Academic Adjustments and Medical Withdrawals

Because a medical withdrawal can affect so many aspects of your academic progress, you are encouraged to first consider other options that might enable you to stay in school, e.g., talk to your college or academic program advisor to explore academic adjustments such as a reduced course load, or taking incompletes, to prevent having to withdraw from school.

• If your medical condition is a disability, physical or psychological, a very valuable resource is the Disabled Students Program (DSP)(link is external). DSP is authorized to offer a range of academic accommodations appropriate to your needs as an undergraduate or graduate student. For more information about the Disabled Students Program, visit the DSP website(link is external). 
• University Health Services (UHS) can provide appropriate medical documentation to accompany your request for an academic adjustment or accommodation; however, UHS does not make decisions about your academic status. This applies to graduate as well as undergraduate students. 

Students who withdraw from the university will need to be re-admitted by their academic department. Students considering withdrawal should consult with their department to be fully informed on the process for returning to UC Berkeley.

• All students can request a personal withdrawal from their College/program. Consult with your academic advisor about initiating a personal withdrawal while a medical withdrawal request is under review. This will lock in a refund date for non-financial aid students in the event a medical withdrawal is not supported.  

Other areas that may be impacted by withdrawing from school include:

• Financial Aid - For general concerns, contact Cal Student Central, 120 Sproul Hall, at (510) 664-9181. You may also want to speak with a financial aid representative about money that may be owed back.
• Housing
• Registration fees: Office of the Registrar Cancellation and Withdrawal(link is external)
• Visa/immigration status If you are an international student (on an F-1 or J-1 visa), you should talk to an advisor by scheduling an In-Person BIO Advising Appointment(link is external). 
• Course registration A withdrawal will cancel all enrollment, current and future. You may not attend the summer session while on withdrawal status.
• Student Health Insurance coverage (SHIP) remains active in the current semester if paid for.

PLEASE NOTE: Withdrawals may impact a student’s ability to enroll in the subsequent semester due to college deadlines or professional school policy. Please check with your program advisor.  In addition, if there is a health block on your withdrawal, you cannot sign up for classes until you are medically cleared. Once the withdrawal is approved, it is final and cannot be reversed, so please make sure all of your questions are answered before proceeding with your request. 

(Explore all of these ramifications carefully before you initiate the medical withdrawal process)  

Medical withdrawals are considered for the current or previous semester. To be eligible for a medical withdrawal you must have registered and paid a percentage of your fees for the semester. If a semester hasn’t started yet, you may cancel your registration through Cal Central. See information on retroactive withdrawals in the FAQ below.   

Early Semester Medical Withdrawals are considered for the upcoming semester and if approved, the student needs to cancel their registration before the start of the semester and no fees will be required. The process of review is the same as all medical withdrawals. An early medical withdrawal is for students who get sick right before a semester begins. See information on insurance eligibility in the FAQ below. 

Information Required 

• Detailed medical record information (including diagnosis and treatment) 
• Your UHS medical record may be reviewed with a Release of Information Form 
• If you were treated in the community or at the UHS Counseling & Psychological Services, request that a Health Evaluation Form be completed by your provider. 
• If you are a UC Berkeley International Student, please contact the UC Berkeley International Office (BIO)(link is external), as there may be implications with your VISA status when applying for a medical withdrawal. Please consult with a BIO personnel before proceeding with a medical withdrawal.  
• For BIO Students (F-1 / J-1) you will also need to submit the 3rd page of the BIO Withdrawal Form(link is external) 
• You may also submit a brief explanation (up to one page) of the reasons you are requesting a medical withdrawal.   

Medical Withdrawal and Health Clearance Forms are available at:

• The UHS Social Services office, Rm 2280 at the Tang Center, 2222 Bancroft Way. You may also call 642-6074 to arrange to receive paperwork via mail or fax. Our confidential fax number is 510-643-0211. View hours of operation. 

All information should be sent to Social Services, along with a copy of the Release of Information form you sign, so your provider can communicate with us. 

The above information is reviewed to determine if the medical condition warrants a medical withdrawal. The withdrawal determination is based on the severity and onset of your condition and its impact on your ability to attend classes over a period of time. The medical and/or mental health condition is usually so severe that it prevents a student from participating in academic work for a significant portion of the semester (typically a month or more). The medical withdrawal documentation is also reviewed to determine what if any, medical documentation will be necessary for health clearance when you seek to return to school. The Committee looks for continued treatment over a period of time when evaluating readiness to return, along with current medical status information provided by your treating providers.   

*Summer Session: Students on a medical withdrawal and who have a health block will not be able to enroll in summer session until they are medically cleared to return to school and the Medical Withdrawal Committee removes the health block.  

In taking a medical withdrawal a student is agreeing to the terms and conditions for health clearance set out by the UCB Medical Withdrawal Committee, including any requirement for additional medical documentation. The review of medical documentation at the time a student seeks to return to the University is designed to determine sufficient stability and readiness to resume academic studies. Review for readmission must be supported by documentation from medical and/or mental health providers that proves significant resolution and stabilization of the condition(s) that led to the withdrawal in the first place. The UCB Withdrawal Committee only reviews whether or not you are medically eligible for readmission.   

For graduate students: only your academic program, with agreement from the Graduate Division, can readmit you. Students in clinical programs (e.g. Optometry) may need additional approval by the Patient Care Review Committee to ensure they are ready to perform clinical work along with their academics.

Once your health has stabilized and you are ready to return to school please take the following steps:

• Submit a Medical Clearance Application Form. This should be filled out completely by the student.  Additionally, the student will need to sign a Release of Information Form so that the Medical Withdrawal Committee can review the documents regarding the case. 
•  Please ask your medical care provider in charge of your treatment to complete and submit a Health Evaluation Form for Medical Clearance or copies of your complete medical records.
• Contact your School or College to make sure you are clear on all DEADLINES and required paperwork.