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.

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.

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.

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