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Leave of Absence / Semester on Leave

If you are unable to attend courses at TU Darmstadt for study-related reasons (e.g. a stay abroad, an internship) or for appropriate personal reasons during a specific semester, you have the option of applying for a leave of absence (see “Reasons for Taking a Leave of Absence” below).

The application is submitted directly via your TUCaN account under Service > Applications. You can also track the status of your applications there.

You can apply for a leave of absence for the current semester and/or the following semester.

The deadline for submitting the application is the last day of the semester affected by the leave of absence:

  • 30 September for a leave of absence in the summer semester
  • 31 March for a leave of absence in the winter semester

We recommend submitting the application early, preferably by the end of February or the end of August for the following semester. This ensures that you receive your student documents, including the relevant information on the leave of absence, in good time before the start of the leave semester.

A leave of absence cannot be granted retroactively for a semester that has already been completed, and applications must be rejected regardless of the reason.

With the application for a leave of absence, you submit a binding declaration of intent which cannot be withdrawn.

The full semester fee is due even during a leave semester and must be paid into TU Darmstadt’s account within the re-registration period. It is possible to request a refund of the portion of the fee related to the Deutschlandsemester ticket; the responsible office for this is the AStA (Transport Department).

Please make sure to carefully read the notes below regarding the reasons for taking a leave of absence and the consequences. Also take into account the possibility of part-time study, which is offered in certain degree programmes.

BAföG entitlement during a leave of absence

In certain cases, a leave of absence can affect your BAföG entitlement or your student loan. For example, repayments may be due if you submit your application for leave of absence late in the semester. For more information, please visit the website of the Bundesministeriums für Bildung und Forschung (opens in new tab).

The following reasons may justify a leave of absence. Please note the required documentation and the maximum duration of the leave of absence for each reason as specified in the application itself (in accordance with §18 of the TU Darmstadt Enrollment Regulations).
Reason for Leave of Absence Proof Maximum Duration
Illness that prevents proper academic study Medical certificate indicating the expected duration of the illness 6 Semesters
Care for dependent relatives Medical certificate confirming the care dependency of the person to be cared for and the expected duration of care. The certificate must also indicate that you have taken on the care responsibilities. 6 Semesters
Maternity Leave/Parental Leave (Erziehungszeiten)
  • Scan of maternity passport showing at least your name and the (expected) date of birth of the child or
  • Child's birth certificate
 6 Semesters per child
Internship in Germany Internship contract or confirmation from employer 2 Semesters
Stay abroad Letter of Acceptance in English from the partner university 2 Semesters
Internship abroad Internship Contract (English) or confirmation from employer 2 Semesters
Interruption of Studies for the purpose of Financing (incl. Start-Ups) Employment contract or a confirmation from your employer 2 Semesters
Appointed or Elected Representative in the Academic or
Student Self Administration 		Certificate from the elective office or chairperson of the respective body about your membership, the period of time, as well as note about the significant time commitment 6 Semesters
Sports Participation on the Federal Level Certificate of the corresponding association 2 Semesters
Conscription Military Service Conscription notice (English) 2 Semesters
Voluntary Service Employment contract or a confirmation from your employer 2 Semesters
  • A leave of absence generally excludes the completion of coursework and examinations.
    Exceptions:
    • Maternity/parental leave in accordance with Section 15 of the German federal law on family allowance and parental leave
    • Care of relatives who are dependent on care according to a medical certificate
    • Working as a nominated/elected representative on the academic administration or Student Government
    • Study abroad / Internship abroad
    • Internship in Germany
    • Membership in a federally organized cadre
    • Retake of a failed examination
  • Ongoing examination deadlines are not affected or extended by taking a semester on leave. If you have any questions about this, please contact the relevant Office for Student Affairs.
  • You can participate in the university's self-administration but your active right to vote is suspended.
  • A leave of absence in the first subject-related semester of a Bachelor's or state examination programme is possible for the following reasons by way of exception:
    • Sickness
    • Maternity / parental leave
    • Caring for a relative who requires care according to a medical certificate
    • Internship required
  • It is not possible to take a leave of absence retroactively for a finished semester.
  • Semesters on leave do not count as subject-related semesters.

The number of subject-related semesters or semesters on leave may have an effect on:

  • BAföG funding (student loans and grants under the German federal training assistance act)
  • Family allowance
  • Duration of student health insurance
  • Scholarships/funding programmes

More detailed information is available from the relevant bodies: student loan/grants office, family allowance fund, health insurance provider, scholarship foundation / funding provider