Maternity Protection for Students

The Act on the Protection of Mothers at Work, in Training and at University – Maternity Protection Act (Gesetz zum Schutz von Müttern bei der Arbeit, in der Ausbildung und im Studium – Mutterschutzgesetz (MuSchG)) applies for pregnant students and breastfeeding students in the first year after the child's birth. 

The act protects the student's health and that of her child during her studies during pregnancy, after childbirth and while breastfeeding and aims to counteract discrimination and disadvantage on the grounds of pregnancy (Section 9 (1) Sentence 4 Maternity Protection Act).  

Maternity protection for students comprises the following statutory provisions: 

• The maternity protection period applies six weeks before and eight weeks after childbirth. In the case of premature and multiple births, or if the newborn child is disabled, the period after the birth is extended to 12 weeks.
• During this period, there is a “relative ban" on participation in courses and exams for pregnant students. You can, however, circumvent this for any length of time within this period by declaring in writing to the university that you are willing to participate in courses or exams. This is possible (unlike for staff) not only for the six weeks before but also for the eight weeks after childbirth. This declaration can be revoked at any time.
• During pregnancy and while breastfeeding (in the first 12 months after childbirth), students are entitled to take time off (“release time") for medical check-ups related to the pregnancy and to breaks to breastfeed their child, without being placed at any disadvantage.
• For any disadvantages that could occur as a result of notifying the university of the pregnancy, compensation for disadvantages (extensions to deadlines, equivalent academic achievements, other exam formats, etc.) must first be checked.  

Availing yourself of these provisions is conditional on notifying the university of your pregnancy. There is, however, no legal obligation to do this. To notify the university of your pregnancy, please contact the respective office in your faculty as listed below. Teacher training students should contact the Examinations Office at the Academy for Educational Research and Teacher Education (Akademie für Bildungsforschung und Lehrkräfteausbildung (ABL)).  

For general information and confidential advice, please feel free to contact the Family Service at the Equal Opportunities Office.  

• As a student, the provisions described above apply. Please get in touch with the contact person in your faculty or at the Academy for Educational Research and Teacher Education.
• As a student assistant, labour regulations for staff apply for you. Please notify the HR administrator responsible for you about your pregnancy. 

1. Report to the person responsible in your faculty (or at the Academy for Educational Research and Teacher Education). Ideally, you should already list the courses with their titles in the course catalogue that you plan to attend. This will make it possible to prepare the appointment as efficiently as possible. 
2. You are invited to an appointment at the faculty.
   During the meeting, you explain your personal requirements and any measures to be taken to ensure that you can study in a safe and non-discriminatory way. You will be given comprehensive information about your rights and obligations.
   Please bring corresponding proof (your maternity record or the child's birth certificate) with you to the meeting.
3. If you wish to participate in courses or exams during the maternity protection periods, you declare this informally in writing to the person advising you.
4. The agreed measures are documented in writing and signed by both parties. 

Detailed information on the provisions can be found in the guide Leitfaden Mutterschutz für Studentinnen (Maternity Protection for Students), which you can download in the column on the right.