When is the withdrawal deadline?
The date of the withdrawal deadline for the current semester can be found on the Academic Calendar page. Make sure to select the correct academic year at the top of the page.
How do I withdraw from a course?
You can withdraw from classes in Athena, as long as you do not have any registration holds.
- Log into Athena
- Click "Registration" in the Student Services tile
- Click "Register for Classes"
- Select the current semester from the drop-down menu
- From there, you will see a list of your current classes
- In the Action menu for the class you wish to withdraw from, select "Course Withdrawal"
- Submit changes
- The withdrawn class should now say, "Course withdrawn on (date)"
If you have ANY holds in Athena other than advising for a future semester, you will not be able to withdraw. Make sure to clear holds beforehand. Bear in mind that if you need assistance in order to clear the hold, university offices are open only on weekdays from 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
If the course I want to withdraw from has a co-requisite course, do I need to withdraw from both?
Yes, students withdrawing from a course with a co-requisite will not be able to unless they also withdraw from the co-requisite. Attempting otherwise will result in an error message that the withdrawal is not complete.
Students may remain in one of the co-requisite courses only if they receive an override by the department that offers the course.
What resources should I seek out before deciding to withdraw?
If you are concerned about your academic performance, consider working with a peer tutor, using academic coaching, or completing an online Academic Success Skills module. All of these resources are available through the Office of Student Success and Achievement (OSSA).
Other university support resources include Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS), the Love and Money Center, Financial Support Funds, and Student Care and Outreach.
You should also speak to your academic advisor before deciding to withdraw. Your advisor can explain what effect the withdrawal will have on your program of study and on your graduation timeline.
What else should I consider before withdrawing from a course?
If withdrawing from a class changes your status to a part-time student (under 12 credit hours for the semester), the following could also be affected:
- Housing status (University Housing, 706-542-1421, housing@uga.edu)
- Athletic status (Athletics Department, 706-542-1847)
- Immigration status (Office of Global Engagement, 706-542-2900, https://globalengagement.uga.edu/immigration/)
- Your financial aid (Office of Student Financial Aid, 706-542-6147, osfa@uga.edu)
- Veteran's benefits (Student Veterans Resource Center, 706-542-7872, svrc@uga.edu)
- Eligibility for sports tickets
- Health and automobile coverage
Will the withdrawal(s) appear on my transcript?
Yes, if you withdraw from a class, it will appear on your official transcript.
Is there a limit on the number of classes I can withdraw from?
No, there is no limit on the number of withdrawals. However, repeated withdrawals can affect your financial aid in several ways, including:
- Satisfactory Academic Progress (or SAP)
- Number of HOPE/Zell hours remaining
Please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid before withdrawing to see what the effect will be to your financial aid package, especially if you have withdrawn from multiple classes previously.
Will my decision to withdraw affect my future applications to graduate schools?
Graduate schools are likely to look for a pattern of withdrawing from undergraduate courses. If a student has a pattern of multiple withdrawals, their application may be affected negatively. On the other hand, withdrawing from a single course is unlikely to have much effect, if any, on your application.
What if the withdrawal deadline has already passed? Can I still withdraw from a class?
No, students may not withdraw after the withdrawal deadline, except in the case of hardship withdrawals.
What if I need to withdraw from all of my classes after the withdrawal deadline?
If you need to withdraw due to circumstances beyond your control (financial difficulty, illness, death in the family, etc), please consider seeking a hardship withdrawal.
To receive a hardship withdrawal, please contact Student Care and Outreach: 318 Tate Center, sco@uga.edu, 706-542-8479.