Students Studying with child(ren) and caring responsibilities
Pregnant and breastfeeding students, studying parents and students who are caregivers face particular challenges. Legal requirements ensure that they are particularly protected in this sensitive phase and that they are able to participate equally in everyday study/teaching life without being disadvantaged.
Around 8% of students in Germany have one or more children. Around 12% take on caring responsibilities for close relatives alongside their studies. These caring responsibilities take up time, social, mental and financial capacities, which often present students with compatibility issues. The Baden-Württemberg State Higher Education Act stipulates that the special needs of university students with children must be taken into account. We therefore provide pregnant students and studying parents with information and advice on issues relating to pregnancy registration, compensation for disadvantages and the organisation of their studies, and are open to the concerns of students with child(ren) and caring responsibilities.
Information for lecturers and student counsellors
As lecturers and academic advisors, it is particularly important to know the legal framework conditions for pregnant students, studying parents and students with caring responsibilities in order to enable safe and equitable participation in studies and teaching/learning settings. Students with caring responsibilities can suffer disadvantages in their studies, for example because caring responsibilities place increased demands on flexibility in their studies. Parent students are entitled to more flexible examination deadlines. In addition, individual compensation can be considered, such as
- special consideration for course enrolment
- Replacement of written examinations with equivalent oral examinations or vice versa
- substitution of practical work for equivalent theoretical work or vice versa
- Exemption from any compulsory attendance through compensatory performance
- Enabling digital participation through hybrid formats
- Possibility of co-determination in the setting of examination dates
Information for students
Maternity Protection Act
Pregnant students are subject to the Maternity Protection Act. In order for the university to fulfil its duty of protection, a pregnancy should be reported to the relevant student advisory service. For six weeks before and eight weeks after giving birth, student mothers are not allowed to take any coursework or examinations. However, you can waive maternity leave either in full or in part, for example to attend important examinations or deadlines.
Leave of absence and flexible examination deadline
Student parents can take a semester-long leave of absence for reasons of childcare/parental leave and still be allowed to complete their studies and examinations to the extent possible for their individual situation. However, the leave of absence cancels the Bafög (student loan) entitlement.
In order to compensate for disadvantages, student parents are entitled to flexible examination deadlines. In addition, further compensatory measures can be taken in consultation with the teacher and/or the examination office (e.g. exemption from compulsory attendance by providing compensatory work, etc.) However, there is no entitlement to specific measures. We are available for a consultation.
Housing, financing and childcare places
Studierendenwerk Heidelberg is responsible for allocating family accommodation and childcare places for students' children. Their website provides information on the educational concept of the five daycare centres, an overview of financial support options and the range of family flats available.
Making connections - empowerment and networking
Dealing with family members who need care is often accompanied by many uncertainties and great mental and often physical strain. Students with caring responsibilities can take part in an online course on the topic of ‘Home care’. The costs are covered by care insurance. The compact information provided by the Centre for Higher Education Development (CHE) also offers a good overview of care topics for students. Violence and the crossing of boundaries can also occur in home care, both on the part of the person in need of care and on the part of the person with caring responsibilities. Knowledge about forms of violence, definitions and prevention tips can help to prevent and recognise violent acts and situations.