Research semester

Professors can be released in part or in full from other tasks for a period of time in order to complete certain research or development tasks or for continuing education (research or praxis semester). A research semester has no effect on salary (Sec. 49(7) State Higher Education Act).

Please note the following points:

  • You must ensure that your subject is adequately represented in the University's course offerings.
  • Examinations must take place.
  • During the research leave, the right to secondary employment continues to apply without restriction. You can therefore work one working day per week. As is usual during the semester break, blocks of up to seven days are possible if no secondary employment is carried out in the preceding or following weeks (see also § 62(3) of the State Civil Service Act).
  • A research semester may usually be granted for one semester only and only after a minimum of four years have passed since the end of the last leave period.
  • During the research semester you can be exempted from the rights and duties of university self-administration (participation in the Faculty Council, Senate, appointment committees, etc.). Please arrange for your representation if necessary.
  • The result of the research semester is to be reported informally. Please forward your report to the President’s Office via the Human Resources Department within six months of the end of your research semester. Please forward your report to the faculties as well.

Application

Please apply for the research semester using the form
Antrag auf Bewilligung eines Forschungssemesters (Request for approval of a research semester)

Please forward the form to the office of the faculty for a statement. The following bodies are responsible for providing the statement

  • for the Faculties A and W: the Faculty Board
  • for the Faculty N: the Faculty Council.
After the statement has been written, the Faculty forwards the request to the Human Resources Department (APO) for evaluation.
After the evaluation, APO submits the application to the person appointed by the President’s Office for a decision and the informs you of the result. 

Contact person

Andreas Krieg
Human Resources Department
+49 (0) 711 459-23801
E-mail