Special rules for VIP and students

Fixed-term employment

As a general rule, you are not entitled to an extension of your employment for periods of parental leave-related absence.

However, special rules apply for scientific staff and students, as described below.

Extension of employment for PhD Fellows, Postdocs, Assistant Professors, and Researchers

If you are employed on a fixed-term basis as a PhD fellow, postdoc, assistant professor, or researcher, you are entitled to have your employment extended by the period you have taken parental leave.

If your employment ends during your leave, you have the right to remain employed for the entire period of parental leave. Your employment will be further extended by the the period of leave you took before your original end date of contract.

The extension will take effect once your parental leave ends.

To have your employment extended, you must indicate this in parental leave form.

Extension of Employment for Students

If you are employed as a student, you are covered by the Danish Vocational Education Act and are entitled to an extension of your training period if you have been on parental leave.

The extension of your employment is based on the extended training agreement. There is no automatic extension when you notify your leave. The extension takes effect once we have received the extended agreement. Employment can be extended by the period of parental leave taken before the original end date of your contract.

Please note that if less than 10% of your training period remains and you have already passed your final exam or assessment, your employment may not be extended, as the training may be considered complete at the start of your leave.

Extension of Employment for Interns

If you are an intern—for example, a laboratory intern—you are not covered by the Danish Vocational Education Act but your employment is governed by the Parental Leave Agreement. You can read more at Lifeindenmark.dk.

You are not entitled to an extension on the same terms as students, as there is no corresponding legal basis for extension.