Extramural studies and work: training leave, time off and the agreement with your employer

With the employer's consent — that's the key

The Labour Code defines improving professional qualifications as gaining or supplementing knowledge and skills on the employer's initiative or with its consent. Only then do employees have the statutory rights. So before submitting your university application, talk to your manager and get consent in writing.

If the employer doesn't consent, you can still study — you can then agree unpaid time off or unpaid leave in an amount agreed with the employer.

What rights you have

An employee improving qualifications with the employer's consent is entitled to:

• time off for all or part of a working day to attend compulsory classes and travel to them — with pay;
• training leave: 21 days in the final year of studies to prepare the thesis and the final exam;
• 6 days of training leave for external exams, the matura or a vocational exam;
• pay for the time of training leave and time off.
• Training leave is granted on the employee's working days.

Extra benefits and the agreement

The employer may — but doesn't have to — cover tuition, travel, textbooks or accommodation. If it wants the employee to stay after the studies, it signs a written agreement with them. The agreement can't be less favourable than the Code, and the 'payback' period can't exceed 3 years.

Repaying the cost of extra benefits — in proportion to the time worked — may be required if, for example, the employee drops the studies without good reason, resigns during the period set in the agreement (with exceptions, e.g. mobbing) or is dismissed for misconduct.

• Read the agreement before signing and check which costs it covers and for how long.
• Ask whether the employer funds all of the tuition or part — and how instalments are settled.
• If you change jobs, calculate how much you'd have to repay.

How much it costs

Public universities may charge for part-time studies, and each sets its own fees. There's usually also an application fee, a student ID and travel to weekend sessions. Part-time students can apply for scholarships under the university's rules. Some companies also use the National Training Fund (KFS), which can fund, among other things, postgraduate studies.

Surviving the first semester

Extramural studies usually mean weekend sessions every two weeks and a lot of independent work. Planning ahead helps: put the sessions in your calendar as soon as the schedule is published, tell your team about exam periods early, and book two or three short study blocks a week instead of relying on the weekend before an exam.