STUDY

Students at the University of Klagenfurt are able to suspend their studies. Whilst suspending your studies does not mean that you will be deregistered from your programme of study, you may not attend lectures, seminars or any other classes, sit examinations or submit or receive results for academic theses.

The Suspension of studies application can be submitted electronically, by selecting “My applications” in your online student portal.

When should I submit an application?

At the very latest, the application should be submitted by the start of the relevant semester. In the event of an unforeseen and unavoidable statutory reason for a suspension of studies, the application can be submitted up to the end of the extension period of the respective semester at the latest.

What reasons can be accepted when it comes to applying to suspend my studies?

In order to suspend your programme, one of the following circumstances must apply:

I. Statutory reasons for suspension

1. You are completing military, training or community service
   (Evidence: Notice from military command or community service agency)
2. You have a long-term illness, which is impeding your study progress
   (Evidence: Medical certificate)
   
3. You are pregnant
   (Evidence: Confirmation of pregnancy)
4. You are caring for children
   (Evidence: Birth certificate)
5. Other similar duties of care (e.g. You are caring for a relative)
   (Evidence: Official confirmation of the care level or medical certificate confirming the necessity of care as well as evidence of the degree of kinship (official records))
6. You are completing a voluntary social service year
   (Evidence: Confirmation from the body in charge of the year of voluntary welfare work)
7. COVID-19 suspension of studies
   (only possible for the summer semester 2020)
   If reasons exist that are related to COVID-19. Specifically, these are activities carried out in the interest of public safety, health care, education or security of supply, or care-related services that have arisen due to restrictions imposed by COVID legislation.
   You must provide relevant, credible confirmation that a suspension is necessary.

II. Reasons defined by the university’s statutes

You have another important reason for suspending your studies (e.g. social or family matters, work experience that is not a compulsory work placement, or professional deployment abroad)
(Evidence: You must provide relevant, credible confirmation that a suspension is necessary.)

It is your responsibility to ensure that you provide credible evidence to support your suspension application.

You can suspend your studies for one or two semesters per case. You are not precluded from submitting a further request at a later time.

Who makes the decision on my application?

The Rector of Studies will make a decision on your application within two weeks. If your application is successful, your student status will be updated to “suspended”. This status is recorded on your confirmation of enrolment form, which you can view under “My confirmations”.

You will also receive confirmation of your suspension by email.

What are the consequences of suspending my studies?

The suspension applies to all study programmes of the educational institution, at which it was requested and in the case of joint studies (e.g. teacher training programmes offered by the Development Association Southeast) for all study programmes of the participating educational institutions.

Suspending your studies does not mean that you will be deregistered from your programme of study. You may not, however, attend lectures, seminars or any other classes, sit examinations or submit or receive results for academic theses.

Duration of suspensions:

• In the winter semester: 1 October until 28/29 February
• In the summer semester: 1 March until 30 September
• Duration of a COVID-19 suspension: from the date of approval of the application until 30 September 2020

Students who have suspended their studies have no university fees to pay per suspended semester, and only pay the student union fee (ÖH-Beitrag).