Academic Leave, Maternity Leave, and Childcare Leave for Students of HSE University

Academic leave may be granted if a student is temporarily unable to continue their degree programme for medical reasons, due to compulsory military service, or in other exceptional circumstances.

The maximum duration of a single academic leave is 12 (twelve) months. However, academic leave on medical grounds or due to military service may last up to 2 (two) years. Students may apply for academic leave more than once during their studies.

Students may also apply for maternity leave and childcare leave until their child turns three years old

Eligibility and Application Process

Eligibility

Academic leave may be granted in the following cases:

• Health reasons (supported by a medical commission report from a recognised healthcare institution)^*;
• Compulsory military service (supported by an official draft notice, mobilisation order, or a certified copy of a military service contract);
• Other exceptional circumstances, such as natural disasters or family emergencies^**(with supporting documents).

^{* Documents issued by foreign organisations or obtained from foreign sources must have a notarised translation into Russian or English.
** Academic leave cannot be granted solely due to the inability to combine studies at HSE University with work or with studies at another educational institution, or solely due to financial reasons and/or the inability to pay tuition fees at HSE University.}

^{Important: Under Federal Law No. 53-FZ On Military Duty and Military Service dated March 28, 1998, a learner retains the right to deferment from conscription into military service while on academic leave, provided that the overall period of deferment granted for study is not extended by more than one year. Accordingly, the total duration of academic leave (or leaves) must not exceed 12 months.}

Application Process

1. Submit an electronic application through the centralised e-service using your SmartPoint student account.
2. Attach scanned copies of the required supporting documents depending on the grounds for leave.
3. Representatives of the Student Service Centre will carry out an initial check and register your application for further review.
4. Applications for academic leave in other exceptional circumstances (excluding medical reasons and military service) are forwarded to a University-wide Commission for review within two working days, and the Commission makes a decision within five working days.
5. Academic leave is formalised by a directive no later than five working days from the date of the decision.

Who Makes the Decision

Decisions on academic leave for medical reasons or military service are taken by the Vice-Rector.

Decisions on academic leave for other exceptional circumstances are made by the University-wide Commission.

Maternity and Childcare Leave

1. Submit an electronic application through the centralised e-service using your SmartPoint student account.
2. Attach scanned copies of the required supporting documents:

• For maternity leave: a certificate of incapacity to work due to pregnancy and childbirth.
• For childcare leave: a copy of the child’s birth (or adoption) certificate, a court decision on adoption, an excerpt from a guardianship decision, or another document confirming the birth and registration of the child; and a certificate from the other parent’s place of work (service, or study^*) confirming they are not on childcare leave (or, if the other parent does not work, serve, or study – a certificate from the social welfare authorities confirming that they are not receiving monthly childcare allowance).

3. Maternity leave is granted for the period indicated in the certificate of incapacity to work. Childcare leave is granted from the date of the request for any period until the child reaches the age of three.
4. The decision to grant a maternity leave and childcare leave is formalised by a directive.

^{* A certificate from the other parent’s place of study may not be required if that parent is also an HSE University student.}

In addition to maternity leave and childcare leave, HSE students may also request an individual curriculum covering the period equivalent to the total days of maternity or childcare leave. To arrange this, contact your programme office.

Return to Studies After Academic Leave

Detailed information on this is available at the link.

Regulations

Directive of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation No. 455, dated June 13, 2013, on Approving the Procedures and Grounds for Student Exceptional Leave of Absence

Procedures for the Provision of an Exceptional Leave of Absence, Maternity Leave, and Parental Childcare Leave for Children Under the Age of Three to Students Enrolled in Bachelor’s, Specialist, and Master’s Degree Programmes at National Research University Higher School of Economics

Порядок расчета стоимости обучения по договорам об образовании за счет средств физического и (или) юридического лица при реализации программ высшего образования в Национальном исследовательском университете «Высшая школа экономики»

The Procedures and Conditions for Reinstating Students Who Were Dismissed From National Research University Higher School of Economics, and for Readmitting Students to Study After Academic Leave, Maternity Leave, Parental Leave, or Childcare Leave (took effect 10.12.2025)