Leave of absence

Upon request, a leave of absence from studies may be granted for good cause. Important reasons can be:

• Illness, provided that the medical certificate submitted shows that proper study is not possible.
• Preparation and implementation of special artistic development projects or absence from the university location in the interest of the university or due to cooperation in an artistic or scientific project that serves the study objective
• studies abroad and stays abroad which serve the study objective
• completion of the Federal Volunteer Service or the Voluntary Social Year or Voluntary Ecological Year
• Pregnancy, maternity leave or bringing up children who are not yet of school age within the meaning of Section 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 in the first degree of kinship, provided that this person is in need of care.
• Other reasons that are comparable in terms of severity and importance and justify a leave of absence. The existence of an important reason must be proven by relevant evidence.

Leave of absence is granted for the duration of a semester and must be applied for at the Office of Student Affairs within the set re-registration period for the semester in which leave of absence is to be granted.
Students on leave of absence do not receive semester tickets. Retroactive leaves of absence for earlier semesters are not possible. A leave of absence for the 1st semester can only be granted in justified exceptions. Exceptions are regulated by the enrollment regulations (§8).

Students on leave of absence are not entitled to perform academic and examination work. Further details are regulated in the enrollment regulations (§8). The following documents must be enclosed with the application for leave of absence

• the completed leave of absence form (see below)
• the written justification of the application, including proof of the existence of an important reason
• if applicable, proof of the fees and contributions paid in accordance with the student body's contribution regulations in the currently valid version (students on leave of absence generally do not receive semester tickets)
• if applicable, the student ID (multifunctional chip card) and, if applicable, the NRW-Ticket.

More information on leave of absence can be found in the enrollment regulations of the Cologne University of Music and Dance § 8 in the currently valid version.