Academic leave

Academic leave is a period for which a student is released from the obligation to undertake study and research work. Academic leave can be granted for one semester or several full semesters.

Application form

Academic leave at one’s own request

You can apply for the academic leave once per the level of study. The length of the academic leave at one’s own request can be either one or two semesters and it must be an uninterrupted period. You cannot apply for academic leave for 6 months, then study for a semester and then apply for academic leave for 6 months again. If you have taken the academic leave for a shorter period, you can apply for the extension of the leave for up to one year before the expiry of the leave.

Students cannot apply for an academic leave at their own request in the first semester of the first year.

You can go on academic leave at any time within the nominal period of study. However, it is advisable to choose a semester or an academic year as the period of your academic leave. You cannot go on academic leave during the extension of your study period and academic leave is not formalised retroactively.

Please be aware that while on academic leave at your own request, you do not have the health insurance arising from your student status.

Academic leave for health reasons

You can apply for academic leave for health reasons at any time on the basis of a medical certificate. You must support your application by a medical certificate on which the doctor has determined the duration of your academic leave.

You can go on academic leave for health reasons several times, but the total duration of the leave must not exceed 2 years.

Academic leave upon commencement of service in the Defence Forces

The Defence Resources Board may send you a notice calling you up for compulsory military service. In order to apply for an academic leave you have to submit this notice and an application to the study advisor at your home institute.  You can be granted academic leave for up to one year.

Academic leave due to caring for a child

Female students have the right to apply for an academic leave due to caring for a child as of the 7th month of pregnancy until one month has passed from the due date. After the birth of a child the parents can, on the basis of a copy of the birth certificate of the child and an application, apply for academic leave lasting until the child turns three.

After the birth of the child, both parents (on the basis of a copy of the birth certificate / certificate of registration of the birth of the child) can go on an academic leave in connection with caring for a child.

Interruption of academic leave

In order to terminate your academic leave before the final date of the academic leave, you need to submit an application for the termination of the academic leave.

STUDY ALLOWANCE AND STUDENT LOAN DURING ACADEMIC LEAVE

No study allowance is paid to students who are on academic leave.

If you have been granted study allowance and you go on academic leave, the payment of the study allowance shall be terminated as of the month of study.

For further information see the Procedure for Study Allowances.

STUDIES DURING ACADEMIC LEAVE

Since September 1, 2019 on academic leave, a student can participate in studies and take exams and tests

 

PAYMENT OF TUITION FEES DURING ACADEMIC LEAVE

Students studying in a non-Estonian curriculum will be required to compensate their study expenses if the academic leave starts after the due date. If academic leave ends before the due date, the tuition fee must be paid for the current semester, while no tuition fee must be paid for the current semester if academic leave ends after the due date;

The due date of the tuition fee in the autumn semester is October 15 and in the spring semester March 1.