Sabbatical leave normally runs for a period of six months, either from 1 August to 31 January or from 1 February to 31 July, or exceptionally over 12 months. Shorter research leave arrangements can be agreed at the discretion of the Head of Department. Please note that applications of 12 months will only be considered for sabbaticals starting in August.
The scheme is open to academic staff (lecturers, senior lecturers, readers, professors) who are on permanent contracts and have three years of continuous service at the sabbatical's start date. The qualifying period of eligibility should normally begin after the completion of probation, and eligibility is counted from the proposed start of the sabbatical leave, not from the time of application.
Entitlement to sabbatical leave is not automatic but is based on the merits of the proposal and the strategic needs of the University, Faculty and Department.
Up to 25 awards of six month leave periods are available each academic year. If there are no applications of sufficient quality in a particular Faculty or School, no sabbatical will be awarded.