Leave of absence

Office desk with a keyboard, pen, decorations and a computer screen with a post-it showing the word „Beurlaubung“ (leave of absence).
Source: OTH Regensburg

According to Art. 93 para. 2 and 3 BayHIG, it is possible to take leave of absence from studies if there is an important reason. Important reasons within the meaning of this provision are in particular:

Reasons for leave of absence with supporting documents:

  • Maternal passport and, after the birth, the birth certificate, official confirmation that the child lives in the applicant´s household. A leave of absence of up to 6 semesters is possible when on parental leave.

    Confirmation from the health or long-term care insurance company that you are registered as a caregiver and proof of family relationship. Close relatives are: parents, grandparents, parents-in-law, stepparents, spouses, life partners, partners in a marriage-like or life-partner-like community, siblings, spouses of siblings and brothers and sisters of spouses, life partners of siblings and brothers and sisters of life partners, children, adopted or foster children, adopted or foster children of the spouse or life partner, children-in-law and grandchildren. Care does not mean bringing up a child, but the care of a close relative requiring a higher level of care. Caregivers may take a leave of absence of up to 4 semesters as defined in § 4 Section 1 of the Nursing Care Act (PflegZG).


  • Medical certificate or (depending on the type of illness) specialized medical certificate confirming the expected duration of the condition. If an application for leave of absence is also to be submitted for the following semester, a medical testimonial is necessary.

    Criteria applied to the current medical certificate in the event of leave due to illness:

    • confirmation that the medical certificate is based on a medical examination of the student completed by the undersigned physician personally,
    • the date of the medical examination,
    • a description of the current illness-related physical, mental and/or emotional issues from a medical point of view. The description must be sufficiently precise and comprehensible so that the university is able to conclude why a semester's leave of absence should be granted, and
    • the onset and probable duration of the illness with details of the summer or winter semester in which the inability to study is confirmed.

  • If you are interested in completing a voluntary internship, you should try to fit it in during a semester break. If that is not possible, you can apply for a leave of absence. To qualify for a leave of absence, the internship should take place during the semester and cover at least half of the lecture period. The internship must also be relevant to your programme. The Admissions Office may consult with your faculty to determine whether this is the case.

    Required supporting documents: internship contract, task description


  • Notification of admission or confirmation of a study place from the foreign university or certificate of enrolment from the foreign university in the original, contract with the foreign internship office/company


  • Contract with the administrative authority


  • A strict case-by-case assessement is required. Depending on the facts of the case, the reason for the leave of absence must be substantiated by the submission of appropriate and/or written statements. The university decides on the suitability of the documents.


The application for leave of absence and the required attachments should be submitted via e-mail to the Admissions and Organisation Office.

Application deadlines:

The leave of absence is granted for an entire semester. Applications must be submitted before

  • 15 April for a summer semester.
  • 31 October for a winter semester.

If the important reason for the leave of absence occurs after the expiry of the deadline and the occurrence was not foreseeable, an application may be submitted no later than

  • 15 May for a summer semester.
  • 30 November for a winter semester.

Applications will be not be accepted after these deadlines.

Important information on leave of absence:

  1. A leave of absence (except parental leave) can generally be granted for up to two semesters of study.
  2. The period of leave of absence is not included in the total number of semesters studied.
  3. A leave of absence can not be granted retroactively for a completed semester.
  4. A leave of absence can generally not be granted for the first semester of study.
  5. A verbal agreement with the dean cannot replace the obligation to submit a substantiated application for leave of absence.
  6. The obligation to re-register in accordance with the regulations remains in force, even during a semester of leave.
  7. During the leave of absence you are generally not entitled to receive BAföG (German student loan).
  8. During the leave of absence
  • you are entitled to vote for university representatives
  • you can validate your OTH Regensburg card in early March / early September
  • you remain a member (student) of the OTH Regensburg
  • you are not permitted to take first-time examinations (exception: parental leave)
  • you are obliged to take repeat examinations. The repeat exam deadlines are not interrupted by the leave of absence and the exams must therefore be taken. In individual cases, an extension can be granted on request in the Examinations and Internships Office. In this case, too, it is necessary toregister for the examination in due form and time. Students who enrolled starting from the winter semester 2023/24 and who are on leave of absence due to chronic illness, maternity leave, parental leave or family care, illness or other reasons for which they are not responsible, do not have to submit a request for extension. The deadline for completing the repeat exam will be extended ex officio by the duration of the leave of absence.