Students who anticipate a long absence due to illness or other unavoidable reasons can take a Temporary Leave of Absence.

Application for Temporary Leave of Absence

If you wish to take a temporary leave of absence, submit the required documents below to the SFC Academic Affairs Office by the deadline.

[ Submission Deadline ]
　Spring semester : May 31 (requisite arrival)
　Fall semester : November 30 (requisite arrival)

[ Required documents ]

1. Application for Temporary Leave of Absence
   * Please be sure to write the period of Temporary Leave April 1 - September 21 (Spring), September 22 - March 31 (Fall).
2. Other necessary documents
   • [Language training or Study abroad programs without credit transfer] : Acceptance Letter (copy) etc.
   • [Illness or injury] : Medical Certificate (original)
   • [Compulsory military duty in your home country] : Certificate of Mandatory Military Service (original, at the beginning of Temporary Leave of Absence)
     Provide a Japanese translation if the certificate is in a language other than English. Only in this case, you are permitted to submit applications and certificates for multiple consecutive semesters at once (copies will be permitted in this case).
   • [Personal Reasons] : Statement of Reason for Temporary Leave of Absence
     Make the necessary documents in advance and take an interview with your Main Research Advisor or the Academic Advisor of your program and receive their seal or signature of approval on the document. (Make an appointment with them directly for an interview as early as possible.) If you take an interview online, please write "I have already interviewed with [Faculty's Name] online." in the margin of the Statement of Reason.
3. Application Checklist for Temporary Leave of Absence

Notes about Temporary Leave of Absence

• Application for temporary leave of absence is on a semester basis
• You can not take or register for courses during temporary leave of absence. In the case that you take a temporary leave of absence in the middle of the semester, all of the courses you have registered for will be canceled and any earned credits will be invalidated.
• The semester that students take a temporary leave of absence is not counted towards the duration of enrollment required for graduation.
  Regardless of how long students in the Graduate of Media and Governance have actually been enrolled, they will advance to the next year during temporary leave of absence.
• Students who are extending their enrollment in the doctoral program can not apply for temporary leave of absence.

The Flow of Events after Submitting the Application

The application must be discussed at the faculty meeting after the announcement of grade reports in the semester prior to that in which the student wishes to take temporary leave of absence (tentatively September 5, Spring Semester, and March 10, Fall Semester). If approved, an approval letter will be sent to the student's guarantor. The Notification of Returning to Study, which is required, will be sent along with the approval letter, as well as related information and information on the process for the reduction of fees for those who are eligible.

After Temporary Leave of Absence

If returning to study after temporary leave of absence, submit the required documents below to the SFC Academic Affairs Office.

[ Required documents ]

1. "Notification of Returning to Study"
2. (in case you took a Temporary Leave of Absence due to illness or injury) an original medical certificate from a doctor certifying that the student is able to attend school

Reduction of Academic Fees during Temporary Leave of Absence

Academic Fees for each semester may be reduced based on your application. Those who will receive a reduction will be sent the necessary information along with the approval letter. Those who pay for their academic fees in full will receive the amount of reduction after completing the necessary process. It is also possible to pay for the remaining fees after the reduction.

Refer to the Keio University Website - Graduate School Academic Fees

If the Academic Advisory Committee deems it beneficial to the student, the student may be permitted to study abroad at a graduate school overseas without taking a temporary leave of absence. (Graduate School Regulations: Article 124)
* Language training courses will be treated as ordinary temporary leaves of absence.

Application for Study Abroad

You are required to submit the required documents below to the SFC Academic Affairs office, at least two months prior to traveling abroad in principle.
Your application for Study Abroad will be approved at the faculty meeting, after the Academic Advisor reviews it.

[ Required documents ]

1. Application for Study Abroad
2. Application for Study Abroad Credit Transfer and/or Inclusion of Study Abroad Period in Keio University Enrollment Period
3. Course Syllabi
4. Other necessary documents
   • [Exchange Programs] : Acceptance Letter (copy)
   • [Privately Financed Study Abroad Programs] : Application Form to the university abroad (copy), Acceptance Letter (copy)
   • [Extension of Study Abroad Period] : Certificate of Enrollment at the university abroad

Notes about Study Abroad

• The period of Study Abroad must be up to 1 year from the starting date, based on the duration permitted by the host university. (Approximately 1 week before and after the study abroad period can be included as preparation, but using this time for internships etc. will not be permitted.)
  Extensions may be made up to 2 times (up to 3 years from the start date of the study abroad). After 3 years, it will be Temporary Leave of Absence.
• You may include up to 1 year of the enrollment period into your enrollment period at Keio University Graduate School. However, retroactive completion will not be approved.
• You can not take or register for courses in the semesters that study abroad takes place. In the case that you start Study Abroad in the middle of the semester, all of the courses you have registered for will be canceled and any earned credits will be invalidated.
• Please read the notes below carefully about the credit transfer.

