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What you’ll find here: Guidance on how to withdraw from the University for undergraduate and graduate students. For Fall 2025, the last day to withdraw is Nov. 25.

A Withdrawal is when a student drops all courses (down to 0 credits) in a term, after the first day but before the withdrawal deadline. Students can drop individual courses on their own but cannot drop to 0 credits without requesting a withdrawal.

A student who officially withdraws from the University is charged only a portion of tuition and fees, based on the effective date of the withdrawal. Deadlines for full or partial reduction vary by term and by school. See the charts on this page for specific details.

Medical withdrawals, which can be authorized only by a licensed physician or psychologist/counselor in the ҹɫ����Health Center, may provide a pro rata reduction of tuition and fees, calculated using a daily percentage rate. The University does not grant retroactive medical withdrawals.

Information on medical withdrawals — including forms to begin a medical withdrawal request — is available through the Office of the Dean of Students.

Fall 2025 withdrawal procedures 

The last day to withdraw from the University is Nov. 25.

Continuing undergraduate students (who have completed at least one term at SMU) 

If you need to withdraw from the University, you must complete the Undergraduate Leave Request Form. The effective date of the withdrawal is the date the form is processed in the University Registrar’s Office. Discontinuing class attendance or notifying instructors of your intention to withdraw does not constitute an official withdrawal.

If you live in University housing, you must secure clearance from the Office of Residence Life and Student Housing. Students should complete the form before the term begins to avoid financial obligation for tuition and fees.

New undergraduate students (Fall 2025 is your first term at SMU)

• Before the term begins (Aug. 25): Send an email to ugadmission@smu.edu to inform them that you will no longer be attending SMU. (No financial obligation.)
• Aug. 25 through Sept. 8: Send an email to ugadmission@smu.edu to inform them that you will no longer be attending ҹɫ����and submit a Withdrawal Form. (Withdrawal refund schedule applies.) Admissions will send you the Withdrawal Form to complete.
• After Sept. 8: Complete the Undergraduate Leave Request Form. The effective date of the withdrawal is the date the form is processed in the University Registrar’s Office. (Grades of W will be given, and the withdrawal refund schedule applies.)

Graduate students

Contact your academic school of record or dean’s office. Students should complete the form before the term begins to avoid financial obligation for tuition and fees.