Academic leave

An academic leave can only be taken for good reasons such as

• a voluntary internship,
• study abroad,
• military or alternative service,
• sickness,
• pregnancy or caring for a child,
• special family and other reasons or
• participating in the student government

Please apply in writing. During your leave of absence, you will retain all your rights as a member of the university. You are usually not entitled to sit exams, though. Leaves of absence do not count as study time.

An academic leave is valid for an entire semester and must be applied for by

• 1 December for the current winter semester and
• 1 June for the current summer semester.

You may apply for leave of up to 4 semesters and you may be absent for no more than two semesters in a row. In the cases of sickness and childcare, exceptions may be made. An academic leave will not be granted retroactively for past semesters, or for the first term of a basic course of study.

Master's programme: For the first semester of study, an academic leave can only be granted during a study programme-related stay abroad.

Matriculation Office Contact Persons