Short-term illness

If you are ill for a short period (e.g. with the flu) and your illness does not coincide with your exams, you do not need to inform SDU about your absence.

Illness before or during an exam

If illness prevents you from attending an exam shortly before or during it, you should not have to use an exam attempt. Instead, you must inform SDU. You will need to provide documentation of your illness, such as a medical certificate.

Read more about what to do if you fall ill before or during an exam.

Long-term illness

Contact the academic advisors if you already know weeks or months in advance that illness or other exceptional circumstances will prevent you from attending an exam. Together, you can discuss your options for postponing your exam.

If you realise during the semester that your illness will prevent you from taking an exam, you must apply for a dispensation to withdraw from your courses.

Adjusting your study plan

If your illness means that you need a break or a temporary reduction in study intensity, you can do so as long as you comply with the requirements, such as the time limit for completing your degree. If you are unable to meet these requirements, you must apply for a dispensation.

Read more about taking a break or reducing your study workload under section 5.

Individual study plan

If your studies are delayed due to illness, it is a good idea to create an individual study plan.

SU rules on study activity

Be aware of SU's rules on study activity. If your studies are delayed due to illness, you may apply for extra SU grants.

Some situations may temporarily take your focus away from your studies. Here’s what you should do in different cases:

Illness and bereavement in the immediate family

These are considered exceptional circumstances beyond your control. If you are unable to attend an exam or meet study requirements, you must apply for a dispensation.

Disability (e.g. dyslexia or chronic illness)

If you have a disability, you may be eligible for special support. This may also allow you to apply for a dispensation.

Work

Work is not considered an exceptional circumstance and does not entitle you to dispensation.

Other personal circumstances

Breakups, parental divorce, financial problems, housing issues, or illness/bereavement in the extended family can be challenging, but they do not generally qualify for dispensation. However, if your doctor determines that your condition makes you unable to study, it is treated as an illness.

Adjusting your study plan

If you need a break or a reduced study workload, you can adjust your study plan within the applicable regulations. If you are unable to meet requirements such as the deadline for completing your degree, you must apply for a dispensation.

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

Individual study plan

If you experience delays, an individual study plan can help you structure your progress.

If illness, failed exams, or other circumstances have delayed your studies, please be aware of the following:

Study activity requirements and time limits

You must still meet the study activity requirements and time limits for completing your degree. If you are unable to meet these requirements, you must apply for a dispensation.

Changes to courses and study regulations

Degree programmes are continuously adjusted. If you have been away from your studies, courses may have been moved, changed, or discontinued.

You must follow the latest version of the course

If a course is modified (e.g. in terms of exam format or syllabus), you must follow the latest version. Stay updated by checking your course descriptions.

Academic progression

Check your study regulations to see if there are academic progression requirements you need to consider.

When is the course offered?

Refer to the overview of available courses to see whether your course runs in the spring or autumn semester.

Should you attend classes or just take the exam?

If you have an exam from a previous semester, you can decide whether to retake the course. If you have failed an exam, it may be beneficial to attend classes again. Check the exam regulations.

If you are taking courses from different semesters, class schedules may overlap – in this case, you need to prioritise which courses are most important to attend.

Individual study plan

If you experience delays, an individual study plan can help you plan your further studies.

If you do not pass on your first attempt, you must retake the exam. You have a total of three attempts to pass each course (except for a possible first-year exam).

Read more about what to do if you fail an exam.

Get help with exams

Do you need support for your exam situation? There are several options available.

Read more about exams here.

Study activity requirements and flexibility

As a full-time student, you must comply with the requirements for study activity and time limits, including passing the first-year exam.

Adjusting your study plan

You can adjust your study intensity within the permitted limits, for example, by postponing a course or taking a summer course to create more flexibility.

Dispensation for special circumstances

You can only be exempted from the requirements in special cases, such as illness, serious illness/bereavement in the immediate family, military service, or parental leave.

Parental leave during studies

Read more about special conditions for parental leave if you are becoming a parent.

