Leave of Absence

Procedure

A leave of absence can be applied for if a student intends to stop studying for more than three months due to illness or other reasons.

You may take a 6-month or 12-month leave of absence from the beginning of the semester (1/Apr or 1/Oct) in principle.

If you want to take a leave of absence, you have to apply for it at the Academic Affairs Section. You should go to the Academic Affairs Section at least one month before the start of a leave of absence to pick up the necessary documents and receive instructions on the procedure. If you start the procedure too late, you may not be able to complete it (i.e. you may not be able to take a leave of absence). Once the procedure has been completed, you will receive a letter of leave of absence by post. Please make sure to keep this letter as it will be proof of your leave of absence.

If you wish to extend a leave of absence, you will need to renew it.

Notes

・Tuition fees will be waived during the period of a leave of absence. However, please note that you will be obliged to pay tuition fees for the following year (next semester) if your application for a leave of absence is not accepted by the end of March in the case of a leave of absence from 1 April, or by the end of September in the case of a leave of absence from 1 October. If you wish to take a leave of absence after the start of a semester or in the middle of a semester, please consult with the Academic Affairs Section in advance.
・The total period of a leave of absence cannot exceed three years for undergraduate students, two years for master’s students, and three years for doctoral students.
・If tuition fees have not been paid during the period of study, the application for a leave of absence will not be accepted.

Resumption of Studies

Procedure

Resumption of studies is the procedure required when a leave of absence is terminated. The Academic Affairs Section will contact you before the end of your leave of absence, and you should follow the procedure accordingly. Once the procedure has been completed, a letter of permission to return to university will be sent to you by post.