Leaves of Absence
Source: https://www.uni-bonn.de/en/studying/consultation-and-service/student-registry/leaves-of-absence Parent: https://www.uni-bonn.de/en/studying/consultation-and-service/student-registry/student-registry
Leave of Absence
Taking a semester on leave means you are officially interrupting your studies. You will need a good reason to request a semester on leave, which you do online from the BASIS-Portal.
Reasons for a leave of absence
Other experience abroad that is beneficial to your studies
You can request a leave of absence for:
- Enrollment at a university abroad
- Enrollment at a language school abroad
- Other experience abroad that is beneficial to your studies
The following documentary proof is required:
- Certification by your department confirming that you will continue your studies and that your time abroad is beneficial to your studies1 or
- Scholarship award letter for your stay abroad
Federal Voluntary Service
You can request a leave of absence in order to do Federal Voluntary Service in one of the following areas:
- Social work
- Culture or sports
- Environment
- Integration activities
The following documentary proof is required:
- Certificate of service or
- Service contract
Illness
You can request a leave of absence if:
- You are unable to attend courses and complete the necessary coursework due to illness
The following documentary proof is required:
- A medical certificate recommending a leave of absence
Practical activity beneficial to your studies
You can request a leave of absence for:
- Internship that supports your academic goals
- Internship that is required for your degree according to the study regulations
The following documentary proof is required:
- Copy of your internship contract and certification by your department confirming that the internship is beneficial to your studies1 or
- Confirmation from the Internship Office (only for students in Agricultural Sciences)
Caring for children under 18
You can request a leave of absence for:
- Childcare that prevents you from completing the necessary coursework
The following documentary proof is required:
- Birth certificate
Pregnancy
The following documentary proof is required:
-
Extract from your maternity records that shows the expected date of your child’s birth or
-
Medical certificate
Looking after family members requiring care
You can request a leave of absence for:
- Looking after your spouse, your civil partner, a relative in direct line or a first-degree in-law if they are in need of care
The following documentary proof is required:
-
Written justification and nursing care classification letter for the family member to be looked after or
-
Medical certificate
Other important reason
A leave of absence can also be requested for various other important reasons, e.g. if:
- You are a top-level athlete and need to take a semester on leave für athletic reasons, especially for preparing for important championships
- You are a member of a University body or the chairperson, deputy chairperson or treasurer of a departmental student body
- You are waiting for the results of your final examination, provided that all other examinations were completed in the previous semester
- Your studies have progressed in an orderly manner, you are predicted to finish your degree successfully but you have encountered financial hardship
You will need to provide the following documentary proof in accordance with the reason for your leave of absence, e.g.:
- Current squad certificate and official exercise and competition schedule issued by the responsible federal sports association
- Confirmation from the University or departmental student body and/or evidence from its inaugural meeting
- Confirmation from the examination authority1
- Confirmation from your University professor1 and evidence of private bankruptcy or other comparable economic hardship
Important Information
Deadlines for requesting leaves of absence
A leave of absence must be requested by the relevant re-registration deadline:
- February 28/29 for a summer semester
- August 31 for a winter semester
Exceptions can be made if the reason justifying the leave of absence does not come about until a later date. A retroactive leave of absence must be requested by May 15 at the latest for a summer semester and November 15 at the latest for a winter semester. The same deadlines apply if you want to change your reason for requesting a leave of absence. You will still need to have re-registered by the re-registration deadline.
Maximum number of semesters on leave
Leaves of absence are generally for one semester. However, you can request up to three semesters on leave at the same time if you already have the requisite documentary proof to hand.
The maximum total amount of leave that can be granted is 10 semesters, which also includes any already taken at other German higher-education institutions. If you are ill, additional semesters on leave are possible as an exception with a letter of approval from the University of Bonn Disability Representative2.
Taking a leave of absence in your first program-related semester
Taking a leave of absence in the first semester of a degree program is not permitted as a basic principle in accordance with § 15, para. 6 of the Enrollment Regulations.
By way of an exception, master’s students can take a leave of absence in their first program-related semester if they intend to request one in order to care for and bring up children within the meaning of § 25, para. 5 of the Federal Training Assistance Act (Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz, BAföG) or to look after their spouse, their civil partner, a relative in direct line, a second-degree relative in a collateral line or a first-degree in-law. This is because they are still permitted to study and sit examinations if they are taking a leave of absence for this reason.
Costs during a semester on leave
You will only have to pay a reduced semester fee3 if you are on leave because:
- You are spending time abroad on a program beneficial to your studies
- You are performing Federal Voluntary Service
- Your illness will prevent you from completing your studies in the allotted time\
You will need to pay the full semester fee3 if you are taking a leave of absence for another reason
Using the Deutschlandsemesterticket
You will receive the Deutschlandsemesterticket if you are taking a leave of absence for a reason that requires you to pay the full semester fee.
If you are doing so because you are going abroad, doing Federal Voluntary Service or suffering from an illness, you will only owe a reduced semester fee and will not be able to use the Deutschlandsemesterticket. If you would like to make use of the Deutschlandsemesterticket, you could potentially pick a different reason for requesting a leave of absence but would need to pay the full semester fee in this case.
Please select “Other important reason” when making your request and upload the documentary proof for the actual reason for your leave of absence.
How a leave of absence affects your studies
- Semesters on leave are considered “passive semesters” that do not count toward the number of program-related semesters.
-
Students on leave are not entitled to complete coursework, enter for or sit examinations, obtain course assessments or participation requirements within the meaning of § 64, para. 2, no. 2 of the Higher Education Act of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (Hochschulgesetz NRW, HG NRW). This does not apply to:
-
Repeating failed exams, course assessments or attendance requirements that result from a stay abroad or practical semester for which the leave was granted in the first place
- Leaves of absence granted to care for and bring up children within the meaning of § 25, para. 5 BAföG or to look after a spouse, civil partner, relative in direct line or first-degree in-law
- If your leave of absence lasts longer than six months, your membership rights and obligations within the University’s self-administration will be suspended during this time, meaning that you will not be allowed to vote or stand for election at the University of Bonn.
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Study Service
If you would like to request a leave of absence, log into the BASIS-Portal using your Uni-ID and do so online.
Contact
Team Studierendenservice
studsek@verwaltung.uni-bonn.de
Links
- https://www.uni-bonn.de/de/studium/medien-studium/medien-beratung-und-service/medien-studierendensekretariat/medien-formulare/bescheinigung-zur-beurlaubung_en-1.pdf
- https://www.uni-bonn.de/en/studying/consultation-and-service/inclusive-studying/inclusive-studying?set_language=en
- https://www.uni-bonn.de/en/studying/application-admission-and-enrollment/costs?set_language=en
- https://application.uni-bonn.de/