UBC students in good academic standing can take up to a year away from studies without having to reapply for admission. If you want to demonstrate to Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that you were on authorized leave, you must request the leave and obtain a letter from UBC confirming that you are authorized for the leave. More information about authorized leaves is available on the International Student Guide.
Students who have not yet attended UBC and have requested to defer their admission for a year are not eligible for an Authorized Leave.
Eligibility
- Be an international student
- Be eligible to register as of the first day of classes for each term for which you’re requesting a leave letter
- Dropped or withdrawn from the courses for the term(s) for which you are requesting an authorized leave
- The requested leave must be from 2021 Winter Session onwards. Authorized leaves became available to UBC students starting in the 2021 Winter Session
If you are considering taking a leave from UBC, you should first speak with an advisor in International Student Advising, as there may be impacts on your study permit validity and your eligibility to remain in Canada.
If you have questions about how taking an authorized leave may impact your future course planning, we encourage you to first speak with your Engineering Program Advisor before requesting an authorized leave.
To request leave and the letter, please complete the form below and EAS will review your request. You can expect to receive a response in 5-7 business days.