Leaves of absence

Full semester leaves of absence, with or without course attendance

General information

• Any student who is required to leave ETH for one or two semesters for (e.g.) a compulsory internship, reasons of illness or military service may take a leave of absence.
  
  Students on leave remain matriculated (their ETH Cards remain valid). To obtain leave they must continue to enrol for each semester in the myStudies web application by the normal enrolment deadline, but should select the option ‘Apply for leave of absence’. They will receive the usual confirmation of matriculation, with the comment that they are on leave.
  
  Please note: All academic deadlines continue to apply even if a student enrols for a semester’s leave.
  
  
• Normally only two consecutive semesters of leave are possible. For exceptions to this, students should submit well-grounded requests to the Registrar’s Office.
  
  
• Like normal semester enrolment, enrolment for leave must proceed by the end of the second week of the semester at the latest. Late enrolment incurs a fee of CHF 50.00.
  
  Students who neglect to enrol despite a reminder will be dematriculated: Those wishing to break off or interrupt their studies should see Withdrawal/Deregistration.
  
  
• Students on leave are exempted from semester tuition fees, and need pay only the other compulsory and any voluntary semester fees.
  
  
• If a student wishes to attend individual course units during a leave of absence he/she may of course do so. A fee of CHF 50.00 will be charged per weekly semester hour attended (to a maximum of CHF 580.00).

Bachelor’s degree students

First-year students

• A degree programme may not commence with a leave of absence, i.e. no leave of absence is possible in the first semester.

• Students may only take a leave of absence in the second semester if
  o they intend to repeat the first year.
  o they intend a change of degree programme.
  
  In each case the respective student must submit a well-grounded request to the Registrar’s Office (extension of first-year examination deadline or request for change of degree programme). Without this request it is not possible to respect deadlines and proceed with the study programme.
  
  Reasons: To compile the knowledge required to pass the first-year examinations, regular attendance during the first year of studies (without leave) is required. The first attempt at the first-year examinations must proceed in the next Winter session but one following commencement of the first semester. (Example: A student who begins his/her studies in Autumn Semester 2011 must sit the first-year examinations for the first time in the Winter examination session 2013 at the latest).

• If you are unsure of your choice of study programme and wish to take a leave of absence during your first year to reorient yourself, we recommend that you first discuss the matter with your study advisor.

Students who have passed their first-year examinations

• Students who have passed their first-year examinations may normally take a leave of absence thereafter for a maximum of two consecutive semesters. For exceptions to this, students should submit well-grounded requests to the Registrar’s Office which include, if indicated, a request for deadline extension (see also ‘General information’).

Master’s degree students

• Students admitted to a Master’s degree programme may not apply for a leave of absence during the first semester.

Leaves of absence at short notice

• Students who are absent from ETH for more than one week because of illness, accident, military service, bereavement in the immediate family or on other cogent grounds should discuss the matter with the lecturers involved. (The Registrar’s Office provides no specific forms.)