Deferral Requests

If you have been offered admission as a first-year or transfer student, you may request to defer your enrollment for up to one year (or longer if necessary to fulfill compulsory military service). Please use this process only as a final step when you are ready to defer the start of your academic career at GW.

Review the policies below, then complete the form in your admissions portal.

Deferral Policies

• Students planning to enroll at another institution are not eligible for deferral. Deferred students who matriculate elsewhere will lose deferred admission status to GW and will forfeit the enrollment deposit. Credit earned at other institutions during the deferral period is not eligible for transfer credit.
• Deferred admission may be granted to admitted first-year or transfer students who have submitted the required non-refundable $800 enrollment deposit and Declaration of Intent.
• Deferred admission may be requested for one or two semesters. The only exception is for students required to complete national military service.
• Financial aid offers cannot be deferred, with the exception of students deferring from the fall to spring semester. Students awarded need-based financial assistance must reapply for financial aid by submitting a new FAFSA, CSS Profile, and any other required financial aid forms by the applicable deadline for their new enrollment term.
• Deferred students may maintain their merit scholarship awards, if applicable.
• Deferred students may maintain admission to special programs, such as the University Honors Program, to which they were initially admitted.
• Deferred students will be charged tuition and fee rates effective at the time of enrollment in their first semester of classes.

Deadlines

August 1

Preferred deadline to submit Request for Deferred Admission from fall semester. Requests will be considered until the first day of classes.

January 1

Preferred deadline to submit Request for Deferred Admission from spring semester. Requests will be considered until the first day of classes.

Students may request a deferral using the "Manage Application Details" button in their admissions portal after paying their enrollment deposit.