Withdrawal (Unrestricted and Selective)
Dropping a Course vs. Withdrawal
Each semester has a designated window for dropping courses. It is important for students to understand the differences between dropping a course and withdrawing from one.
Dropping a Course: If a student drops a course before the Last Day to Drop, the course will not count as an "attempt" and will not appear on the transcript. There are two key deadlines for dropping courses, each with different tuition refund rates:
100% tuition refund if dropped before the full tuition deadline.
50% tuition refund if dropped before the partial tuition deadline.
Students are responsible for all courses they remain officially enrolled in after the drop period, including any applicable tuition costs. Please refer to the Academic Calendar for all registration dates and deadlines.
Withdrawal Periods: After the "Last Day to Drop," the University enters the Withdrawal period. Unlike a course drop, a withdrawal remains on the student's academic transcript as a "W" for the semester.
- Unrestricted Withdrawal: This period opens after the Last Day to Drop. During this time, students can withdraw from their courses through the Patriot Web system without requiring approval.
- Selective Withdrawal: This period opens after the Unrestricted Withdrawal period ends. Undergraduate students in degree programs can withdraw from a limited number of courses (with full tuition liability) at their discretion.
Important: Students are allowed a maximum of three selective withdrawals during their entire undergraduate career at Mason.
Selective Withdrawals must be submitted through the Selective Withdrawal Form found on the Registrar's website
Key Reminders
Always consult the Academic Calendar for specific registration deadlines.
It is the student’s responsibility to add, drop, or withdraw from courses within the provided timeframes each semester.