To take a gap year before starting at NYU, submit the NYU Deferred Enrollment Request Form through the Applicant Portal by June 1. The form is open to admitted first-year students who have already paid their non-refundable enrollment deposit, and it asks for your N-number, your original and proposed entry terms, a statement of intent describing your gap year plan, and supporting documentation. Approval is not automatic, and an approved deferral comes with conditions you have to follow for the full year off.
Who Can Request a Deferral
Deferred enrollment is for admitted first-year students at NYU’s New York, Shanghai, and Abu Dhabi campuses who have paid the enrollment deposit.1NYU Shanghai. Deferring Your Enrollment2NYU Abu Dhabi. Defer Enrollment Transfer students and students admitted from a waitlist are generally not eligible; if that is you and you cannot attend, you would need to reapply for a future term.
Graduate programs handle deferrals on their own terms and some do not allow them at all. NYU’s Silver School of Social Work permits deferrals for its MSW program but not for the 32-month pathway, and the Stern MBA at NYU Abu Dhabi does not grant deferrals.3NYU Silver School of Social Work. Deferral Graduate applicants should check with their specific school before assuming this form applies.
The June 1 Deadline
The form is due through the Applicant Portal by June 1, and that date holds consistently across NYU’s undergraduate campuses.1NYU Shanghai. Deferring Your Enrollment Graduate cutoffs differ; NYU Silver, for example, sets July 1 for full-time fall programs.3NYU Silver School of Social Work. Deferral
Do not leave this to the last week of May. Supporting documents like military orders, a provider letter, or an organizational invitation take time to obtain, and a late or incomplete submission will not be processed.
What to Gather Before You Start
You will fill in several fields and upload files in one session, so pull everything together first.
- Your N-number. This is your NYU University ID: the letter “N” followed by eight digits, for example N12345678. NYU offices use it to locate your record.4New York University. When Will I Get My NYU Username
- Your original and proposed entry terms. Specify the semester you were admitted for and the new semester you plan to start. For most first-year students that is a shift from one fall to the next.
- A statement of intent. This is a written narrative explaining what you plan to do during your gap year, and it is the centerpiece of the request. Structured gap year programs, professional opportunities, community service commitments, and medical or military obligations are all commonly considered.
- Supporting documentation. What you need depends on the reason. Military service calls for official orders or a service contract. A medical deferral calls for a letter from a licensed healthcare provider explaining the need for the delay without revealing specific diagnoses. Professional or volunteer opportunities usually need an invitation letter or contract from the sponsoring organization. Scan everything as high-resolution PDFs before opening the form.
NYU Silver notes that Peace Corps and City Year participants, along with those with mandatory military obligations, receive automatic exceptions to the standard review process, which suggests these reasons carry particular weight across the university.3NYU Silver School of Social Work. Deferral
Submitting Through the Applicant Portal
Log in to the same NYU Applicant Portal you used to check your admissions status and upload documents during the application cycle. Find the deferred enrollment section within your applicant status page. The form asks for the identification and entry-term details listed above, and a document upload area lets you attach your statement of intent and supporting files directly.2NYU Abu Dhabi. Defer Enrollment
After you click submit, the portal generates a timestamp and displays an on-screen confirmation. Watch your registered email for a receipt message confirming your request is under review, and save that email as proof of a timely filing.
How Long the Decision Takes
Processing times vary by school. NYU’s School of Global Public Health notifies applicants in writing within two weeks.5NYU School of Global Public Health. Admissions Policies and Procedures Other programs may take longer. Decisions come back through the same Applicant Portal, so check it regularly after you submit. Approval is not guaranteed and depends on the reason, the documentation, and enrollment capacity for the following year.
Rules You Have to Follow During the Gap Year
An approved deferral comes with conditions that function like a contract. Break any of them and NYU can revoke your admission.
- Do not enroll at another college or university. NYU treats deferred students like Early Decision admits who committed a year in advance. You cannot attend another institution during the gap year, and you cannot even apply to other schools. If NYU finds out you did, your admission is revoked.1NYU Shanghai. Deferring Your Enrollment
- Submit your final high school transcript. You must send final transcripts and proof of graduation to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by July 15, 2026. Miss that date and your enrollment is withdrawn.1NYU Shanghai. Deferring Your Enrollment
The outside-enrollment rule is where deferred students most often get into trouble. A casual community college course could jeopardize your status, because earning credits elsewhere can reclassify you as a transfer applicant. If you want to take any coursework during your time off, contact NYU’s admissions office first to confirm it will not affect your standing.
Re-Confirming Enrollment Before Your New Start Term
A deferral is not set-and-forget. Before your new start term you have to formally re-confirm that you still plan to attend, and the deadline depends on your campus.
- NYU Shanghai: pay an additional $500 enrollment deposit by January 10 of the year you plan to start. That payment is credited toward your first-term tuition.1NYU Shanghai. Deferring Your Enrollment
- NYU Abu Dhabi: re-confirm your intention to enroll by March 1, following the same expectations as Early Decision students.2NYU Abu Dhabi. Defer Enrollment
New York follows a similar re-confirmation process, though the exact date may differ. Contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions directly for the current deadline. Missing re-confirmation can cost you both your reserved seat and the deposit you already paid, so put the date on your calendar as soon as your deferral is approved.
What Happens to Your Enrollment Deposit
Your original non-refundable deposit stays with NYU and is credited toward your first term’s tuition when you enroll.1NYU Shanghai. Deferring Your Enrollment It functions as a financial hold on your spot. If you fail to re-confirm or violate the deferral conditions, the deposit is forfeited and your admission is withdrawn.
Financial Aid Across the Gap Year
Whether your aid survives the gap year depends on the type of aid and how long you defer.
For a one-year deferral, NYU scholarships and grants generally carry over, provided you met all the original deadlines during your admissions cycle.6New York University. Scholarships and Grants NYU Abu Dhabi states this directly: students who defer for one year receive the same level of financial aid and do not need to refile the CSS Profile.2NYU Abu Dhabi. Defer Enrollment Graduate deferrals can work differently. NYU Silver’s MSW program forfeits any scholarship awarded for the initial entry term and reconsiders students for the new term.3NYU Silver School of Social Work. Deferral
Federal aid is a separate step. U.S. students must submit a new FAFSA by February 15 for their deferred start year to be reconsidered for federal grants and loans.6New York University. Scholarships and Grants The FAFSA is filed annually and the form that covered your original admission year will not carry forward; for a fall 2027 start, you would file the 2027–28 FAFSA when it becomes available.
Health Insurance and Housing
If you are under 26, you can stay on a parent’s health insurance plan regardless of whether you are enrolled in school. The Affordable Care Act requires plans that offer dependent coverage to continue it until the child turns 26, with no conditions tied to student status, financial dependency, or where you live.7U.S. Department of Labor. Young Adults and the Affordable Care Act: Protecting Young Adults and Eliminating Burdens on Businesses and Families FAQs Students who currently rely on NYU’s student health insurance plan will not have access to it during the deferral year, since they will not be enrolled. Confirm coverage with your family’s insurer before your original start term passes.
On housing: expect to go through the standard application process when you return. NYU does not give Early Decision admits priority in housing assignments, and deferred students are held to the same expectations.8New York University. New First-Year Housing Watch for the housing application to open in the months before your new start term and apply promptly.