Special Circumstances

Leaving Stanford

Graduating

Prior to graduating your student loans will require some attention. In general, repayment of your student loans will begin after leaving school for longer than six or nine months. Exit counseling is required for both the Stafford and Perkins loans. If you have a federal Stafford loan, our office will contact you with instructions for completing online exit counseling; Student Financial Services will contact you if you have a federal Perkins loan. In-person counseling is also provided for both loans in a joint session usually held in June.

Leave of Absence (Autumn/Winter/Spring Quarters only)

If you decide to take a leave of absence during the academic year, here are some primary steps to take:

Step 1

File a Leave of Absence with the Office of the University Registrar . In addition, we recommend that you notify Student Financial Services and Housing Assignment Services, and update your address in Axess.

Step 2

Submit an email to financialaid@stanford.edu indicating what quarter(s) you will be on leave, and what quarter you plan to return. We will adjust your award based on your change in enrollment.

• We may apply your aid eligibility to a future quarter in the same academic year. For example, if you are on leave for winter, you may use your aid eligibility for summer of the same academic year.
• If you file a Leave of Absence before the first day of classes, your charges and financial aid will be canceled for the quarter. If you file after the first day of classes and are responsible for a percentage of your charges, we will review your case to determine the amount of aid you are eligible for.
  

Step 3

If you have student loans, notify your lenders/servicers that you will not be enrolled.

Step 4

Reapply for aid for the next academic year. Application materials are available in January, and due in April. If you leave the University for a year or more, you will be subject to the aid policies in effect when you return.