Sabbatical Leave

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Ulster University appreciates and upholds the value of sabbatical leave for individual career development that enhances the University’s academic reputation.

The call for 2025/26 Sabbatical Leave Applications has now closed.

Dr Laura Bradley-Mccauley, Professor Kevin Curran, Professor Bridgeen Callan and Dr Linley Hamilton share their recent experiences of the Ulster University sabbatical scheme.

Sabbatical Leave

Sabbatical leave is a form of paid leave that is free from all teaching and administrative duties allowing the individual to undertake research, teaching or other academic excellence activities.

Periods of sabbatical leave will enable an individual to develop personally, whilst delivering clear research outputs and/or teaching enhancements that are of benefit to the University

For more information on criteria, duration and procedures see the Sabbatical Leave Policy and Procedures.

It is recommended that staff considering applying for sabbatical leave speak to their Head of School and/or Research Director in the first instance.

Who can apply

The Sabbatical Leave policy is an inclusive process and applies to all academic and research staff (both full-time and part-time) who have completed their period of probation. Sabbatical leave projects can be for teaching and/or research projects.

Staff in their final year of service will not normally be eligible to apply for sabbatical leave. Staff who hold a contract with another University or academic institution are not eligible to apply. Only one period of sabbatical leave can be granted in any 5 year period.

How to apply

The call for Sabbatical Leave in 2025/26 has now closed.

The sabbatical leave application form and procedures for 2025/26 are included below.

Download 2025/26 Sabbatical Leave Application Form [Word format]

For more information on criteria, duration and procedures see the Sabbatical Leave Policy and Procedures.

Criteria

In assessing applications for sabbatical leave, consideration will be given to the proposed activities and outcomes of the sabbatical leave and how these will contribute to:

Making a ‘step change’, delivering impact or adding value to the applicant’s research or teaching;
The furtherance of the applicant’s career; and
The successful implementation of the University’s People, Place and Partnership plan and the School’s academic excellence priorities in relation to research and teaching excellence.

Q&As

Who can apply for Sabbatical Leave?

The Sabbatical Leave policy applies to all academic/research staff (both full-time and part-time) who have completed their period of probation. Staff in their final year of service will not normally be eligible to apply for sabbatical leave. Staff who hold a contract with another University or academic institution are not eligible to apply. Only one leave period granted in any 5 year-period.
Can Sabbatical Leave be for a teaching project?

Yes. The Sabbatical Leave can be for teaching and/or research projects. Sabbatical leave can be for a range of activities, see the videos included on this page and list below for some examples of previous sabbatical leaves.
What sort of projects are undertaken for Sabbatical Leave?
Sabbatical Leave projects vary, and are dependent on delivery of the outcomes and criteria. You can hear about some staff experiences of Sabbatical Leave in the videos above and the following are some examples of previous Sabbatical Leave project outcomes:
- Developing and testing teaching based models and software
- Developing high quality journal articles/outputs for REF
- Writing journal articles, books/book chapters, monographs, research reports
- Developing exhibition work, photography, compositions
- Developing leadership skills
- Developing funding proposals/applications
- REF Impact case study development
- Building networks and collaboration
- Developing teaching or research opportunities or new study development
- Gaining memberships to Committees/Organisations
- Developing research-led teaching modules and supervision
- Engaging with industry and developing industry-based teaching or research
- License and patent development
This list of examples is not exhaustive. If you are considering applying for Sabbatical Leave and want to discuss your proposed project, you should talk to your Head of School/Research Director.
How long is Sabbatical Leave for?

Sabbatical leave will be for a duration of 16 weeks and must begin on day one of teaching in any semester.
My School is a small unit, can I apply for Sabbatical Leave?

All academic/research staff can apply for Sabbatical Leave. If you are concerned about cover and capacity you should talk to your Head of School/Research Director about the various cover options.
What are the criteria for assessing Sabbatical Leave applications?
In assessing applications for sabbatical leave, consideration will be given to the proposed activities and outcomes of the sabbatical leave and how these will contribute to:
- Making a ‘step change’, delivering impact or adding value to the applicant’s research or teaching;
- The furtherance of the applicant’s career; and
- Ulster University’s strategic priorities and the School’s academic excellence priorities in relation to research and teaching excellence.

Additional Sabbatical Leave Case Studies

You can also view additional videos of other Ulster University staff who have taken a sabbatical leave.

Information for staff returning from sabbatical leave

By the end of a period of sabbatical leave, academic/research staff must submit a post-sabbatical leave outcomes report containing evidence of tangible outcomes that support their research or teaching career and the reputation of the University.

This requirement is covered in the Sabbatical Leave Application Form.

The report must be submitted to the Head of School within one month after the end of the sabbatical leave period.