Leave of absence

You must apply for a leave of absence. To do so, log in online to the SPUR student portal (external link, opens in a new window). Then go to the menu items “Service” → “Applications” → “Leave of Absence”.

You must provide reasons and evidence for your leave of absence request. The reason for the leave of absence must cover at least half of the lecture period.

If you have selected the reason for the leave of absence in SPUR, please note the information on the required evidence at the top of the page. You can upload the evidence directly in SPUR as a PDF file.

Please apply for your leave of absence during the re-registration process (details can be found on the German website about “Rückmeldung (external link, opens in a new window)”).

Applications made at a later date can only be dealt with when the reason for the leave of absence was not foreseeable. In this case, you can submit your application no later than December 15th (for the current winter semester) or June 15th (for the current summer semester).

If you are applying for a semester of leave of absence due to an internship, please submit your application before starting the internship.

It is not possible to declare a leave of absence for a semester that has already passed.

Leave of absence in the first semester is only possible if the reason for the leave of absence occurred after enrollment and was not foreseeable before enrollment.

A leave of absence is generally only possible for a maximum of two semesters. Exceptions are only possible for maternity, childcare and care of other close family members).

A request for withdrawal of a leave of absence can only be made until the end of the lecture period of the semester for which the leave of absence was granted. Please send your completed and signed application for withdrawal of a leave of absence as a scan by email to studierendenkanzlei​(at)​ur.de (opens your email program) with the subject line "Rücknahme Beurlaubung, Last Name, First Name, Student ID Number."

During your leave of absence, you cannot complete any coursework or examinations on first attempt. Completing a thesis also counts as an examination. Retaking failed examinations is possible. Leave of absence generally does not interrupt retake deadlines, unless the relevant examination regulations provide otherwise.

Should the deadlines for retaking examinations be unchanged, and you will not, with good reason, be able to take the retake in time, then you will need to make an application for an extension to the examination deadline in good time. The leave of absence does not release you from withdrawing from individual examinations.

Mothers and fathers are entitled to parental leave until their child reaches the age of three. A portion of up to 24 months of the maximum three-year parental leave can also be transferred to the period up to the child's eighth birthday.

Students can claim parental leave to care for:

• a child for whom they have custody;
• a child of an unmarried father who does not have custody, with the consent of the mother with custody.

A right to parental leave exists if the child lives in the same household as the applicant and is primarily cared for and raised by the applicant.

Parental leave can also be taken by both parents simultaneously. However, parental leave is limited to a total of three years for each child.