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Withdrawing from and Returning to UNC

Home / Academic Options for Staying on Track / Withdrawing from and Returning to UNC

Staying on Track

What is a withdrawal?

A withdrawal is the official process of dropping all classes in an academic term. There are different kinds of withdrawals, and one may fit your personal situation better than others. We encourage you to look over the different types of withdrawals here, and feel free to reach out to an advisor to explore what option may be best for you.

Are you looking to submit a retroactive withdrawal? That requires an academic appeal!

What kind of withdrawals are there?

There are three different withdrawal options available to you:

  • Academic withdrawal (taken for personal situations)
  • Medical withdrawal (both physical health and mental health)
  • Administrative withdrawal (typically for disciplinary purposes)

For more information on academic withdrawals, please visit the Student Withdrawal Request page on the Registrar’s website, linked here. For more information on requesting a medical withdrawal, please visit the Medical Academic Intervention page on the Campus Health website. For more information on requesting a psychological withdrawal, please visit: https://caps.unc.edu/services/academic-interventions/current-semester-psychologicalmedical-withdrawal/.

I’m ready to come back to Carolina! Where do I start?

We are so glad to have you back! Before we can chat about classes and getting you registered, you’ll need to complete the Return to Carolina survey from the Admissions Office. Whether you take a break for a semester or more or formally withdraw from the university, we cut the lights to your ONYEN to save power, so to speak. Filling out the Return to Carolina survey lets us know you’re intending to come back, so we turn the lights back on and make things ready for your return.

Please make sure you check the deadlines on the Return to Carolina page based on the term you’re aiming to return. Remember that the earlier your Return to Carolina survey is submitted, the better your chances are of registering with everyone else and having an easier time enrolling into the classes you need!

If you left the University on Suspension status, once your ONYEN is reactivated, you’ll also need to appeal for Probation. The good news is that having an active ONYEN will allow you to make appointments with your assigned advisor again, and we are here to support you and your return to Carolina!