registration process. If the student is enrolled in a dual-degree program, the student must receive endorsement from both department chairs. Credit for courses taken prior to readmission will be re-evaluated in conjunction with the degree program’s current curriculum. Departments may choose not to accept courses regardless of when they were completed for credit toward the degree. As a result, reinstatement may include additional coursework. Students must clear all holds, including financial, that may be on their record prior to being approved for reinstatement. Scholarships previously offered to students applying for readmission will not be reinstated automatically.

Deadlines for submitting materials for reapplication are the same as the deadlines for new applicants, and can be found on the Admissions page.

A student who has not received full academic credit for the term and who is called to service through enrollment in a military reserve unit, or through enlistment in military service, shall be refunded full tuition and general fee, provided a written request, substantiated by the proper evidence, is submitted to the Weitzman School Office of Student Services.

Requesting a Leave of Absence
Doctoral students requesting a leave of absence should refer to the the PhD policy here and complete the PhD Leave of Absence Request Form.

Masters students wishing to take a leave of absence must complete the Leave of Absence Request Form. The request should include the reason for the leave and planned date of return. The form must be approved by the student’s academic department chair. Dual-degree students need approval from both departments when requesting a leave of absence. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with their academic advisor and/or department chair to discuss their leave request prior to submitting the form. The completed and approved form should be submitted to the Weitzman School Office of Student Services for processing. If applicable, the student’s bill will be adjusted based on the tuition refund schedule as found in the Weitzman Academic Calendar. Students receiving Title IV/federal loans who take a leave of absence or withdraw before the 60% mark in the semester are subject to the Return of Federal Student Aid (Title IV) policy, and should review this carefully before requesting a leave. Students will receive email confirmation that their approved leave request has been processed.

When a leave of absence is requested outside the academic dates of the semester, the effective start date for the leave of absence is the date of last academic activity of the prior semester. For example, if a student requests a leave of absence in July while not taking any classes, the date of separation will be the last day of the spring semester term. International students on a visa need to pay particular attention to how this policy overlaps with the requirement to depart the U.S. within 15 days of a leave of absence being processed.

Discontinuance of study without permission from the University does not constitute a leave of absence. If students request a leave after the beginning of the semester, normal drop and withdrawal deadlines apply. Students who are requesting a leave of absence for medical reasons will be required to provide documentation from their treating clinician. Leaves of absence may be granted for up to one year. Requests for extension of the leave are handled on a case-by-case basis by the student’s academic department chair and the Weitzman School Office of Student Services.

Types of Leave
There are two Leave of Absence Categories:

1. Personal. The impetus for a Personal Leave of Absence is an employment or internship opportunity, military service, family matters, or pursual of other personal goals.
2. Medical. Medical leaves of absence are available for students experiencing medical issues (health or mental health) that will temporarily interfere with their studies. Students requesting a medical leave of absence must provide documentation by the treating clinician at the time of the leave request and again before return from leave is approved. The supporting documentation should not reveal any details regarding the student’s condition. The documentation should simply support a leave of absence. Students on an approved medical leave of absence cannot be required to work on deficient coursework during their leave period.