Who can apply?
- All programme students may apply for leave of absence. Single course students cannot apply for leave.
- If you need leave already in your first semester, you should consider applying for a postponed start of studies instead of leave of absence.
- If you are going on parental leave, you should apply for leave on the basis of documented needs, since there are separate rules for students on parental leave.
- If you need help planning your studies, you can turn to the contact point which is listed on the program page.
General leave without attaching documentation
You can apply for up to two semesters of general leave from the study programme without giving a reason and without attaching documentation. You can apply for two semesters of continuous leave or one semester at a time.
You can be granted leave for one semester only if the structure of the programme makes it possible. If this is not possible, you must apply for leave for two semesters.
In some cases you can only apply for leave on the basis of documented needs:
- Medicine - in the middle of courses over several semesters. This also applies to joint semesters in Clinical Nutrition and Dentistry.
- Master's programmes at the Faculty of Humanities - the fourth semester or later.
- Master's programmes at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences.
- If you have citizenship from a country outside the EU/EEA or Switzerland and pay tuition fees.
Leave on the basis of documented needs
If you have special needs for leave, you can apply for leave on the basis of documented needs:
- Parental leave
- Conscription
- Illness (yourself or someone in your care)
- Full-time-position as a student or democratically elected representative
- Other weighty reasons beyond your own control
You document the application with a confirmation of expected date of delivery / birth certificate, conscription card, medical certificate, confirmation of a full-time position or other equivalent documentation.
If the need for leave on the basis of documented needs arises after the application deadline, you can apply after the deadline. In these cases, you can also get leave for the rest of the semester.
Application deadline
Dental Hygiene, Dentistry and Medicine
- 1 November for the spring semester.
- 1 May for the autumn semester.
If the deadline expires on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, it will be extended to the next working day.
Medicine, Dentistry and Dental Hygiene have a limited number of places in each year group. Read more about prioritization when you return from leave:
- Prioritization in case of full year groups in Medicine [in Norwegian only]
- Prioritization in case of full year groups in study programmes at the Faculty of Dentistry [in Norwegian only]
The professional programme in psychology
Application deadlines for the semesters 1-6:
- 1 February for the spring semester.
- 1 September for the autumn semester.
Application deadlines for the semesters 7-12:
- 15 September for the spring semester.
- 15 March for the autumn semester.
If the deadline expires on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, it will be extended to the next working day.
Study programmes at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
- 31 December for the spring semester.
- 30 June for the autumn semester.
If the deadline expires on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, it will be extended to the next working day.
All other study programmes
- 1 February for the spring semester.
- 1 September for the autumn semester.
If the deadline expires on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, it will be extended to the next working day.
How to apply?
Go to My studies, find your study programme and follow the link to apply for leave of absence.You attach your documentation through the digital application form.
If you are applying for leave from several study programmes, you should send one application for each programme.
When you are on leave
Support from the State Education Loan Fund
When you apply for leave of absence, you should familiarize yourself with the criteria for loans and grants from the State Education Loan Fund.
When you apply for parental leave, you should familiarize yourself with the criterias for parental grants from the State Education Loan Fund. Parental leave from the university can be shorter or longer than the Loan Fund's period of parental grant.
Period of leave
Your period of study will be extended according to the leave period. This applies even if you choose to pay the semester fee, register as a student, follow courses and sit for examinations.
If you apply for parental leave, you can apply for whole semesters as well as for parts of a semester. In the application form, state the date when you wish to start your leave and the date when you wish to return to the study programme. The faculty will arrange for you to return to your study programme as soon as possible after the end of leave.
Pay the semester fee and register as a student
When you are on leave, it is not intended or expected that you pay the semester fee and register as a student, but it is possible.
You may choose to pay the semester fee and register as a student while on parental leave, even if you do not follow any courses. This means that you will receive a semester card and retain access to the student welfare services. The ordinary deadlines apply for paying the semester fee and registering as a student. Please note that the State Education Loan Fund will not get the student status information about you if you are on leave from your studies, even if you have registered and paid the semester fee.
Following courses and sit for examinations
When you are on leave, it is not intended or expected that you follow courses or sit for examinations, but it is possible.
You may choose to follow courses and sit for examinations while on leave. This is suitable for students who wish to continue their studies during the period of leave, but requires the approval of your study programme. The ordinary deadlines for course registration apply.
In the professional programmes of clinical nutrition, dental care, dentistry, medicine, pharmacy and psychology, the teaching schedule is complex and it is not always possible to participate partially. Students on these programmes should therefore contact their faculty to check the possibility for following courses while on parental leave.
New admission to courses for students on parental leave
If you must withdraw from a course due to childbirth, you may apply again for admission to the same course. This applies even if the course only allows one admission to the teaching, but requires that the course is still offered when you are back after the parental leave.
How the application is processed
The application and any documentation is sent to the faculty in a secure way through an encrypted web form.
You usually receive an answer from the faculty within one month. If it takes longer to process the application, you will receive a preliminary answer as to why it takes longer.
You have the right to appeal the faculty's decisions on leave of absence. The Central Appeals Committee at UiO is the appeal body in this type of case.
You should be aware that during your absence there may be changes in the study programme that have an impact on your further course of study.
Questions?
Contact the faculty's information centre.