Academic Leave of Absence (ALOA)

ALOA Application Process

Students participating in off-campus study options not offered by Oberlin College are classified as being on an academic leave of absence (ALOA). There are specific limits on credit transfer from off-campus study programs. For the College of Arts and Sciences they are (a) 16 hours per single semester, or (b) 10 hours per quarter or trimester, or (c) 32 hours per academic year or (d) 20 hours per academic year at a quarter- or trimester-based school. For Conservatory of Music and Double-Degree limits, please consult the Conservatory or Double-Degree section of the Course Catalog.

Interested students apply by submitting an academic leave of absence application form to the Office of the Dean of Studies, Peters 205. Leaves are processed by the Associate Dean of Studies and granted by the Off-Campus Study Committee prior to a student's departure from Oberlin. The academic leave of absence application must be submitted by March 15 for any student wishing to be on leave the following academic year.

Academic leaves are approved when students can demonstrate the value of such leaves for their Oberlin education and meet the following criteria: (1) A student must have completed at least two semesters at Oberlin. (2) A student must have declared a major. (3) A maximum of 36 hours of credit transferred toward the graduation requirement will be permitted after a student has enrolled at Oberlin. In addition, an Arts and Sciences student may transfer no more than 56 hours (62 hours for Conservatory majors and Double-Degree students) in total towards the Oberlin degree. (4) A student must carry a minimum of 12 semester hours when on an academic leave of absence. In addition, a student may not be approved for an academic leave of absence if there is an outstanding account balance.

Please note that Oberlin financial aid is only applicable to Oberlin Affiliated Programs. Federal financial aid is usually applicable to most study-away programs. Please see the Study Away website for list of Oberlin Affiliated Programs and further information.