Thanksgiving break allows you to take a break from studying without having to abandon your studies. You can use it for reasons such as health, family, or personal ones. However, many students wonder if they still have their student ID and the related discounts during such a break. The good news is that Thanksgiving leave does not, in principle, result in the loss of student status. However, it is necessary to remember about extending the validity of the document and the rules applicable at the specific university.
In short – the most important information:
Thanksgiving break, popularly called „Thanksgiving”, is a formal break from participating in academic activities. Unlike dropping out of studies, a student does not complete their education, but temporarily interrupts it according to the rules set by the university.
The right to leave for study purposes is provided for in Article 85 of the Higher Education and Science Act. The detailed conditions for its granting are determined by the regulations of the individual universities.
The most common reasons for applying for a Thanksgiving holiday are:
Universities often distinguish between sick leave, casual leave, parental leave, and special leave. It is worth checking which type of leave suits your situation, as this can affect the required documentation and your ability to participate in selected courses.
Yes. A student who takes a properly granted leave from classes generally retains the status of a student and the right to use a valid ID.
This is confirmed by the regulations of many Polish universities, including the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań and the Polish-Japanese Academy of Computer Engineering.
However, three situations must be distinguished:
The situation | What about the ID? |
Formally granted sabbatical leave with respect to the student's rights | The ID card can remain valid |
Suspension of a student's rights | The ID card becomes invalid |
Removing students from the list | The ID card becomes invalid |
This distinction is particularly important because not every break from studying has the same legal nature.
For example, the regulations of the Medical University in Poznań provide for both leave with respect to student rights and a separate type of break in studies during which the student loses their rights and must złobtain a new certificate of eligibility.
Therefore, the content of the university’s decision is the most important. If you have received permission for a sabbatical leave while maintaining your student rights, you should not automatically lose your credentials just because you are absent from classes for a certain period of time.
Yes. Just getting a leave of absence does not automatically extend the validity of the permit.
In the case of a traditional plastic ELS, the validity of the document is confirmed every semester. The university updates the data recorded in the chip and places an appropriate hologram.
Standard expiration dates are:
For example, a student who has been granted a full academic year leave for the 2026/2027 academic year should determine with the dean’s office how to extend the validity of the ID during that period.
If the university confirms the exercise of the rights, it is possible to extend the validity of the document in accordance with its procedures.
In the case of a plastic ELS card, a physical update of the card is necessary. However, this does not always mean that the student has to come in person to the dean’s office.
Some universities allow the submission of the document in an agreed manner or organize the update of the ID card according to individual rules.
If you are taking a leave for health reasons or are traveling abroad, it is worth contacting the dean's office in advance and asking about the available solutions.
Please note that only the authorized university issues and places official ELS holograms on documents.
From the 2025/2026 academic year, the mLegitimation app available in the mObywatel application is the basic form of student identification for individuals holding a PESEL number.
The document functions independently of the plastic ELS card and is a full-fledged confirmation of the student status.
During the Dankia holiday, your ID may remain valid if you continue to hold your student privileges.
However, it is worth remembering that its validity is confirmed by an electronic certificate, which also needs to be renewed for subsequent semesters.
If you are going on vacation, perform three simple actions:
If a document becomes invalid, it should not be assumed that its renewal will occur automatically. The method of updating depends on the system used at the university.
Yes. A student on a student leave can still benefit from discounts related to their student status, as long as they maintain that status, have a valid document, and meet the remaining conditions of the given benefit.
However, this does not mean that every promotion is available on the same terms.
A student with a valid ID can benefit from the statutory rail discount 51% if they are not yet 26 years old.
This applies to certain domestic train services, including PKP Intercity and POLREGIO.
For example:
Price of a regular ticket | Price with discount 51% |
40 zł | 19,60 zł |
60 zł | 29,40 zł |
100 zł | 49,00 zł |
The Thanksgiving holiday itself is not a reason to be denied the allowance if the student still meets the conditions for receiving it.
During the check, however, you must present a valid ELS or mLegitimation. An outdated hologram on the plastic card can lead to the authorization being questioned.
Students also have the right to a statutory discount of 50% on public transport. Additional solutions and preferential season tickets may be available within the local tariffs.
If you maintain your student status during the Thanksgiving holiday, you can still benefit from the allowances that are due to you according to the regulations.
