Definition
A leave of absence from the MD Program constitutes an official, temporary withdrawal from studies and is recorded on the student's transcript.
Leaves of absence are approved for specific, defined reasons. Not all requests will be approved. Students who are uncertain whether their circumstances qualify are strongly encouraged to speak with the Director, Undergraduate Learner Affairs before submitting a formal application.
The MD Program follows a structured, sequential curriculum in which courses and rotations must be completed in a defined order. Students returning from a leave of absence may therefore only re-enter at defined points in the program: those in the Foundations years return at the start of the next incomplete course, while those in Clerkship return either at the start of the academic year (if they have not yet completed the Transition to Clerkship course) or at a defined re-entry point aligned with rotation schedules (if they have completed some clerkship rotations).
Students sometimes have concerns about the impact of a leave of absence on their future career, including residency matching. There is no evidence that taking a leave of absence negatively affects CaRMS application outcomes. Students are encouraged to discuss any concerns about stigma, career implications, or the decision to take a leave with the Director, Undergraduate Learner Affairs, and/or the Director, Career Advising System (Office of Learner Affairs).
During a leave of absence, students are not registered as medical students and are not eligible for new services from the University of Toronto Health & Wellness Centre. The Office of Learner Affairs remains available as a resource to students throughout their leave.
In rare and exceptional circumstances, the University may require a student to take a leave of absence under the Supportive Leave Policy. For more information on Supportive Leaves, please refer to the Supportive Leave Policy and related guide.
Approved Categories of Leave
Medical Leave
At times, students may benefit from time away from the program to focus on their own health. A medical leave of absence may be granted to students who are temporarily unable to continue their studies due to a documented medical or mental health condition. A medical LOA is needed when a student needs more time away than can be accounted for under the standard Absence Policy. Supporting documentation from a qualified healthcare provider is required. Medical leaves are assessed on an expedited basis.
Duration: up to one full academic year at a time; renewal requires updated documentation.
Parental and Family Caregiver Leave
The MD Program supports students who need to step away from their studies to welcome a new child through birth, adoption, or surrogacy, or to provide care for a family member with a serious medical condition. Leaves granted under this category are assessed on an expedited basis. For family caregiver leave, supporting documentation from a qualified healthcare provider attesting to the family member’s condition is required.
Duration: up to one full academic year.
Academic Enrichment Leave
Leaves of absence to pursue academic programming that complements the MD Program may be granted to students in good academic standing, normally with no identified academic weaknesses.
Duration: up to one full academic year. Programs that require two or more years to complete will not normally be approved; an exception may be made for students selected for a Rhodes Scholarship. Students must discuss the academic and career implications of the proposed leave with the Director, Undergraduate Learner Affairs before applying.
Applications must be submitted no later than February 1 of the calendar year in which the leave is to begin and must include a clearly set-out plan with articulated objectives, an explanation of how the leave complements the MD Program, and a plan for re-entry.
Career Exploration Leave - MD/PhD Students Only
A leave of absence for career exploration may be granted to students enrolled in the MD/PhD program who have completed their full PhD defence. This leave is intended to provide a defined, time-limited period for exploration of career paths related to their PhD program.
Eligibility: MD/PhD students only. The leave may not begin before the date of the full PhD defence.
Duration: up to one full academic year. Start and end dates are fixed at the time of approval and cannot be extended.
Students considering this option are encouraged to consult with the Director, Integrated Physician-Scientist Training Program well in advance of their expected defence date.
Time to Complete
All time spent on leave counts toward the program time-to-degree limit. For the full time-to-degree requirements for MD and all combined programs, see:
Degree Requirements — Time to Complete the Doctor of Medicine (MD) Degree
Application Process
Pre-Application Consultation
Before submitting a formal application, students are required to consult with the Director, Undergraduate Learner Affairs, Office of Learner Affairs. MD/PhD students must also consult with the Director, Integrated Physician-Scientist Training Program. A consultation may resolve the student's concerns without a formal leave of absence.
MD/PhD students who are in the PhD component of their program must consult with the Director, Integrated Physician-Scientist Training Program before applying for leave directly through the School of Graduate Studies, rather than through the MD Program. The School of Graduate Studies Leave of Absence Policy governs leaves for students in the PhD component of the MD/PhD program.
Submission
Students must submit a leave of absence application through the student portal. Applications are received and triaged by Enrolment Services. For leaves for academic enrichment, applications must be submitted no later than February 1 of the calendar year in which the leave is to begin.
Review and Approval
All leave of absence applications are reviewed by the MD Program LOA Committee, which comprises the Director, Undergraduate Learner Affairs; the Director, Integrated Physician-Scientist Training Program; and the Associate Dean, MD Program. Medical and parental leaves are processed on an expedited basis; all other applications undergo full committee review.
Final approval for all leaves of absence rests with the Associate Dean, MD Program. An official letter of approval or denial is issued through Enrolment Services. Letters of approval specify the terms of the leave, including the start and expected end dates, as well as the conditions for re-entry.
Re-Entry into the MD Program Following a Leave of Absence
Students who are granted leave are not registered as medical students for the duration of the leave. When they re-enter the program, they will be subject to the current fee schedule.
Credit is retained for all courses that have been fully completed prior to the leave. Students returning from leave are generally subject to the current curriculum, although modifications may be made to reflect major curricular changes introduced during their absence.
Students on leave are required to contact the Director, Undergraduate Learner Affairs, and Enrolment Services at least four months before their intended return to the MD Program. The return date will depend on the most appropriate next entry point for the relevant stage of the program (Foundations or Clerkship). Students may be required to submit documentation in support of their request to return; the LOA Committee will review these documents. The return must be approved by the Associate Dean, MD Program, who will issue an official return letter to the student through Enrolment Services.
Students returning from a leave of absence must meet the MD Program's return criteria, which may include completing specified academic work, as appropriate, to support their return.