This article is about the vacation-like concept. For the Biblical concept, see Sabbatical year (Bible).

A sabbatical year is a prolonged hiatus, typically one year, in the career of an individual taken in order to fulfill some goal, e.g. writing a book or traveling extensively for research. Some universities and other institutional employers of scientists, physicians, and/or academics offer a paid sabbatical as an employee benefit. Some companies offer an unpaid sabbatical for people wanting to take career breaks.

Sabbaticals are often taken by professors, cartoonists (e.g. Gary Larson and Bill Watterson), and musicians (e.g. Cindy Wilson, Bobby McFerrin).

In UK students' unions, particularly in higher education institutions, students can be elected to become sabbatical officers of their students' union, either taking a year out of their study (in the academic year following their election) or remaining at the institution for a year following completion of study. Sabbatical officers are usually provided with a living allowance or stipend.

See also

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• Gap year
• Hiatus
• Career break

Reference

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Eells, Walter C. "The Origin and Early History of Sabbatical Leave." Bulletin, American Association of University Professors, XLVIII (1962), 253-256.

Academic transfer

Sabbatical | Anno sabbatico | Sabbatical