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You have become ill just before or during an examination

If your illness prevents you from attending and examination shortly before or during the examination, there is no need to use an examination attempt. In stead you need to let SDU know. You must be able to document your illness, e.g. with a doctor's note.

Read more about what you need to do if you are sick just before or during an examination.

You are ill for a longer period of time

If your illness prevents you from following your education and attending examination, you must apply for an exemption to be withdrawn from the courses and/or examination.

Before you apply for exemption through the Academic Study Board, it is a good idea to contact your programme coordinator to have a dicussion regarding which courses to withdraw from and when you will be able to complete them at a later time instead.

Read more about taking a break or reducing the intensity of study under section 5.

Individual study plan

If you are delayed in your programme e.g. due to illness, it is a good idea to make an individual study plan.

SU’s rules about study activity

Take notice of SU rules about study activities. If you are delayed in your  programme because of illness, you can apply for extra SU-clips.


You may find yourself in situations that take your focus off your studies for a period of time. Read more about how to deal with the various situations:

Illness and deaths in your immediate family

I... is considered to be exceptional circumstances. If you are not able to attend the examinations in the courses that you are enrolled in, or that you are unable to comply with the Active Enrolment Requirements or the Maximum Period of Study, you need to apply for an exemption.

Disability, e.g., dyslexia or chronic illness

If you have a disability, you can obtain special support. Disability can for example be chronic, physical illness, dyslexia, or a mental illness. A disability can also make you eligible for special examination conditions or other exemptions from the study rules.

Work

... is not regarded as an exceptional circumstance and therefore does not justify exemption. If you would like to work more for a period, you must therefore be very clear in your prioritizations.

Relationship problems, parents’ divorce, family problems, financial difficulties, difficult living conditions, illness, and death of a distant relative

... are all examples of situations that may take up a lot of your time and energy, and therefore affect your studies. At the same time, however, they are also situations that may not as a rule be regarded as exceptional circumstances. I.e. it’s not certain that they are justification enough to be granted exemption from your studies. If the situation affects you to such a degree, that your doctor assesses that you are ill and not able to study, it is equated with other types of illness.
Read more.

You can adjust your study plan 

If your current situation outside your studies means that you need a break from your studies or need to reduce the intensity of study for a period of time, you can do that as long as you comply with the rules, e.g. the Maximum Period of Study. If you cannot comply with the rules, you must apply for exemption.

Read more about taking a break or reducing the intensity of study under section 5.

Individual study plan

If you are delayed in your programme, it is a good idea to contact your programme coordinator to make an individual study plan together for your future course of study.


If illness, failed examinations, or other circumstances have caused you to be delayed in your study programme, you need to be aware of 4 things:

  1. Active Enrolment Requirements and Maximum Period of Study
    If you are delayed in your programme, you need to make sure that you comply with the Active Enrolment Requirements and Maximum Period of Study to be able to finish your study programme. If you do not comply with the rules, you must apply for an exemption. 

  2. Courses are phased out and curriculums are changed
    Programmes are adjusted continuously. If you are have postponed one or more courses there is a chance that you will no longer be able to attend lectures in the courses that you are missing, that the courses have been moved to another time of year etc.

  3. Academic progression
    Take a look at your curriculum to check if there is an academic progression in your programme you need to take into consideration.

  4. Taking courses again
    If you have missed a course from an earlier semester and you have used two exam attempts, you must enroll in and follow the course again and re-submit any assignments. This will help you optimizing your chances to pass the course. If you follow courses on various semesters, there may be a scheduling overlap between courses. If that is the case, you must prioritize to follow the course which is most important for you.
Individual study plan
If you are delayed in your study programme, you could benefit from contacting your programme coordinator to help create an individual study plan for completing the study programme


If you do not pass your 1. examination attempt, you must take an examination in the course again. You have a total of 3 attempts to pass most courses (The First Year Examination is an exception). Before you go to the exam again, be aware of what you need to do better next time. E.g., by contacting your teacher and receiving feedback.

How attend the exam again

It is your own responsibility to sign up for the 2. (and maybe 3.) examination attempt. If you do not register for the reexamination held in February/august, it may lead to consequences as you will be delayed a year with the course.

Read more about the rules for examination attempts here.

Get help managing examinations

If you need help managing the exam situation, you can contact the General Study Counseling.

Individual study plan

If you fail multiple examinations and therefore are delayed in your programme, it is a good idea to contact your programme coordinator to create an individual study plan together for your future course of study.


As a full-time student, you must live up to the Active Enrolment Requirements and Maximum Period of Study (link), as well as comply with other requirements, e.g. passing the First Year Examination (link). Read more about the rules of study.

