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Parental leave

There are different parental leave rules depending on whether you are a student on a full-time degree programme or a Master's degree programme for working professionals. Therefore, choose the information that suits your situation below.

Parental leave for full-time students

If you plan to take parental leave while enrolled in your degree programme, you have two options. You can apply for leave of absence or you can apply for exemption. The two options differ both regarding your study planning and financially.

Exemption for parental leave
You can apply for exemption from your board of studies. This means that you can continue to:

  • Take classes
  • Take exams
  • Receive SU and parental payments

In the below boxes you can find information about what to do in connection with exemption for parental leave.

Leave of absence
If you apply for leave of absence due to childbirth, please note, you cannot take classes, take exams or receive SU during a leave of absence. Find more information here at your study portal under Counselling / Leave of absence. An application for leave of absence is processed via AU’s admission office.

Planning of parental leave

You can apply for parental leave while enrolled in a degree programme. If you wish to do so, you must send in an application for extension of the maximum period of study to your board of studies. The extension must correspond to the number of semesters in which you plan to take parental leave.

When applying for parental leave, please note:

  • Parents can take parental leave for up to 2 semesters. This means that you can extend your maximum period of study with 1-2 semesters and you can also deregister from courses while on parental leave. 
  • Your parental leave must be completed no later than the semester in which your child turns one years old.
  • Your first-year exam will be postponed if you are a bachelor student.
  • Your Master's thesis registration will be postponed so that it is placed on your ' new ' 4th semester, if you are Master’s degree student.

We encourage you to talk to a student counsellor, if you need help to plan your degree programme and your parental leave.

If you are in the process of writing your Master's thesis, there are other rules. For more information on this, go to the below box.

Parental leave during your thesis

You can apply for an exemption to put your thesis period on hold during your parental leave. 

When you apply for parental leave during your thesis period, please note the following rules:

  • You can put a commenced Master's thesis on hold for up to nine months in connection with parental leave.
  •  If you are a single parent, you are entitled to 12 months parental leave and your thesis period can be put on hold for up to 12 months.
  • If you had parental leave transferred to you, you can put your thesis period on hold corresponding to your total parental leave period. However, the maximum period is 12 months.
  • If you are giving birth during a commenced Master's thesis, you can start your parental leave 4 weeks before your due date. The 4 weeks are included in the total of 9-12 months of parental leave.
  • As a co-parent you can start your parental from the due- or birth date.
  • Your parental leave must be completed no later than the semester in which your child turns one years old.

How to apply for exemption for parental leave

Here at your study portal, under Student counselling /Exemption, you can find information on how to submit your application for exemption for parental leave.

Remember to include:

  1. Documentation (find information on this in the box below).
  2. Study plan (your study plan can be worked out together with a student counsellor).

Which documentation should I submit when I apply for exemption to take parental leave?

When you apply for dispensation for parental leave, remember to include one of the following kinds of documentation:

As a mother (or primary parent):

  • Medical record
  • Birth certificate
  • Confirmation of adoption

As a father (or co-parent):

  • A birth certificate that states you as a father/co-parent.
  • A copy of the medical record that states you as the father/co-parent.
  • Adoption papers that states you as the father/co-parent.

Remember the educational grant and loan scheme (SU)

You must apply for parental payments. If you have questions to this, please go to the educational grant and loan scheme’s webpage or contact their office at AU.

Contact

Contact the student counsellors if you need guidance on planning your parental leave or on how to apply for an exemption for parental leave.

Parental leave for working professionals

Students enrolled in a Master's degree programme for working professionals can apply for parental leave. When you are on parental leave, you cannot participate in teaching activities or exams.

Planning of your parental leave

If you wish to take parental leave during your studies, you must send in an application for extension of the maximum period of study to your board of studies. The extension must correspond to the number of semesters in which you plan to take parental leave.

When applying for parental leave, please note:

  • Parents can take parental leave for up to 2 semesters. This means that you can extend your maximum period of study with 1-2 semesters and you can also deregister from courses while on parental leave. 
  • Your parental leave must be completed no later than the semester in which your child turns 1 years old.
  • Your Master's thesis registration will be postponed so that it is placed on your ' new ' 7th semester.

If you are in the process of writing your Master's thesis, there are other rules. For more information on this, go to the below box.

Parental leave during your thesis

You can apply for an exemption to put your thesis period on hold during your parental leave. 

When you apply for parental leave during your thesis period, please note the following rules:

  • You can put a commenced Master's thesis on hold for up to nine months in connection with parental leave.
  •  If you are a single parent, you are entitled to 12 months parental leave and your thesis period can be put on hold for up to 12 months.
  • If you had parental leave transferred to you, you can put your thesis period on hold corresponding to your total parental leave period. However, the maximum period is 12 months.
  • If you are giving birth during a commenced Master's thesis, you can start your parental leave 4 weeks before your due date. The 4 weeks are included in the total of 9-12 months of parental leave.
  • As a co-parent you can start your parental from the due- or birth date.
  • Your parental leave must be completed no later than the semester in which your child turns one years old.

How to apply

  • Go to mitstudies.au.dk.
  • Find "Self-service systems"
  • Click on "Submit an application to your board of studies"
  • Find "Exemption from the rules in your academic regulations" and click "Apply for exemption" and fill in the application form.    
  • Attach documentation

Which documentation should I submit?

When you apply for dispensation for parental leave, remember to include one of the following kinds of documentation:

As a mother (or primary parent):

  • Medical record
  • Birth certificate
  • Confirmation of adoption

As a father (or co-parent):

  • A birth certificate that states you as a father/co-parent.
  • A copy of the medical record that states you as the father/co-parent.
  • Adoption papers that states you as the father/co-parent.

Resuming your studies after completing parental leave

You can resume your degree programme on the Master's degree programme for working professionals when you resume your work.

Documentation of employment

After completing your parental leave, you must document that you are still employed with a workload corresponding to at least 25 hours per week in average grade.

Course registration

You must register for courses yourself during the registration period prior to the semester you return to.

If you are starting up again in the autumn semester, you must register in the period 1-5. May.
If you start your studies in the spring semester, you must register in the period 1-5. November.

How to register for courses:

  • Log on to mitstudies.au.dk in the registration period
  • Go to "Shortcuts to self-service".
  • Select 'STADS'
  • Go to 'Teaching' > 'Register'. Here you will find a registration form with a list of possible courses.

Contact

Contact the student counsellors if you need guidance on planning your parental leave or on how to apply for an exemption for parental leave.


Get student & career counselling

Whether you are unsure about your choice of study, need support for student life, or seek career advice, we are here to help you.

Revised 04.11.2024
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The Web Editors, Aarhus BSS Studies