28 August 2025

Good news: the Faculty Board now offers the possibility to apply for a research sabbatical. This policy is developed to give staff more dedicated time for research — for example, to prepare a grant proposal, complete a book, write an article, or carry out a research visit — by temporarily reducing (part of) their teaching and committee duties.

What does the regulation entail?

• A maximum of one teaching-free block per academic year, which may be combined with a teaching-free period in summer and/or after Christmas.

• Open only to permanent academic staff (Assistant Professors, Associate Professors, and Full Professors) who have been employed for at least five consecutive years and have not previously used a research sabbatical.

• A maximum of two research sabbaticals will be granted per year, depending on teaching schedules and the possibility of colleagues covering courses.

Application procedure

1. When: Submit your written, motivated application in the month prior to the start of the academic year (for example, in August for the following year). See the associated form.

2. Where: Applications should be submitted to the Department Chair(s) (DV) and the Director of Education (OD). Within four weeks they will formulate an advice to the Faculty Board.

3. Decision: Within three weeks after receiving the advice, the Faculty Board will issue a motivated decision, communicated in writing to the applicant.

4. Content of the application: Clearly explain how teaching and other duties will be covered during your absence, formulate the intended research objective, and—if relevant—outline preparations for a grant proposal.

5. Documentation: If granted, the agreements will be recorded in the GROW cycle, and results will later be evaluated within the same cycle.

Why this regulation?

This measure aligns with the Faculty’s vision on balancing teaching, research, and recognition of academic staff. At a time of increasing workload and growing ambitions, additional support for research is essential.