About the Guideline
The aim of this guideline is to ensure equal treatment of applications for leave of absence for students at the University of Inland Norway.
Superior documents
- Act relating to universities and university colleges (norwegian)
- Act relating to procedure in cases concerning the public administration (Public Administration Act)
- Regulations on admission, studies and examinations at University of Inland Norway
1. Reasons for being granted leave of absence
- birth/adoptions, childcare
- military service
- illness
- roles in student political or elected bodies
- other special reasons
The right to leave for birth/adoption and childcare follows from Act relating to universities and university colleges § 10-6 second paragraph.
The right to leave based on the other listed conditions follows from Act relating to universities and university colleges § 10-7 first paragraph.
Leave should be granted for students who have extensive student political or elected roles, according to Act relating to universities and university colleges § 10-7 first paragraph. The extent of the role must be assessed in each case. Full-time students qualify for leave, while leave is not granted for students who are in student councils and/or are class representatives.
Other special reasons could be seriously ill children, other welfare reasons, or top athletes or artists needing leave to participate in events at national or international level.
2. Application and Documentation Requirements
Applications for leave, along with supporting documents, should be submitted using a specific form.
The application must be supported by recent medical certificates, a call-up for military service, confirmation of pregnancy or birth certificate, confirmation of roles in student politics or elected bodies, or evidence of other special reasons.
3. Completed Study Credits
There are no requirements for a certain number of completed study credits to be granted leave.
4. Duration of leave
Leave is normally granted for up to one year at a time. The student should be on leave as long as the need indicates. There is no limit to how many times a student can take leave during a study period, if the student has grounds for being granted leave. If the leave needs to be extended beyond the granted leave period, the student must apply again.
5. Study right
During periods when students are on leave from the university, the study right does not apply.
6. Retroactive Effect
Leave is not granted retroactively further back than the current semester/academic year.
7. Right to study during leave
The student has the right to study during the leave.
The right to study includes the right to participate in teaching, guidance, access to the learning platform and assessment in accordance with the study plan and subject descriptions that are part of the study
If the student is to take exams during the leave, the semester fee must be paid.
If the institution has set requirements for compulsory activities and the student cannot fulfil these due to leave, the student does not have the right to take the exam.
If the subject requires participation in compulsory participation, the reason for the compulsory participation must be assessed. If this is linked to participation in teaching providing essential competence that cannot be tested in the exam, exceptions cannot be made for students on leave. If compulsory participation is set solely for the sake of study quality, exceptions can be made for students on leave.
8. Absence from Individual Exams
Leave is not granted for absence from individual exams. If the student is sick during an exam, the student has the right to a continuation exam when it is arranged, according to the Regulations on admissions, studies, and examinations at University of Inland Norway § 6-7.
9. After Completed Leave
Arrangements should be made for students on leave to resume their studies as soon as possible after the end of the leave. The student must always adhere to the current study plan and curriculum.
10. Appeal
There is a right to appeal individual decisions about leave according to the Public Administration Act section 28. The deadline for appeal is three weeks from the point of time the decision has been communicated to the party, cf. Public Administration Act section 29.
This guideline has been approved by Director of Academic Affairs 1st August 2024