You may submit an application to take a leave providing one of the following reasons applies (§ 67 (1) Austrian Universities Act):

• mandatory military service, training service, or alternative military service, or
• longer periods of illness (verifiable) that impedes your progress of studies, or
• pregnancy, or
• childcare responsibilities, or caring for an immediate family member, or
• taking an optional, voluntary year of social service, or
• temporary hindrance from studies on account of a disability.

Additional reasons to take an academic leave of absence (§ 41 (1) Statutes on Study Regulations for the JKU) include:

• a temporary absence from the location of studies on account of gainful employment or an internship that is causally related to the degree program but in which no ECTS credits can be earned, thereby interfering with successful continuation of the degree program, and
• an [other] unusual and unforeseen life circumstance or occurrence resulting in temporarily being unable to continue the degree program as it is considered infeasible or unreasonable to do so.

The form, plus all required documentation*, must be submitted to MyAdmission, opens an external URL in a new window. To log in, please use your JKU Account information.

You submit an application for a leave of absence for a maximum of two consecutive semesters.



** in the event of illness/pregnancy the following documents are required along with your application in MyAdmission, opens an external URL in a new window::

• medical confirmation (illness) WS 2024/25, opens a file
• medical confirmation (illness) SS 2024, opens a file
• medical confirmation (pregnancy) WS 2024/25, opens a file
• medical confirmation (pregnancy) SS 2024, opens a file

In the event of childcare or other care responsibilities, an affidavit, opens a file is required with your application in MyAdmission.

For the 2024 summer semester, the deadline to submit a new application to take a leave of absence begins January 8 and ends March 1, 2024.

In order to take an academic leave of absence in lieu of an unforeseen and/or unavoidable occurrence (in accordance with § 1 subparas 2 to 4 and 6 of the Austrian Universities Act), you may apply during the semester.
These reasons include:

• longer periods of illness
• pregnancy
• childcare responsibilities, or caring for an immediate family member
• temporary impairment associated with a disability

Approval for a leave of absence is valid to the end of the grace period (WS: 28.02., SS: 30.09.),

Approval and authorization for a student's leave of absence will be noted on the student’s record sheet.

During the student’s leave of absence, the student’s admission to studies will be sustained however, students are not permitted to take any university courses, examinations, or transfer examination credit, or submit and/or receive a grade for academic papers (Statute § 41 Johannes Kepler University Linz)

Any academic achievements acquired up to the time of academic leave (in particular successfully completed courses and examinations) shall remain valid.

Students must pay the Austrian Student Union fee after the leave of absence has been officially approved, by no later than 31.03. (SS) or 31.10. (WS).

If you are required to pay full tuition and apply for a leave of absence after 30.11. (WS) or 30.4. (SS) tuition fees cannot be reimbursed.