Parental leave and other absence

Leave owing to childbirth and pregnancy

Employed PhD students enrolled in the 3-year scheme (5+3) or part B of the 4-year scheme (4+4)

In accordance with the collective agreement of the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC) and Danish labour law, employed PhD students enrolled in the 3-year scheme (5+3) or part B of the 4-year scheme (4+4) have the same rights as other employees for taking leave in connection with childbirth and pregnancy.

Current rules and regulations as well as application forms for parental leave can be found at the website of the HR department.

PhD students enrolled in the 4- or 5-year scheme

PhD students enrolled in the 4- or 5-year scheme must comply with the rules and regulations set out in the Danish State Education Grant and Loan Scheme (SU) in regard to childbirth, pregnancy and illness while they are on part A. After the first two years, the PhD student will be transferred to employment as a PhD student for the remaining years of the PhD degree programme, and the PhD student will then have the same rights as other employees for taking leave in connection with childbirth and pregnancy in accordance the collective agreement of the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC) and Danish labour law.

PhD students enrolled in part A of the four-year scheme must submit an application form if they wish to take leave due to childbirth:

Leave owing to illness

Employed PhD students enrolled in the 3-year scheme (5+3) or part B of the 4-year scheme (4+4)

In accordance with the collective agreement of the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC) and Danish labour law, employed PhD students enrolled in the 3-year scheme (5+3) or part B of the 4-year scheme (4+4) have the same rights as other employees for taking leave in connection with illness.

The Graduate School is not legally obliged to extend the PhD education due to sickness leave. The  Graduate School is, however, authorized to extend the PhD education after a concrete individual assessment in connection with long-term sickness absence. If an extension on the basis of long-term sickness absence is desired, a request is sent to the Graduate School. The application must be supported in writing by the supervisor and submitted to the Graduate School by the programme chair together with their support for the request.

PhD students enrolled in part A of the 4- or 5-year scheme

PhD students enrolled in the 4- or 5-year scheme must comply with the rules and regulations set out in the Danish State Education Grant and Loan Scheme (SU) in regard to illness while they are on part A. After the first two years, the PhD student will be transferred to employment as a PhD student for the remaining years of the PhD degree programme, and the PhD student will then have the same rights as other employees for taking leave in connection with illness, in accordance to the collective agreement of the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC) and Danish labour law, see above.

For the possibility of receiving SU during your illness leave, please visit the website of the Danish State Education Grant and Loan Scheme.

The Graduate School is not legally obliged to extend the PhD education due to sickness leave. The  Graduate School is, however, authorized to extend the PhD education after a concrete individual assessment in connection with long-term sickness absence. After application, the Graduate School can grant a maximum of four months of pre-PhD SU scholarship (corresponding to 8 vouchers) because of long term illness within a period of 12 months, cf the rules and regulations set out in the Danish State Education Grant and Loan Scheme (SU). After four months, the pre-PhD SU scholarship will stop until the PhD study is resumed. 

Leave owing to other absence

The PhD degree programme is designed as a coherent 3-, 4- or 5-year scheme. Other kinds of leave (including part-time leave) are, therefore, permitted only in special cases. The head of the Graduate School may allow part-time leave in connection with resumed studies after temporary interruption owing to long-term serious illness on the basis of a motivated application.

PhD students who wish to interrupt the PhD studies for a shorter or longer period of time must submit a motivated application in writing to the head of the Graduate School.