Section 1. Full-time students, enrolled in a bachelor programme, profession bachelor programme or a master programme and students enrolled on the four-year master programme may be granted leave in accordance with the present rules.

(2) Other students cannot be granted leave from university programmes.

Section 2. Study Service may provide guidelines for these rules.

Section 3. Applications for leave must be digital and submitted in a special application form, stating the leave period applied for. Study Service must receive the application no later than on the day of the desired first day of leave.

(2) In case of unusual circumstances, Study Service may grant exemptions from subsection 1.

Section 4. However, cf. subsections 2 and 3, students will be granted unsubstantiated leave for a maximum of 12 months of a bachelor programme or profession bachelor programme and for a maximum of 12 months of a master programme (including the four-year master programme); however, students who have passed all exams except the exams which, in accordance with the given curriculum, are placed in the last semester of a master programme cannot be granted unsubstantiated leave. The 12 months of leave can be divided between a maximum of three leave periods, cf. however subsection 4.

(2) However, cf. subsection 5, leave cannot be granted until the student has completed his or her first year of study on a bachelor programme or profession bachelor programme or the first six months of study on a master programme (including the four-year master programme) and has passed the exams which, in accordance with the given curriculum, are placed in the first year or first six months of study, respectively.

(3) However, cf. subsection 5, leave cannot be granted in the following situations:

If the university has given notice that the programme the student is enrolled in is to be closed down.
If the university has given notice that the programme the student is enrolled in is to change its language of instruction unless the student fulfils the new language requirement before the commencement of the period of leave.
If the university has given notice that the programme the student is enrolled in will be put on standby.

(4) Leave is granted for no less than two months, though leave cannot be granted for July and August alone.

(5) Independently of subsections 1, 2, 3 and 4, students will be granted leave on the grounds of illness, caretaking of close relatives who are disabled, critically ill or dying, maternity/paternity, adoption, military service, service connected to international military operations and conscientious objector service.

(6) Independently of subsections 1 and 2, students on master programmes will be granted leave for a maximum of 12 months to do research at a Danish og foreign university (research leave). Research leave requires the prior approval of the study board. The study board will decide whether the planned research has a sufficient academic level. Research leave cannot be granted after the student’s commencement of the last semester of the master programme.

(7) A student who is an elite athlete, cf. Nordjysk Elitesport’s definiton, can extend the 12 months of unsubstantiated leave, cf. subsection 1, by another 12 months, provided that the student spends the entire period practicing elite sports, cf. however subsection 3.

(8) In case of unusual circumstances, Study Service may grant exemptions from subsections 1 and 2.

Section 5. The granted period of leave is recorded in the student’s study record.

Section 6. Periods of leave are not included in the setting of time-limits in programmes. 

Section 7. Students on leave are not unconditionally entitled to continue their studies in accordance with the curriculum in force when the period of leave was commenced. 

Section 8. During the period of leave students cannot participate in classes in their study programmes and during the period of leave students cannot participate in exams and tests that are a part of their study programmes.

Section 9. The Danish Agency for Science and Higher Education may grant students exemptions from section 8 if grounded in unusual circumstances.

Section 10. After ended period of leave students can participate in exams and tests that are a part of their study programmes during the semester they have been on leave. 

Section 11. During the period of leave students cannot vote for, accept election for or be a member of the Board of Directors, Academic Councils, PhD Committees, Department Committees and Board of Studies at Aalborg University cf. ”Rules regarding elections for the Board of Directors , Academic Councils, PhD Committees, Department Committees and Board of Studies at Aalborg University”.

(2) However, students may apply for permission to accept election for the Board of Directors, Academic Councils, PhD Committees, Department Committees and Board of Studies at Aalborg University in case their leave period has come to an end by the time the term of office begins cf. ”Rules regarding elections for the Board of Directors , Academic Councils, PhD Committees, Department Committees and Board of Studies at Aalborg University”. 

Section 12. A leave period can be terminated before the granted leave period ends, cf. however section 4(4).

Section 13. Discontinuation of leave can only be brought into effect after submission of a written application to Study Service no later than on the day the student wishes to end the leave period.

(2) In case of unusual circumstances, Study Service may grant exemptions from subsection 1.

Section 14. Decisions referring to the present rules taken by Study Service may be presented to Rector no later than two weeks from the day the complainant has been informed of the decision in question. Complaints are submitted to Study Service who forwards the complaints to Rector. 

Section 15. Students may within two weeks of the day they are informed of Rector’s decision present Rector’s decision to the Danish Agency for Higher Education if the complaint concerns legal issues. The complaint is submitted to Study Service who gives a statement which the complainant may comment on within a deadline of no less than one week. Study Service forwards the complaint to the Danish Agency for Science and Higher Education, enclosing its statement and any comments on the part of the complainant.

Section 16. These rules shall enter into force on 23rd of January 2024.

Section 17. The rules "Leave for students at Aalborg University of 10th of May 2020” are hereby repealed.

Latest revision by Study Service 16th of January 2024.

Authorised by the Acting Deputy Director: Maj Rosenstand

Aalborg University the 23rd of January 2024.

Rules regarding leave for full-time students and students on the four-year master programme enrolled in a bachelor programme, profession bachelor programme or a master programme at Aalborg University.

The purpose of these rules is to ensure consistent use and to provide comprehensible rules that help avoid doubt issues and facilitate the study administration work in connection with the registration of leave.

As stated in Rules regarding leave for students at Aalborg University these rules are issued pursuant to Ministerial Orders on admission to programmes at Universities.

* Rules regarding leave for students at Aalborg University have been translated from Danish. In case of discrepancies, the Danish version prevails.