1. You are required to submit "Application for Study Abroad Credit Transfer and/or Inclusion of Study Abroad Period in Keio University Enrollment Period" whether you wish to transfer credits or not.
2. You need to take an interview with the Academic Advisor of your program and receive approval of your credit transfer. Credit Transfer will be approved at the faculty meeting, after the Chief Academic Advisor reviews the application.
3. Transferred credits will be treated as follows.
   [Master's Program]
   Up to 10 credits in total may be transferred from those earned before entering the master's program, other graduate programs at Keio University, and other universities after enrolling in the Graduate School of Media and Governance (including from universities overseas). Courses that exceed the limit of 10 credits will be recognized as Optional Subjects.
   [Doctoral Program]
   Approved courses will be recognized as Optional Subjects.
4. Regardless of the grading system used where you study abroad, recognized courses will be recorded as "G" on your grade report and transcript of academic record for "recognized." Students enrolling in or after Academic Year 2017 will not have their grades calculated for trasferred courses.

During Study Abroad

If there are additions or alterations to the information you provided in your application, submit the application and course syllabi to the Academic Affairs Office as soon as the course(s) are finalized. The Academic Affairs Office will confirm the changes. (You can only add, remove, or alter your course(s) during the study abroad period.) Submit the syllabi of any courses that you have not yet submitted to the Academic Affairs Office as soon as you obtain them.

After Returning from Study Abroad

You are required to submit the required documents below to the SFC Academic Affairs office, when the study abroad period has ended.

[ Required documents ]

1. Notice of Returning to Study
2. Application form for Study Abroad Credit Transfer and/or Inclusion of Study Abroad Period in Keio University Enrollment Period
3. Original Grade Report
4. Course Syllabi
5. Bank Transfer Requests such as for the Exemption/Reduction of Academic Fees (only for privately financed study abroad)

Reduction of Academic Fees for Privately Financed Study Abroad

Academic Fees may be reduced based on your application for study abroad.
The necessary steps and documents for reduction differ between each system. For the latest information, inquire at the SFC Academic Affairs Office.

Refer to the Keio University Website - Graduate School Academic Fees

If you decide to withdraw from the university for personal reasons, submit the required documents below to the SFC Academic Affairs office.

Procedure of Withdrawal

[ Required documents ]

1. Notification of Withdrawal

[ Required procedure ]

1. Returning your student ID card
   * If you do not have a student ID card, a reissue fee of 2,000 yen will be required. In this case, you need to send 2,000 yen by money order (Yubin teigaku kogawase) or registered mail for cash (Genkin-Kakitome) or purchase 2,000 yen worth of stamps at the SFC Academic Affairs Office.

Notes about Withdrawal

• Date of Withdrawal
  In principle, the date of withdrawal will be the last day of the semester for which all academic fees have been paid. (Spring Semester: September 21, Fall Semester: March 31).
  The date of withdrawal will always be the end of the last semester for which you paid academic fees, and time of enrollment and any credits earned thereafter will be invalidated. If you only paid academic fees up through the last semester, your date of withdrawal will be the end of the previous semester, and any courses registered for in the current semester will be canceled.
• Earned Credits
  Credits earned prior to withdrawal will remain and will not be removed. However, if the student withdraws without paying their academic fees, any credits earned after the date of withdrawal will be removed.
• Academic Fees
  If you pay your entire academic fees in the beginning of the academic year (both Spring and Fall lump payments), but wishes to withdraw at the end of Spring Semester, you will only be able to receive a refund for Fall Semester if the Notification of Withdrawal is submitted and accepted by the end of the Spring Semester (September 21). No refund will be provided if the Notification of Withdrawal is submitted on or after September 22 (the beginning of Fall Semester).