Before purchasing a ticket, it is worth checking the current conditions in effect in the given city.
In the case of private companies and institutions, the rules depend on the specific regulations.
Some places offer discounts based on a valid ID, while others may require additional proof of status or compliance with age restrictions.
Therefore, it is worth checking the terms of the promotion, rather than assuming that all student discounts work in the same way.
This is one of the most important financial issues that it is worth checking before złapplying for leave.
Just maintaining the status of a student does not mean that the university will continue to pay all the benefits granted.
The meanings are:
For example, the Polish-Japanese Academy of Computer Technologies provides for restrictions on the payment of selected scholarships during the leave period, with the possibility of individual consideration of specific cases.
Important: Semester breaks during the school holidays are generally counted towards the statutory period during which student benefits can be received.
Therefore, before making a decision, it is worth asking the scholarship department to explain how the leave will affect your benefits.
Thanksgiving holidays are most often granted for one semester or the entire academic year. Shorter breaks are also possible, especially in the case of medical or other leave.
The exact deadlines and limits depend on the university regulations.
For example, the Adam Mickiewicz University provides for short-term leave of up to six weeks and long-term leave, semester or annual leave.
Most often, the procedure looks like this:
It is important not to stop attending classes simply without obtaining the appropriate permission. Unexcused absences can lead to delays in learning, and in certain situations can even result in being removed from the student roster.
The regulations provide additional protection for pregnant students and students who are parents.
The university cannot refuse to grant leave from classes in the cases provided for in Article 85 of the Higher Education and Science Act.
In the case of a pregnant student, the leave is granted for the period until the child is born, while a student who is a parent can receive leave for up to a year.
If the end date of the leave falls during the semester, it is possible to extend it until the end of the semester.
Returning to university does not always happen automatically. Some universities require a prior złrequest for a declaration or application to continue studying.
For example, UAM indicates the necessity of złsubmitting an appropriate declaration in USOSweb before the end of the leave.
After returning, it is worth:
If you have a plastic ELS card and all the fields intended for holograms are already occupied, the university may require you to obtain a new document.
Older editions of holograms are also of interest to hobbyists. In our store we offer ELS student holograms in collectible versions, covering various editions and graphic variants.
However, these are specimens intended solely for collection purposes. They do not replace official stickers, do not confirm student status, nor are they used to extend the validity of identity cards.
As a rule, no. Formally granted leave from classes does not mean being removed from the student list. However, it must be distinguished from other forms of interruption in studies, during which the university may expect the loss of student rights.
Usually not, if the leave was granted in accordance with the student’s rights. In such a case, the ID card can still confirm the student status, provided that it remains valid. Detailed rules are worth checking in the university’s regulations.
Yes. If the student maintains their status, has valid identification, and is not yet 26 years old, they can still benefit from the statutory 51% discount for certain rail journeys.
Yes. The ELS plastic card requires confirmation of validity for subsequent semesters. You should discuss with the dean’s office how to update the chip and receive the hologram during your vacation period.
Yes, if the student maintains their credentials and the document has an updated certificate. It is worth checking the validity of the mObywatel application and the rules for renewing it at the university.
Yes. Taking a leave from classes does not mean that you are prohibited from working. A student under the age of 26 who maintains the status of a student, in principle, still benefits from the exemption from ZUS contributions under the contract of assignment. However, the details of employment, such as the conclusion of an agreement with your own employer, also play a role.
The university does not have to charge a fee for simply granting a leave of absence. However, in the case of paid studies, the method of settling the tuition fee depends on the regulations, the agreement concluded, and the period for which the fees were charged.
This may be possible, but it requires agreement with the university. The dean may make prior return conditional on the possibility of completing the course work, the study program, and making up for any remaining deficiencies.
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The Hologramykolekcjonerskie24.com editorial team has been specializing in the topic for over 10 years. collectible holograms and patterns related to educational documents. We are preparing practical guides on ELS student holograms, doctoral ELDs and school-based ones, and their dates, variants, safeguards, and histories.
The published content is based on reliable sources regarding the Polish education system, applicable legal regulations, regulations of the relevant ministries, and official information provided by universities, schools, and public institutions. We regularly update the materials to reflect changes in regulations, document templates, and policies applicable in Polish education.
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