Enrollment & Withdrawal from Courses & Clerkships
Pre-clerkship and Post-clerkship Courses:
Note: Courses cannot be dropped in the pre-clerkship curriculum without withdrawing from the
University.
- Drop without penalty (course removed from transcript)
If a student withdraws or goes on a LOA from the School of Medicine prior to completion of
10% of the timeframe of a course, the enrollment will be voided. - Drop with W grade
After completion of 10% of the course, a grade of W will be assigned. If the student re-enters
the course, he/she will be reenrolled in the course according to the Leave of Absence,
Withdrawal and Readmission Policy. - Withdrawal deadline
After 80% of a course is completed, students can no longer receive a W grade. If there are
extenuating circumstances, and if it is feasible, a student may petition for a grade of Incomplete.
Feasibility is determined by the course director after a review of the coursework not completed
and other practical considerations in accordance with the School of Medicine’s Policy on
Academic and Professional Advancement.
Electives (including Advanced Clinical Electives)
- Adding a Fourth Year Elective
- Electives must be added at least one month prior to the start of the Elective.
- Students add Lottery Electives through OASIS.
- In order to enroll in an arranged elective, a student must secure in writing approval from
the elective supervisor who also notifies the Office of Student Affairs for entry into
OASIS. - Participation in electives at non-UVA, LCME-approved sites requires s
- Participation in electives at non-LCME approved sites that are not listed on the Student
Source or in the Electives Handbook requires submission of a Specially Arranged
elective form to the Director of the 4th Year Program. - Participation in research electives requires submission of a Research Proposal form to the
Director of the 4th Year. - Participation in international electives requires submission of the UVA SOM
International Elective Form to the Office of Student Affairs. Additional requirements
include submission of the International Studies Office online form, documentation of
having received the CDC vaccination requirements, documentation of evacuation
insurance and attendance at required orientation.
At the discretion of the Director of the 4th Year Program, a student may add a UVA elective
through the Friday prior to the beginning of the elective on Monday. The scheduling form,
signed by the elective supervisor and approved by the student’s advisor, must be received in the
Office for Student Affairs by Friday
- Dropping an Elective
- Dropping an elective requires the approval from the Office of Student Affairs no later
than 28 days prior to the start of the elective.\ - To drop an arranged elective, students must obtain approval from the elective supervisor,
which must be forwarded to the Office of Student Affairs. - Dropping an elective after the deadline, unless approved by the Director of the 4th year
Program, will result in no credit for the elective. Exceptions may be considered for
reasons such as illness requiring extended absenteeism, family emergencies, extreme
hardship or a change in career goals. - Students will lose one week of credit for each week (or partial week) for which the drop
request is past the deadline. - Students who drop after the deadline cannot earn credit for other elective work during the
period of the dropped elective.
- Dropping an elective requires the approval from the Office of Student Affairs no later
Clerkships (including Geriatrics)
- Drop without penalty (clerkship removed from transcript)
With the approval of the student’s college dean, a student may drop and void registration in a
clerkship only before 10% of the clerkship has been completed. - Drop with W grade
After 10% of the clerkship is completed, but before the withdrawal deadline, a grade of W will
be assigned. If the student subsequently re-enters the clerkship, he/she will be reenrolled in the
clerkship according to the Leave of Absence, Withdrawal and Readmission Policy. - Withdrawal deadline
After 80% of a clerkship is completed, a student can no longer drop. If there are extenuating
circumstances, and if it is feasible, a student may petition for a grade of Incomplete. Feasibility is
determined by the clerkship director after a review of the work not completed and other practical
considerations in accordance with the School of Medicine’s Policy on Academic and
Professional Advancement.