Students can take a leave of absence from university if they have specific reasons for doing so.
They usually have to pay a reduced social contribution for a sabbatical semester, which doesn’t include the VRR and NRW semester ticket. Students taking a leave of absence are not entitled to attend courses or take exams.
The amount of the reduced social contribution and the required documentation in each case depend on the reasons for a leave of absence.
For detailed information on how to apply, please see: “How to apply for leave of absence”.
The reduced social contribution is 23.60 euros (as of summer semester 2025).
Information on the amount of the social contribution for a leave of absence for extraordinary reasons as well as other information required for transferring it can be accessed via eCampus (Finanzen → Hinweise zur Zahlung des Sozialbeitrags).
Generally, no additional documentation is required, except for a leave of absence where the student is still entitled to take exams.
You can submit your application for leave of absence in writing or by email to the Registrar’s Office (see “How to apply for leave of absence” below).
The reduced social contribution is 153.60 euros (as of summer semester 2025).
Information on the amount of the social contribution for a leave of absence for extraordinary reasons as well as other information required for transferring it can be accessed via eCampus (Finanzen → Hinweise zur Zahlung des Sozialbeitrags).
An application for leave of absence must always be submitted to the Registrar’s Office within the respective re-registration deadlines.
The required social contribution must already have been paid by this time, so please transfer it a few days before you apply for leave of absence.
It is not sufficient to simply transfer the reduced social contribution, without submitting an application to the Registrar’s Office.
Please submit your application for leave of absence
If you are taking a leave of absence for an extraordinary reason, please enclose the necessary documentation (see above: “Leave of absence for extraordinary reasons”).
Students on leave of absence are not entitled to complete coursework, obtain credit points that entitle them to take exams, or take exams. (Legal regulation: Section 48, Paragraph 5, Sentence 3 of the NRW Higher Education Act(Link is external))
This does not apply
A leave of absence doesn’t release you from the obligation to notify the relevant examination authority / examination office if you withdraw from an exam.
A late application for leave of absence after the regular re-registration deadline is also possible after individual consultation. In this case, an additional late fee of 10 euros applies.
Pregnant and nursing students are entitled to maternity care and leave, i.e. a period of leave six weeks before and eight weeks after the birth. This is useful if the student wants to take any exams, as maternity leave can be paused for this purpose.
