Deferring Enrollment for Transfer Students
If you have been offered admission as a transfer student to Drexel, you may request to defer your enrollment for up to one full year for a term that offers your intended program. If your request is approved and you meet the requirements listed below, you do not have to submit a new admission application.
Reasons for Requesting an Enrollment Deferral
Admitted students may request a deferral based on one of the following circumstances:
- Military or public service
- Extraordinary full-time travel, volunteer service, or work opportunity
- Illness (whether self or immediate family member) validated by a doctor's written confirmation
- Cultural enrichment opportunity
- Extenuating circumstances related to external forces beyond one's control
Please note that requests based on the following circumstances will be denied:
- Financial hardship
- Enrolling or completing coursework at another higher educational intuition
How to Request a Deferral
The deadline to submit a deferral request is the weekday prior to the start of your current term of entry.
Select the button below to log in to Discover Drexel and submit a request to defer your enrollment. Your request will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee and a decision will be sent to you via email.
Submit A Deferral RequestFinancial Aid
Students who request a deferral will remain eligible for any original institutional scholarships or grant funding offered to them in their financial aid package for one year. However, U.S. citizens and permanent residents will need to complete a new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be re-evaluated for federal and state financial aid.
Frequently Asked Questions
When you decide to defer and submit the proper documentation, the committee meets to discuss each situation on a case-by-case basis. If the deferral is approved, the deferral is valid the term that was requested in the deferral request. Please note, if you wish to extend your deferral period beyond what is initially approved, you will need to contact Admissions; depending upon your start date, a second deferral may require that you submit a new CSS Profile.
If you are approved for a deferral, then your institutional financial aid will not change from the package originally offered at the time of your admission — this includes Drexel need-based grants, merit scholarships, affiliated scholarships, and any other Drexel funding. Please note that financial aid packages will only be held for one year, and if you request a second deferral year, you will be re-evaluated for financial aid.
Eligibility for federal and state financial aid may change as a new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required each year students attend Drexel. You are encouraged to complete a new FAFSA as soon as possible once it becomes available.
You are not permitted to take additional coursework during your deferral period unless approved by your academic advisor. If you have been admitted to the Honors College and are approved to take additional coursework, please contact the Honors advisor to discuss how this could impact your Honors decision.
Yes, Drexel University will remain in contact with you during your deferral period. We encourage you to reach out to us should you have any questions or have any updates for your enrollment at the University.
In most cases, you are still eligible to change your major or co-op option. Your application and materials will be re-evaluated for the new program/major you are requesting. If your change of major request cannot be approved, we will still honor your admission into your original program. Changes to your major will not affect the financial aid package you were originally awarded.
You will be notified via email to log in to Drexel One prior to enrolling if you are required to take placement exams. If you have previously taken your placement exams and then defer afterward, you will have to take new placement exams to better reflect where you stand academically after your deferral period.
In most cases, your offer still stands with the Honors Program. If you have been approved to take additional coursework during your deferral period, please contact your Honors advisor to see if this impacts your admission to the Honors Program. Students must attend seven academic quarters at Drexel to qualify for the Honors Program.
Transfer students can submit the housing application, but on-campus housing is not guaranteed. You can also consider university-affiliated housing and off-campus housing.
Yes, your offer of admission is based on successful completion of the UPrep program. If you defer your enrollment at Drexel, you will be required to successfully complete UPrep prior to the start of your first term of classes. Please note, students admitted provisionally with UPrep are only eligible for full-year deferrals.