Medical Leave at Tri-City Universities: PG, UG, and GUMed Rules

Obtaining a medical certificate in Gdańsk, Gdynia or Sopot does not require a visit to a private practice. If you are registered in Primary Health Care (POZ) under the National Health Fund, the visit and issuance of the document are completely free of charge.

1. Student Clinics and Primary Care Clinics

• Gdańsk University of Technology (Gdańsk University of Technology): Scanmed Medical Center (Do Studzienki / Traugutta Street) located right next to the Gdańsk Tech dormitories.

• Medical University of Gdańsk (MUG): University Clinical Center (UCK) at 7 Dębinki Street in Aniołki.

• University of Gdańsk (UG): Primary care clinics in Oliwa, Przymorze and Sopot.

2. Night and Holiday Health Care (After 6:00 p.m. and on weekends)

If you become suddenly ill at night or on Sunday before Monday’s colloquium, report to the Night Health Care Point:

• Gdańsk Śródmieście / Aniołki: UCK (7 Dębinki Street, CMP building).

• Gdańsk Zaspa / Przymorze: St. Adalbert’s Hospital (50 Jana Pawła II Street).

• Gdynia: J. Brudziński Municipal Hospital (Wrocławska / Redłowo Street).

Rules for justifying absence at Gdańsk Tech, University of Gdańsk Tech and MUG (Sacred term of 7 days)

Each of the main Tri-City universities has provisions in its Study Regulations specifying the procedure for reporting sickness.

Rules at individual universities:

• Gdańsk University of Technology (MojaPG): The application for an excuse for absence is submitted electronically on the MojaPG portal in the e-Applications tab. A scan/photo of the medical certificate is attached to the application. Remember to notify the lab instructor by email before the class starts!

• University of Gdańsk (USOSweb): The certificate is delivered directly to the lecturers or sent via the USOSweb/university e-mail system. Exceeding 7 days from the date of issuing the letter causes the rejection of the justification by the Dean’s Office.

• MUG: Due to the rigorous nature of medical studies, any absence from clinical exercises requires the absolute presentation of a medical certificate and working out classes with another student group at the UCK hospital.

How do lecturers in the Tri-City treat sick leave?

Remember a basic distinction: sick leave excuses your absence from class, but it does NOT exempt you from mastering the study material!

WHAT DOES SICK LEAVE GIVE AND WHAT DOES IT NOT?

• Excuses absence (you don’t get an “unexcused entry”).
• It protects you from being removed from the list for not attending.
• It allows you to set an additional date for the colloquium / exam.
• DOES NOT EXEMPT FROM THE PREPARATION OF A LABORATORY REPORT (e.g. at PG/MUG).
• DOES NOT give a free positive assessment without writing a test.

How to work off the arrears at the university?

• Laboratories (PG / MUG): After returning from leave, you agree with the instructor on the date of working on a laboratory exercise with another section/group in a given week or on the set deadline for working off at the end of the semester.
• Exercises and Seminars (UG): The instructor may assign an additional oral answer on duty in the Main Building/Oliwa or order the writing of a short paper/analysis of the case.

Managing sick leave appointments, arranging work with lecturers, checking ECTS credits and settling bills for accommodation with roommates can be difficult during illness. See how the comprehensive application for students Student360 works – it helps you plan your class calendar, settle utility and station fees, control ECTS credits, track your schedule in casual work, and securely store notes and documents in the cloud on a 5 GB drive.

What to do if you fall ill during the Exam Session? (Protection of the 1st term)

Being sick during a winter (January/February) or summer (June) exam session is a lot of stress. Presenting a valid medical certificate provides you with full legal protection.

• If you are ill on the day of the exam and report sick leave within 7 days, the Dean issues a decision to reinstate the exam date.

• The lecturer is obliged to set an individual first exam date for you.

• In the MojaPG or USOSweb system, you do not receive an unsatisfactory grade (2.0) – you retain the right to take the first date and to a possible retake date!

Organizing the student budget, keeping an eye on the deadlines for e-applications and controlling expenses in the Tri-City make it easier to stay calm in random situations. Install the Student360 student life support app, which makes it easier to settle utilities in the dormitory, control expenses and help you take care of the organization of your academic affairs.

L4 from e-Consultation (Online) – Do the Dean’s Offices of Gdańsk University of Gdańsk University of Gdańsk Tech verify purchased exemptions?

In recent years, dozens of paid services have appeared on the Internet offering “sick leave in 5 minutes via a form”. The deans of universities in the Tri-City (especially at the Gdańsk University of Technology and MUG) have been sensitive to this type of documents and are actively verifying them.

Why is L4 from “online slots” a huge risk?

• Verification of PWZ and REGON numbers: Faculty dean’s offices (e.g. WETI or WILiŚ at Gdańsk Tech and Faculty of Law and Administration at UG) check in medical registers whether the doctor issuing L4 runs a real practice or is related to an entity trading in documentation.
• Legal consequences: Submitting a purchased, fictitious medical certificate to a university is a crime under Article 270 of the Criminal Code (Use of a document certifying untruth). This results in immediate expulsion from the university by the Disciplinary Committee for Students and notification of the prosecutor’s office.

Retroactive releases – up to how many days back can a doctor issue an L4?

