You can apply for a leave of absence from a study programme for important welfare-related reasons.
Most people can also take up to two semesters off from a bachelor's programme, or from the first three years of a professional or integrated master's programme.
What is the difference between taking a leave of absence and taking a break from your studies?
Many students have the right to take a break from their studies if they want to.
A leave of absence from your studies is something you can apply for if you have documented reasons why you cannot attend your studies as usual. Examples of reasons for a leave of absence can be:
- Disease
- Birth
- Military service
- Professional sports
- Positions in student politics
Take a break from studying
If you want to take a break from your studies, without it being related to illness, work or other obligations, you may be able to do this. During a break, it is not possible to take exams or be registered as a student for a semester.
Who can take a break from studying?
You can usually take a break from your studies if you are a
- Bachelor's student. Students at the Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Science and Technology and Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design must see faculty-specific rules further down the page.
- Second or third year student in an integrated master's programme . Students at the Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design and Faculty of Law must see faculty-specific rules further down the page.
- Student in a professional study programme, after the first year of study has been passed. Students at the Faculty of Psychology must see faculty-specific rules further down the page.
You cannot take a break from your studies if you are a
- Student on a one-year programme
- Student on most two-year master's programmes
- Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) student
- Visiting student from another institution
- Exchange student from a foreign university
- Candidate taking an unique or specially designed exam
- Student at faculty where they have subject-specific rules
Faculty-specific rules for breaks
Faculty of Medicine
If you are a student at the Faculty of Medicine, you must have passed your first year of study before you can apply for a break. If you are studying Pharmacy, you can apply for a break at any time after your first year of study.
If you take a break from your studies, you are not guaranteed a place in the class below when the break is over. Most often there will be space, but if there is not, the break must be extended. You will not lose your study place. This applies especially to those studying Medicine, Pharmacy, Nutrition, Dentistry or Dental care.
The Faculty of Psychology
If you are a professional student, you can only apply for a break of up to two semesters before you start your preclinical placement, and up to two semesters after completing pre-clinical placement.
Faculty of Science and Technology
If you are a student at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, you must have passed the first semester before you can apply for a break, unless your study plan states otherwise.
Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design
If you are studying at the Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design, you can only apply for a break if you are a student on the Bachelor's programme in Musicology. For other students, programme-specific rules for leave apply.
Faculty of Law
Students enrolled in a master's programme in Law at the Faculty of Law can take a break from their studies after having passed at least 40 credits.
When the break or leave of absence period is over, you must contact the person responsible for the academic year you are about to start. You will find more information about this in the resolution you receive.
It is entirely possible to apply for a break from your studies for both the spring and fall semesters, but please note that your educational plan may be a bit different, as the study is based on starting in the fall.
If you have applied for a break for a whole year, but want to start your studies again after a one-semester break, you can cancel the break.
Leave of absence from studies
You can apply for leave of absence from a study programme for important welfare-related reasons.
Who can apply for a leave of absence?
You can get a leave of absence from your studies if you are a:
- Student on a year-long course
- Bachelor's student
- Master's student
- Professional student
- Integrated master's degree student
You cannot be granted leave of absence from your studies if you are a:
- Visiting student from another institution
- Exchange student from a foreign university
- Candidate for unique or specially accommodated examination
- New student on the basis of paid or unpaid work at the start of the study
- Single subject student
When can I apply for a leave of absence?
There are no set deadlines for when you can apply for a leave of absence, but it is a good idea to do so as soon as possible. It is best to apply by:
- 1 September for leave in the fall semester.
- 1 February for leave in the spring semester.
You can apply for a leave of absence whenever you need it, regardless of which academic year you are in.
Study rights and payment of semester fees during leave of absence
If you are on leave, you do not need to pay a semester fee or register for a semester. If you wish to use the welfare services Sammen, offers such as kindergarten, housing or training, you can still choose to register for a semester and pay a semester fee. Semester registration in this context means that you click through the steps in Studentweb, but without registering for courses.
If you register for courses, you must pay a semester fee in order to take the exam. It is very important to remember to withdraw from your exams if you are not going to study that semester.