For Students

Leave of absence from your studies

There may be several reasons why you, as a student, need to apply for a leave of absence from your studies. There are two types of study leave. You can read more about the differences between justified and unjustified leave and the requirements for being granted leave.

Justified leave of absence from study programmes

You may apply for leave of absence on the basis of illness, military service according to section 17 of the Defence Act (forsvarsloven), positions in student political bodies and other special reasons. Such leave can be granted provided that documentation has been submitted as described in the third paragraph.

For students in the veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing programmes, who are granted leave of absence from the veterinary medicine programme for a period exceeding three months will be moved down a year. The leave of absence comes in addition to the student's right to an extension of the study period.

In order to be granted justified leave of absence, the student must provide necessary documentation, such as:

• medical certificate

• term confirmation/ birth certificate/ documentation of adoption

• summons to military service

• documentation on positions in a student political body etc.

• documentation of the professional considerations given as a reason

• documentation of the conditions stated as the reason

Unjustified leave of absence from study programmes

You may apply for up to two (2) consecutive semesters of leave of absence from the study program without presenting a reason, provided that you have obtained at least 15 credits in the study programme in question. Please note that you cannot apply for unjustified leave of absence from all programs or when a contract on a bachelor’s or master’s degree thesis is entered into. 

The student can only apply for an unjustified leave of absence once during the course of the student's studies at NMBU. If the student has applied for a leave of absence for one semester, it is not possible to subsequently apply for an unjustified leave of absence for another semester.

Students at the following study programmes cannot apply for unjustified leave of absence:

  • Veterinary medicine
  • Bachelor of veterinary nursing
  • One-year teacher training (PPU)
  • European Master in Animal Breeding and Genetics
  • One-year program - Sustainable Economy and Management

General rules for leave of absence

In cases where a student is granted leave of absence and a contract on a bachelor’s or master’s degree thesis is entered into, the degree thesis contract must be revised both before the leave of absence begins and when it ends. A student cannot apply for unjustified leave of absence after a contract on a bachelor’s or master’s degree thesis is entered into. 

If you have been granted leave of absence you may be assessed at NMBU during your leave of absence, provided that you are registered for assessment in the course and registered for the semester.

When you are on leave of absence from NMBU you are not entitled to attend teaching activities or be allocated a student workstation at NMBU.

Application form

Application form for leave of absence is available in the link below. Please contact your student advisor at your program for any questions.

You can also find the form at page Applications, agreements and templates for students

Leave of absence is described in chapter 25 in Academic regulations for NMBU

Reservation of Study Place - Deferred Start of Studies

If you have been admitted to NMBU but need to apply for a deferred start of studies, you can read more about how to apply for this at Deferring your offer of admission