According to the provisions of the Social Insurance Institution and the Regulation of the Minister of Health:

• Primary care physician / internist: Can issue a sick leave no more than 3 days back from the date of the examination (e.g. going to the doctor on Thursday, the sick leave can cover the period from Monday).

• Psychiatrist: As the only specialist, he has the right to issue a leave of absence for a period longer than 3 days back, if he considers that mental disorders (e.g. a severe depressive episode, nervous breakdown) prevented the student from contacting the clinic earlier.

Health Leave (Health Dean) – How to save a year in the event of a serious illness?

If your health problems are long-term (e.g. serious injury, surgery at UCK hospital, chronic illness or long-term psychiatric treatment) and you are unable to attend classes for more than 3-4 weeks, a single L4 is not enough.

The solution is to submit an application for Health Leave (the so-called Health Dean) in the MojaPG or USOSweb system.

Why is Health Leave more profitable than “trying to pass by force”?

• Freezing of ECTS fees and credits: During your sick leave, you do not pay for the repetition of failed subjects (conditions) and your ECTS deficit limit is not reduced.

• Student status protection: You retain a valid ELS card, 50% discounts on SKM trains and ZTM/ZKM public transport, and the right to live in a Gdańsk University of Gdańsk or UG dormitory.

• Peace of mind: When you return from medical leave, you continue your studies exactly from the moment you left them, without having to go through recruitment again.

Lecturer refuses recognition L4 – Role of Student Ombudsman (SSPG / SSSUG)

Unfortunately, there are cases at universities when the lecturer (despite the student presenting a valid medical certificate within 7 days) refuses to conduct a retake colloquium or inserts an unsatisfactory grade for absence.

In such a situation, do not fight the professor alone – use institutional help.

Where to look for help in the Tri-City?

• Gdańsk University of Technology: The Office of the Gdańsk Tech Student Government (SSPG) in Bratniak / Office of the Gdańsk Tech Student Ombudsman.

• University of Gdańsk: Student Ombudsman of SSSUG (Oliwa Campus, Rector’s Office building / Faculty of Law).

• MUG: Faculty Student Government of MUG (at Dębinki Street).

The Student Ombudsman acts on your behalf to the Vice-Dean for Education. The Study Regulations are a legal act of a higher order than the internal “whims” of a single lecturer – if the L4 was valid and delivered within 7 days, the Dean will order an additional deadline for passing without discussion.

Sick Leave vs. Compulsory Student Internships and Clinical Classes (MUG)

Illness during compulsory student internships (e.g. in corporations at Olivia Centre, engineering companies in Wrzeszcz or hospitals) requires a two-pronged action.

• Clinical classes at MUG (UCK Hospital / Hospital in Zaspa): For the safety of patients, coming to clinical classes with an infection is strictly prohibited. Any absence must be excused by L4. Clinical homework takes place on an individual basis (joining another student group) after agreement with the Head of the Clinic.
• Internships in external companies: If you are ill during your summer engineering or bachelor’s internship, you report your L4 to both the company’s apprenticeship supervisor and the university’s apprenticeship supervisor. You must work off the missing days of practice by extending the duration of the internship by the duration of your sick leave.

Summary of the rules for dealing with sick leave

• Remember about the inviolable deadline of 7 days to submit an application in MojaPG / USOSweb.

• Use only certificates from real NFZ/Private clinics with a valid doctor’s PCI number.

• In the case of long-term health problems, do not risk being removed from the list – apply for Health Leave.

• If the lecturer resists, immediately contact the Student Ombudsman at your university!

Frequently Asked Questions About College Sick Leave

1. Does a lecturer at Gdańsk University of Technology or University of Gdańsk University have the right to refuse to recognize a sick leave?

If the exemption is an official document issued by a doctor with a PCI number and has been submitted within the required period of 7 days, the lecturer has no right to refuse to recognize it. In case of resistance from the lecturer, report the matter to the Vice-Dean for Education / Studies.

2. How many absences from exercises can I justify with sick leave in the semester?

The study regulations specify the so-called maximum limit of absences (usually up to 20-30% of classes per semester). If you miss more than 30-50% of classes due to a long-term illness, the lecturer or Dean may order you to repeat the course or offer you a medical/dean’s leave.

3. What data must be included in a medical certificate for a university?

The certificate must include: your name and surname, PESEL number, exact dates of inability to attend academic classes, the header stamp of the medical facility and the doctor’s name stamp and signature with the PWZ number.

4. Is the exemption from a doctor from a private practice honored by the university?

Yes. Public universities (Gdańsk Tech, UG, MUG) accept medical certificates issued both in NFZ facilities and in private offices or medical centers (LuxMed, Medicover, Enel-Med).

5. What should I do if I am late with the delivery of my sick leave for more than 7 days?

Exceeding the 7-day deadline results in automatic rejection of the dismissal by the Dean’s Office. The only option is to submit an individual application to the Dean with a request to reinstate the appointment due to extremely difficult fortuitous circumstances (e.g. a stay in the ICU).

6. Is the e-Sick Leave (ZUS ZLA) issued to the employer sufficient for the university?

Yes, the ZUS ZLA e-Exemption is an official state document. You can download a printout or PDF file from the Internet Patient Account (IKP) and hand it over to the Dean’s Office/lecturer.