Three options for adjusting your study plan

If you need to reduce your study intensity, you have the following options:

• Adjust your study plan – Modify your studies within the permitted framework.
• Dispensation – Apply for an exemption from the requirements due to exceptional circumstances.
• Leave of absence – Apply for leave if you meet the requirements.

Taking a break between a bachelor's and a master's degree

You can take a break between your bachelor's and master's degree, as you have the right to enrol in your master's programme within three years. However, be aware that you will no longer be considered a student at SDU during this period.

You are entitled to parental leave, regardless of whether you are a mother or a father.

What do you need to do?

As a student, you are generally required to pass at least one exam per year unless you have an exceptional circumstance. Childbirth and parental leave are considered such circumstances, meaning you can be exempted from the study activity requirement.

However, this does not mean you cannot remain academically active if you have the capacity. You can still attend classes and take exams to stay ahead and create more flexibility later in your studies.

Read more about how to apply for parental leave.

Returning from parental leave

When you return to your studies, an individual study plan can help you structure which courses to take and when.

Extra SU grants

If you have a child while studying, you may be eligible for extra SU grants, allowing you to take parental leave without financial concerns. Visit www.su.dk or contact the SU office for more information.

Are you studying the right degree? Is there another programme that better matches your interests?

If you have these thoughts, it might be a good idea to talk to someone and explore why you are feeling uncertain.

Contact the student counsellors if you need to discuss your doubts about your studies.

If you want to change your degree programme, you usually need to apply for admission again and start from the beginning. You can choose to continue with your current programme until you know whether you have been accepted into the new one. If you are not admitted, you can continue your current studies.

Possibility of credit transfer

If your new degree programme includes courses similar to those you have already passed, you can apply for credit transfer. This means that some of your previous courses may count towards your new programme, potentially shortening your studies. If you are admitted, you must apply for initial credit transfer.

SU and study progression

Remember that you will use SU grants if you continue in your current programme while waiting for admission to a new one.

Are you not thriving in your studies? Then it’s a good idea to figure out why.

It’s important to talk to someone about your challenges. For example, you are welcome to reach out to the student counsellors, who can help you understand why you’re struggling and what you can do to improve your situation.

Withdrawing from your studies is a big decision, and you should consider it carefully. Talk to family, friends, or a student counsellor about your thoughts. Sometimes, there may be better alternatives, such as taking a break or reducing your study intensity.

Important considerations before withdrawing

We recommend that you familiarise yourself with the rules for withdrawal before making your final decision.

Find the withdrawal form here.

Re-enrolment and admission

If you have previously withdrawn and wish to resume the same degree programme, you should be aware of the rules for re-enrolment.

If you want to apply for a completely new degree programme, you must do so via the Coordinated Admission system.

SU and student accommodation

Your SU will stop when you withdraw. Contact the SU office if you are unsure about deadlines or other details.

Most student accommodations require you to be an active student. Check the rules with your housing provider if you are unsure.

You cannot restart your degree programme, but you can retake courses you have not passed. This means you can attend the course the next time it is offered. However, your previous exam attempts will still count towards the total of three attempts.

Read more about what happens if you fail an exam.

You cannot retake passed courses to improve your grade.

If illness prevents you from passing

If you fail to pass any courses in your first year due to illness, you can retake them the following year. However, remember the following:

• Apply for a dispensation to withdraw from your courses and avoid using an exam attempt.
• Apply for a dispensation from the deadline to pass your first-year exam.
• Be aware of the study activity requirements and time limits.

Contact a student counsellor if you want to retake courses or explore other options.

In certain cases, you can begin a master's programme before completing your bachelor's degree. However, this requires that you meet a number of criteria.

You can enrol in a maximum of 30 ECTS credits at the master's level before completing your bachelor's degree.

Read more about master's courses before completing your bachelor's degree.

If you have experienced offensive behaviour or discrimination in connection with your studies, you can read about what to do.