Leaves of absence

Upon request, students can be granted a leave of absence from their studies for important reasons.

1. Legal basis

Rules on leaves of absence are laid down in paragraphs 10 and 11 of “ Statutes governing Enrollment, Re-Enrollment, Leave of Absence and Exmatriculation at the Technische Universität München“ in connection with “Art. 64 Abs. 2 mit 4 Bayerisches Hochschulgesetz“.

2. Important reason

A leave of absence can only be granted for an important reason. This reason has to be sufficiently proved, an important reason being a reason impeding studies and rendering the timely termination of studies questionable. Students cannot be expected to exmatriculate and apply for enrollment again. Recognized reasons are especially:

• an illness, certified by medical certificate, if impeding normal studies in the semester concerned
• circumstances that would entitle an employee to go on maternity leave
• during the period for the care of a close relative
  
• pursuing a course of study at a university outside of Germany
• military service or alternative service
• an internship prescribed by the examination regulations and conditions of study, taking place outside the university and lasting longer than the semester break

Other reasons for individual cases can only be approved after examination. Economic reasons are not considered important reasons.

3. Duration and deadlines

• A leave of absence is normally granted for one semester and should not exceed two semesters. A leave of absence for more than two semesters can only be granted as an exception in case of special circumstances.
• Even in case of an important reason, a leave of absence for the first semester of actual studies (“Fachsemester“) is only possible, when the reasons for the leave of absence occurred after enrollment and could not be foreseen before.
• In principle, students who studied more than three semesters longer than the maximum time allowed for their course of study cannot go on leave of absence.
• The application for a leave of absence can be submitted in the time span from registration for the next semester (“Rückmeldung“) until the beginning of the university session. If the important reason occurs later and could not be foreseen, the application can be submitted up to five weeks after the start of the university session.
• It is not possible to obtain a leave of absence retroactively.

4. Procedure

• An application for leave of absence has to be submitted in writing (using the form) to the admission office or the administrative office “Weihenstephan“ of Technische Universität München.
• When submitting the application, the reasons for the leave of absence have to be stated on the application and be proven by suitable documents. If an illness is the reason for leave of absence, it has to be proven by medical certificate, and if the Technische Universität München requires it, by medical certificate of a medical examiner.

 Form for leave of absence

5. Legal consequences

• Rights and duties of the student are not affected by the leave of absence, except for the duty to properly partake in studies.
• Students on leave of absence have a right to vote in university elections.
• At Technische Universität München, it is not possible to take exams during a leave of absence. This is not valid, however, if retaking an exam. In this case, it is especially important not to pass any time limits prescribed for retaking exams because of the leave of absence.
• Semesters of leave of absence do not count as semesters of actual studies (“Fachsemester“) contrary to what may be stated in the examination regulations and conditions of study. However, this is not the case for leaves of absence granted for studies at a foreign university or for an intership outside the university, if credit can be obtained at TUM for the academic work done at the foreign university.
• You can apply for the tuition fees for the term in progress to be refunded. Here you will find the application for reimbursement

6. contact

For all locations::

Immatrikulationsamt der Technischen Universität München
Arcisstraße 21
80333 München

 

contact: study@tum.de