There are times when it is simply not possible to pursue your studies as planned. If you are in a situation like this, you can take a leave of absence from your studies.
Reasons and application
Whether you are pregnant or need to take care of a child or relative, or whether you need to take time to get healthy again – there are conditions that make it difficult or even impossible to focus on your studies and pursue them with your usual dedication. We understand. The following conditions are accepted as reasons for a leave of absence:
- an illness you or a relative suffer from
- you are pregnant, on maternal leave or taking care of your child – in accordance with labour law
- conscription or voluntary service under German Basic Law: military service, alternative services
If you want to take a leave of absence in the upcoming semester for important reasons, please hand in an application for a leave of absence before the deadline for re-registration but no later than three weeks after the start of the teaching period. Exceptions from this deadline can only be made if there are unforeseeable reasons occurring in the course of the semester.
Please hand in the completed application to the team at Student Administration.
Rules: duration, assessment, BAföG
A leave of absence can be granted for one semester at a time. So, if you need your leave of absence to be longer than one semester, remember to file a new application in due time. Altogether, a leave of absence should not last longer than two semesters.
Please note that no coursework or assessment may be completed during a leave of absence; this includes the obligatory internship. However, exceptions can be made for completing coursework or assessment during a leave of absence due to maternity or parental leave or for re-take exams if an assessment was graded as FAIL.
Make sure you prepare your leave of absence well and think of all the consequences it entails – such as BAföG funding not being granted. Get all the information you need and talk to our Student Administration team for example.
Good to know
- You remain enrolled as a student during your leave of absence. That means you will have to pay the semester fee. You can apply to have that part of the fee reimbursed that is allocated for the semester ticket. Please contact the AStA (General Students Committee) to do so.
- A semester for which you take a leave of absence will not count towards your subject-related semesters, it will only increase the number of overall semesters spent at university.
- If you receive BAföG funding we highly recommend you talk to your contact at the BAföG office before you apply for a leave of absence. A leave of absence could lead to your BaföG funding being reduced or cut completely.