Leave of absence
If there are important, verifiable reasons, students of Osnabrück University can be granted leave of absence upon written application (PDF, 230 kB) until the end of the re-registration period, in exceptional cases even within two months after the start of the semester.
Application for leave of absence
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Application for leave of absence - can be filled out online (PDF, 169 kB)
Important reasons are in particular
- Completion of compulsory service, voluntary military service or recognized federal or youth voluntary service,
- own illness or care of a close relative,
- a period of study abroad which is necessary or beneficial for the studies, has a minimum duration of three months and affects the lecture period of Osnabrück University,
- activities as an elected representative in the academic or student self-administration,
- pregnancy, maternity leave or caring for a child during periods in which an employee would be entitled to parental leave,
- the completion of an internship that is necessary or beneficial for the course of study and takes up at least half of the semester
A leave of absence is not permitted for
- the first semester, with the exception of a study abroad program in a consecutive Master's degree program, if the written consent of the responsible department has been obtained
- for previous semesters
Leave of absence is only permitted for full semesters and, as a rule, only for a maximum of two consecutive semesters. Students may not be granted a leave of absence for more than four semesters during the course of their studies.
For leave of absence due to pregnancy, maternity leave and parental leave, please refer to the information below.
During the leave of absence, students keep their rights as a member; however, they are not entitled to attend courses, complete coursework and examinations or make use of the university's support services during this time.
Please note: Students who are on leave of absence due to a period of study abroad (§ 11 section 5 No. 2 of the Admissions Regulations) are entitled to take examinations during the period of leave of absence.
Semesters on leave of absence count as university semesters, but not as subject semesters. The number of semesters is not affected by this. A separate application for "non-use of study credit" is therefore not required.
Students on leave of absence are exempt from paying the administration fee. If you use the facilities of the Studentenwerk (cafeterias) or the services of the student association (semester ticket), you must transfer a reduced semester fee for the respective semester (semester fee minus €75 administration fee). You also have the option of being exempted from the entire semester fee if you do not wish to make use of the aforementioned services during your leave of absence.
Since 1 August 2018, the Maternity Protection Act (MuSchG) has also been applicable to pregnant and breastfeeding students (§ 1 section 2 no. 8 MuSchG). This means that expectant mothers are also entitled to maternity protection during their studies.
Leave of absence from studies due to maternity or parental leave is governed by the relevant provisions of the Maternity Protection Act (MuSchG) and the Federal Parental Allowance and Parental Leave Act (BEEG), as amended.
What do you need to be aware of, what do you need to know?
- You must properly re-register for each semester during pregnancy, maternity leave or parental leave;
- the semesters on leave are counted as university semesters, not as subject semesters;
- Your number of semester is not affected during a leave of absence;
- you do not need to submit a separate application for non-use of your number of semester;
- the Application for leave of absence (PDF, 230 kB) must be submitted repeatedly for each semester with the relevant proof (see application);
- a limitation of the leave of absence to only two consecutive semesters and no more than four semesters in total does not apply in the case of pregnancy and parental leave;
- a leave of absence due to parental leave can also be taken in the first semester, unlike a leave of absence for other reasons.
Leave of absence from studies due to parental leave is also governed by the relevant provisions of the Federal Parental Allowance and Parental Leave Act (BEEG) as amended.
This means that parents can apply for leave of absence, even at the same time, up to a maximum of the child's third birthday (max. six semesters). If there are several children, the entitlement applies to each child, even if the periods overlap. 24 months (i.e. four semesters) can be postponed until the child is eight years old.
Special regulation: In the case of an adopted child and a child in adoptive care, parental leave can be taken for a total of three years from the time the child is taken into care, at the longest until the child is seven years old.
Students can apply for parental leave if they live in a household with their child (a child for which they meet the eligibility requirements or a child that they have taken into full-time care) and take care and raise this child by themselves. In the case of foreign students, the parents' home law is decisive for the legal relationship between parents and child (please enclose proof of personal custody in German).