3 options, when you need to diverge from the normal study plan

If you need to decrease the study intensity for a period of time, you have 3 options: You can adjust your study plan within the permitted framework, apply for an exemption from the rules or apply for a leave of absence.

 

Adjust your study plan within the framework

Exemption when you cannot comply with requirements

Leave of Absence

How to do it

At course enrolment you state which courses you would like to attend the next semester

When you realise that you cannot comply with the requirements (e.g. finish your programme within the Maximum Period of Study) you must apply for an exemption.

You apply for a leave of absence. However, be aware that it is difficult to meet the requirements for a leave of absence.

How does it affect your SU?

Your SU will continue – even when you do not attend any courses for a period. But there are certain limits. E.g. SU have active enrolment requirements as well.

Your SU will continue – even when you do not attend any courses for a period. But there are certain limits. E.g. SU have active enrolment requirements as well.

Your SU will stop in the period that you are on a leave of absence.

What does it mean for your lectures and examinations?

You are registered as an active student and may attend lectures and examinations in the courses you are enrolled in.

You are registered as an active student and may attend lectures and examinations in the courses you are enrolled in.

You cannot attend lectures or exams. You cannot receive supervision from lecturers.

Where can you learn more?

Read more about the Active Enrolment Requirements and Maximum Period of Study.

Read more about exemptions.

Read more about leave of absence.

Individual study plan

If you adjust your programme, it is a good idea to contact your programme programme coordinator to create an individual study plan together for your future course of study.

Congratulations! No matter if you are going to be a mother or a father, you are of course, entitled to parental leave.

What should you do? 

You must in general pass one exam each academic year unless you are affected by exceptional circumstances. Childbirth and parental leave are considered exceptional circumstances. When going on parental leave, you will be exempt from the Active Enrolment Requirements during your leave. However, you are welcome to be active in your programme if you feel you are up to it. In other words, you may take courses and pass exams even though you are on parental leave. That way you may get a bit ahead, and that may be an advantage for you later in your programme.

Read more about parental leave here.

What do you do when you return from parental leave?

When you resume your studies, it may be a good idea to draw up an Individual study plan (link) for the remainder of your programme, i.e. what courses you want to take and when.

Additional SU

If you have a child while studying, you are entitled to additional SU, so you will be able to go on parental leave. Check www.su.dk or get in touch with the SU office  if you need further information or assistance concerning SU.


Is it the right programme you are studying? Would another programme be better suited in view of your interests?
If you have thoughts like these, it may be a good idea to talk to someone and figure out why you are having doubts. Contact the General Study Counselling if you need to talk to someone about your doubts.


Should you decide that you want to change your programme, you will most likely have to apply again and start over. If you want to start over in a new programme, it may be a good idea to continue your current programme until you know whether you have been admitted to the new programme. This way, you’ll be sure to remain in your current programme, if, for some reason, you are not admitted in the new one.

You must apply for credits

You may apply for credits, and if the new programme has subjects that correlate to the ones you have passed in your previous programme, you will get credits. Getting credits means that some or all the subjects that you have passed in your previous programme will be transferred to your new programme. If you apply for a new programme and are admitted, you must apply for starting credits.

SU

Please note, that if you continue in your current programme, until you are admitted at the new one, you will be using your SU.


Do you feel that you are not thriving in your programme? If that is the case, it's a good idea to find out why. It is important to talk to someone about the challenges you are faced with. You are welcome to contact the General Study Counseling or the Student Chaplains, who can help you clarify why you are not thriving and what you can do to change your situation.



Withdrawing from your programme is a big decision and should be considered very carefully. It may be a good idea to talk to your family, friends, or a student counsellor about your thoughts. You are welcome to ask for counselling. Sometimes there might be other and better options than withdrawal available to you. E.g., taking a break or reducing the study intensity for a period. Read more in section 5.

Before you finally decide to withdraw, we recommend that you check the rules concerning withdrawal.

Find the withdrawal form here.

You would like to enroll again
If you have withdrawn from your programme and at some point would like to be re-enrolled in the same programme again, you must be aware of the rules for re-enrolment.

You may, of course, apply for admission to a completely different study programme, too. In that case you must apply through Admissions.

SU and student accommodation
Please be aware that your SU will cease upon withdrawal. Contact the employees at the SU office if you are uncertain about the deadlines and so on. To be eligible for most student accommodation you are required to be studying actively. Ask your housing association about their rules.


It is not possible to start over on your programme. However, you may attend courses again in subjects that you have previously failed. In other words, you may attend the course when it is available again. Keep in mind, however, that the examination attempts you have already used, count as part of the three examination attempts you have, to pass each exam.

You cannot sit the exam again in a subject that you have already passed, e.g. in order to get a better grade.



If you have experienced insulting behavior or discrimination in connection with your study, you should report it. Se how to report misconduct




Last Updated 28.07.2024