Deferring Admission - Admissions | University of Pittsburgh
DEFERRING ADMISSION
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First-year applicants who are interested in deferring University of Pittsburgh admissions (taking a gap year) may do so for up to one academic year following the term for which admission was offered, provided the enrollment fee has been paid by the May 1 deadline. Examples of deferrals may include, but are not limited to a religious activity, community service, or world travel. Students may only defer to the same term as their original admission. For example, spring term admitted students may only defer to the following spring term; fall term admitted students may only defer to the following fall term. However, single-term deferrals will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

The earlier a request is submitted, the more likely that request is to be approved. For the 2024 Fall term, the final date to request a deferral is Friday, August 2, 2024. For the 2025 Spring term, the final date to request a deferral is Friday, December 6, 2024

Defer Admission
If Your Deferral Request is Accepted

  1. External Credits
    Students who choose to defer are permitted to take up to twelve credits as a non-degree student at another university during the deferral period. Course work in excess of twelve credit hours may nullify deferral status and require re-application as a transfer student.

  2. Academic Programs
    Students are only eligible to defer to the same undergraduate school and academic program into which originally admitted. Changes in either will require a new admissions review.

  3. Transcripts
    Students are required to submit a final high school transcript before the start of the new term.

  4. Scholarships
    Deferral requests involving merit scholarships, Frederick Honors College, and Guaranteed Admissions Programs will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

  5. Financial Aid
    If you are interested in need-based financial aid, you will need to reapply for financial aid for the new term by completing the FAFSA.

  6. On-campus Housing
    First-time first-year students originally admitted for the fall term will be able to retain their three year on-campus housing guarantee. Some restrictions may apply. Students deferring to the spring term may result in forfeiture of the housing guarantee.

Please contact Julia Ehlis at jkh49@pitt.edu with any questions. International first-year students are eligible for deferral but must work with the Office of International Services regarding visas.

This page was updated on February 9, 2022. Defer Policy is subject to change without notice.