Leave of Absence and Part-time Study
A leave of absence or part-time study options allow you to customise your studies in accordance to your personal responsibilities.
On this website you find information on regulations, deadlines and reasons for applying.
Before submitting an application please ensure that you meet all requirements.
Leave of Absence
A leave of absence is possible for a maximum of 6 semesters (exception: illness).
Semesters on leave are counted as university semesters but are not counted as academic semesters (for the standard period of study).
A leave of absence is not possible during the first academic semester
(exception: illness, maternity leave/parental leave, membership of a sports team).
How do I apply for a leave of absence?
- Pay your semester fees in full and on time (re-enrolment).
- Submit your application for a leave of absence via the FranCa portal.
State the reason for your leave of absence and upload all necessary supporting documents.
Without appropriate supporting documents, your application for a leave of absence will have to be rejected.
You must submit your application latest by these dates:
Winter Semester: 31st October
Summer Semester: 30th April
Important: These deadlines also apply to subsequent applications!
A leave of absence for a semester that has already ended is not possible.
Reasons and supporting documents for a semester’s leave of absence
Supporting documents required: A doctor’s certificate stating the expected duration of the illness
You may not attend lectures or sit any examinations during your leave of absence.
Exception: You may sit resit examinations.
Please note: If you fall ill during the semester, you may also submit your application for a leave of absence during the semester. Remember to withdraw from your examinations.
Supporting documents required: A medical certificate confirming the pregnancy, or a maternity record, or the child’s birth certificate, or a certificate of adoption
You are entitled to take 6 semesters of parental leave per child. You must take your parental leave before the child’s 8th birthday.
You can find comprehensive information on maternity leave and parental leave on the Family Office’s website.
You are permitted to attend courses and sit examinations whilst on leave.
Please note: Periods of leave taken for maternity and parental leave are not counted towards the maximum number of semesters of leave permitted (6 semesters).
Supporting documents required: Proof of the reason and duration of the stay abroad
You may not attend courses or sit examinations during your leave of absence.
Important: If you are on leave of absence, it is not possible to recognise credits from abroad.
If you intend to sit exams for your degree programme at FRA UAS whilst abroad, you should therefore not apply for a leave of absence.
A leave of absence is only possible if you are a member of a national squad (A, B, C or D/C squad) formed at federal level by a top-level sports federation within the German Olympic Sports Confederation.
Supporting documents required: Certificate from the national sports federation
You are permitted to attend lectures and sit examinations during your leave of absence.
Unsubstantiated applications
Unfortunately, a leave of absence cannot be granted in the following cases:
- Financial difficulties (please note that you must still pay the semester fee even during a leave of absence)
- Difficult personal circumstances (without an official medical certificate)
- Travelling home (homesickness, visiting family)
- Compulsory work placement as part of your degree programm
- Exams, e.g. driving test, language courses
- Weddings and family celebrations
- Visa matters (please note the information on late entry)
Part-time study
Part-time study is only possible within the standard period of study. Part-time semesters are counted as full university semesters, but as half academic semesters (for the purpose of the standard period of study). There is no entitlement to specific teaching materials or study periods.
Part-time study is generally not possible
- if you are enrolled in a subject semester with restricted admission.
- if you are enrolled in a further education Master’s degree programme.
- if you are enrolled in several degree programmes simultaneously (double degree).
- if you have extended twice the standard period of study for your degree programme.
During a part-time semester, you must not earn more than 50% of the ECTS allocated for full-time study (usually 15 ECTS). If you earn more ECTS, the university may withdraw your permission to study part-time.
How do I apply to study part-time?
- Pay your semester fees in full and on time (re-enrolment).
- Submit your application to study part-time via the FranCa portal.
State the reason why you wish to study part-time and upload all the necessary supporting documents.
Without suitable supporting documents, your application to study part-time will have to be rejected.
You must submit your application latest by these dates:
Winter Semester: 31st October
Summer Semester: 30th April
Important: These deadlines also apply to subsequent applications!
A part time application for a semester that has already ended is not possible.
Unsubstantiated applications
Unfortunately, a leave of absence cannot be granted in the following cases:
- Financial difficulties (please note that you must still pay the semester fees during part time study)
- Difficult personal circumstances (without an official medical certificate)
- Travelling home (homesickness, visiting family)
- Compulsory work placement as part of your degree programme
- Tests, e.g. driving test, language courses
- Weddings and family celebrations
FAQs on leave of absence and part-time study
You can only submit an application for one semester at a time.
If you wish to apply for a leave of absence or part-time study for several semesters, you must submit the application each semester.
The application will be reassessed each semester in accordance to the current regulations.
Important: Your application will only be processed once you have paid the semester fee.
No, you must pay the semester fees in full.
If you are on leave of absence, you may apply for a refund of the cost of the Deutschlandticket latest four weeks after start of lectures.
Find out more on the AStA website.
During a leave of absence or part-time semester, it is generally not possible to receive BAföG.
Please find out more on the Website of Studierendenwerk Frankfurt.
Legal Information
Grundlage ist die Verordnung über das Verfahren der Immatrikulation, Rückmeldung, Beurlaubung und Exmatrikulation, das Studium als Gasthörerin oder Gasthörer, das Teilzeitstudium und die Verarbeitung personenbezogener Daten der Studierenden und der Promovierenden an den Hochschulen des Landes Hessen (Hessische Immatrikulationsverordnung) vom 24. Februar 2010.
Maßgeblich sind §8 (Beurlaubung) und §9 (Teilzeitstudium).
