The leave of absence regulations apply to students on the foundational programmes at University College Absalon.

The leave of absence regulations have been established under the authority of the prevailing executive order

on vocational academy degree courses and professional bachelor’s degree programmes.

What are the types of leave of absence?

A distinction is made between a sabbatical and a leave of absence on account of maternity, adoption or military service.

1. Sabbatical

University College Absalon cannot grant a sabbatical until you have passed all exams in your first year of study. A sabbatical of up to 12 months can then be granted unless otherwise stipulated in the study regulations in question.

The sabbatical can be split into two periods and can only be granted for a full academic year, or for entire modules or semesters. At the end of the sabbatical, you are required to resume your degree programme without delay.

Sabbaticals count towards the time limit to complete your degree programme, and no sabbatical will be granted if it results in your exceeding the maximum enrolment period.

2. Leave of absence on account of maternity, adoption or military service

The institution is required to grant leave of absence on the grounds of maternity, adoption or military service.

Leaves of absence on account of maternity, adoption and military service do not count towards the deadline for completing your degree programme.

Application

To apply for a sabbatical or leave of absence, you should use the electronic form entitled “Application for Leave of Absence from the Programme”, which you can access via the Course Handbook. On the application form, you can select the reason for your leave of absence. You will be required to provide documentation if the reason given is maternity, adoption or military service.

The deadline to apply for a sabbatical is 1 June for absence as of 1 September, and 1 December for absence as of 1 February. These deadlines do not apply to leaves of absence on account of illness, maternity and adoption.

You cannot be granted a sabbatical retrospectively.

Consequences of taking a leave of absence

During your leave of absence, you will remain enrolled in the degree programme, but you are not allowed to attend classes or take exams. On returning from your leave of absence, you cannot register for exams in subjects for which you have not attended classes.

You are not permitted to be enrolled in any other full-time degree programmes except the one from which you are taking a leave of absence.

If you are on maternity leave and have questions about attending classes or exams, please contact uddannelsesjura@pha.dk.

Ending or terminating your leave of absence

You can end your approved leave of absence early, although it cannot be terminated within the first month.

If you wish to end your leave of absence, you must submit a written request to the programme mailbox, whose address you can find under your degree programme on the Studienet student portal. The college must have received your application at least one week prior to the date on which you wish to end your leave of absence. You will then receive an individual study plan, which you are required to follow. If your study plan involves returning to a clinic or internship, and a place is not available immediately after your leave of absence, an alternative study plan will be prepared to accommodate the situation.

Upon returning to the degree programme after your leave of absence, you will be required to adhere to the current study regulations.

No later than 14 days prior to the end of your leave of absence, you must send confirmation to the programme mailbox for your degree programme.

Exceptional circumstances

University College Absalon may grant exceptions to the regulations governing leave of absence under exceptional circumstances. 

What are your options to appeal?

You have the right to appeal against decisions made under the leave of absence regulations. You should email your appeal to uddannelsesjura@pha.dk within two weeks of the date on which you received the decision.

When do these leave of absence regulations come into effect?

These leave of absence regulations came into effect on 1 November 2021.