Leave of Absence
Reasons for Leave of Absence
- Illness or pregnancy upon presentation of a medical certificate stating that proper study is not possible due to illness or pregnancy.
- taking up a practical activity not provided for in the curriculum (practical training or practical semester) which serves the purpose of the degree course
- taking up studies at a foreign higher education institution or a language school, unless this is provided for in the respective Examination Regulations
- absence from the university location in the interest of the university/ cooperation in a research project
- performance of voluntary military service or federal voluntary service/voluntary social year
- care and upbringing of children within the meaning of §25 paragraph 5 of the Federal Training Assistance Act (Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz)
- care of the spouse, the registered partner or a relative in the direct line or first degree of kinship, if the latter is in need of care
- maternity leave
- the assertion of other important circumstances, e.g. the establishment of a company (§48 ABsatz 5 Satz 2 HG)
Application for Leave of Absence
The deadline for leave of absence is the same as for re-registration. Applications received late will be rejected, even if the reasons for the leave of absence only occur after this deadline.
A sudden and unforeseen illness is exempt from this deadline.
You can apply for the leave of absence online via the FH Aachen portal (My Studies > Applications > Leave of Absence).
If the leave of absence is approved, you can check this in the FH Aachen-Portal.
After your application for leave of absence has been approved, you can download your registration certificate with the remark Beurlaubt in the FH Aachen-Portal (Mein Studium > Studienservice > Bescheide/Bescheinigungen).
You can find further helpful information on leave of absence due to maternity/pregnancy on the pages of the Family Office.
Contribution Obligation and Semester Ticket during Leave of Absence
You are exempt from the obligation to pay contributions if you are on leave of absence for the following reasons:
- Study abroad
- Illness
- maternity leave/pregnancy
- Voluntary military service
- Federal voluntary service/voluntary social year
- Care and upbringing of children, care of spouse, registered partner or partner in life or of a relative in a direct line (parents, grandparents and children)
- imprisonment/prisonment pending trial
This only applies to applications submitted before the start of the lecture period.
If you are exempt from paying semester fees as a student on leave of absence, you will not receive a semester ticket. If you would still like to obtain and use the semester ticket, please contact the AStA of the FH Aachen.
In case of leave of absence for other reasons or voluntary practical semesters, the semester fee must be paid.
Participation in Examinations during Leave of Absence
As a student on leave of absence, you are not entitled to complete study and examination achievements, to acquire participation requirements or credit points or to take examinations.
Exceptions are:
- It concerns a repetition of failed examinations or the acquisition of credit points and participation requirements that are the consequence of a semester abroad or practical semester for which leave of absence has been granted.
- It is a leave of absence due to the care and upbringing of children within the meaning of §25 Paragraph 5 of the Federal Education and Training Assistance Act (Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz) or due to the care of a spouse, a registered partner or a relative in a direct line or a relative in the first degree.
