If you have to interrupt your studies for health reasons in Germany, the usual route is a leave of absence (Beurlaubung, also called Urlaubssemester). You stay enrolled but, as a rule, you do not take exams. Requirements, deadlines and maximum duration are set differently by each university, so this guide compares two universities and shows what to watch regarding the certificate, exams, BAföG and the semester fee.
In short: You apply for a leave of absence because of illness at your university with a medical certificate. Deadlines differ widely: OTH Regensburg requires the application by 15 April (summer semester) or 31 October (winter semester), while TU Darmstadt accepts it until the last day of the semester. Neither university allows retroactive leave. Last updated: university pages, accessed November 2026.
Key points
- You need a medical certificate covering the period of illness. OTH Regensburg requires a specialist report for a following semester.
- Semesters of leave do not count as subject semesters at either university, but running exam deadlines may continue depending on the university.
- During leave you usually do not take exams. Repeat exams can still be due, says OTH Regensburg.
- According to OTH Regensburg, BAföG is generally not paid during leave. Section 15(2a) BAföG has a separate, time-limited rule for illness. The funding office decides the individual case.
- According to TU Darmstadt, the full semester contribution is due even in a semester of leave.
When is a leave of absence for health reasons an option?
A leave of absence fits if you are unable to study over a longer period, for example because of a serious illness, a mental health crisis or inpatient treatment. For a single missed exam date, a sick note is intended, see Prüfung wegen Krankheit abmelden. If you can take exams in principle but not under the usual conditions, compensation for disadvantage is the right route, see Nachteilsausgleich bei psychischer Erkrankung.
Which reasons are recognised and how long you can be on leave is set by each university on the basis of the respective state law. There is therefore no nationwide procedure. The two examples below show the range.
How do the rules of two universities differ?
| Point | OTH Regensburg | TU Darmstadt |
|---|---|---|
| Application deadline | Summer semester by 15 April, winter semester by 31 October; for an unforeseeable reason after the deadline until 15 May or 30 November | Last day of the semester: 30 September (summer), 31 March (winter), earlier application recommended |
| Evidence | Medical or specialist certificate, specialist report for a following semester | Certificate on the expected duration of the illness |
| Duration | One semester per leave, usually limited to two semesters in total | Maximum of 6 semesters |
| First subject semester | Generally not possible | Exceptionally possible for illness in the first semester of a bachelor or state examination programme |
| Exams | No first-time exam attempts, repeat exams still required, deadlines keep running | Usually no exams, running exam deadlines are neither interrupted nor extended |
| Retroactive | Excluded | Excluded, an application cannot be withdrawn |
Both pages are examples. OTH Regensburg also states that for students enrolled from the 2023/24 winter semester who are on leave because of chronic illness, among other reasons, the deadline for repeat exams is extended automatically by the period of leave. Other universities may differ. Always check the statutes and the application page of your university and ask the student registry.
How do you apply for the leave?
- Check your university’s deadline with the student registry or on its page on leave of absence.
- Ask the treating doctor for a certificate with the required details. OTH Regensburg lists: personal examination, date of examination, comprehensibly described limitations, and start and expected duration with the semester stated.
- Submit the application with the evidence by the route provided, for example by email (OTH Regensburg) or through the campus system (TU Darmstadt, under Service and Applications).
- Re-register properly despite the leave and pay the semester contribution. Both universities require this.
- Clarify BAföG, health insurance and internships in parallel with the responsible offices.
What are the consequences for BAföG and health insurance?
On BAföG, OTH Regensburg says there is generally no entitlement during leave. TU Darmstadt writes that leave can affect BAföG and student loans and that a late application can lead to repayments. Section 15(2a) BAföG also provides that funding continues to be paid while the training cannot be carried out because of illness or pregnancy, at most until the end of the third calendar month. Whether and how this fits with a leave of absence is decided by the responsible student funding office (Amt für Ausbildungsförderung). Ask before applying so that you do not risk an overpayment. For the funding period overall, section 15(3) BAföG lists serious grounds such as a disability that can justify funding beyond the standard period of study.
Health insurance is a separate set of questions that this guide does not cover exhaustively. TU Darmstadt notes that the number of subject and leave semesters can affect the duration of student health insurance and that your health insurer can provide information. Details are in the guide Leave of Absence Insurance: What Applies to You and, for sickness benefit, in Krankengeld für Studierende (in German).
What about the semester fee, side jobs and internships?
- Semester fee: According to TU Darmstadt, the full contribution is due even in a semester of leave. You can have the share for the Deutschlandsemesterticket refunded there through the student union (AStA).
- Side job: TU Darmstadt writes that working as a working student is not possible during leave. Also check the consequences for insurance and income limits before you work during leave.
- Status: OTH Regensburg states that you remain a member of the university, keep your right to vote and must re-register.
- Internships and compulsory elements: Ask the examination office whether internship phases are allowed during leave, see Praktikum wegen psychischer Erkrankung (in German).
What happens after the leave?
Returning usually includes re-registration and a review of open deadlines. Arrange a talk with the subject advisory service in advance so that your study plan is adjusted realistically. Help for returning after a longer illness is described in the guide Nach längerer Erkrankung zurück ins Studium (in German). If the impairment continues, compensation for disadvantage can also help, see Nachteilsausgleich bei psychischer Erkrankung.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take a leave of absence retroactively?
According to OTH Regensburg and TU Darmstadt, no. Retroactive approval for a completed semester is excluded. Apply as early as possible.
Does a semester of leave count as a subject semester?
No. At both example universities, semesters of leave do not count towards the number of subject semesters. They can affect other benefits, such as BAföG or health insurance, which you should clarify separately.
Do I have to be in therapy or see a doctor during the leave?
The university requires a certificate for the application, not proof of ongoing treatment. Treatment still makes sense medically. Help is listed in the hub Psychische Gesundheit im Studium.
Can I take exams during the leave?
At OTH Regensburg, no first-time exam attempts may be taken, but repeat exams must still be taken. TU Darmstadt states that, as a rule, no exams are taken and illness is not among the exceptions.
What is the difference from exmatriculation?
With a leave of absence you stay enrolled and a member of the university. With exmatriculation, membership ends and insurance questions change as well. See the guide Exmatrikulation und Krankenversicherung (in German).
What to do now
- Have your treating practice confirm how long you are likely to be unable to study.
- Read your university’s statutes and application page and note the deadline and the form required.
- Submit the application early, before the semester starts or ends.
- Clarify BAföG, health insurance and the semester contribution with the responsible offices.
- Plan your return with the subject advisory service before the leave ends.
Related guides
- Mental health during studies: where to find help
- Leave of Absence Insurance: What Applies to You
- Withdrawing from an exam because of illness
- Compensation for mental illness: certificate and application
- Returning to studies after a longer illness (in German)
Quellen:
OTH Regensburg: Leave of absence, accessed November 2026 (German)
TU Darmstadt: Leave of absence, accessed November 2026 (German)
Section 15 BAföG, gesetze-im-internet.de (German)
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The statutes and procedures of your university and the decision of your BAföG office apply.
