If you become pregnant while studying, there are several things to consider to continue your studies without putting yourself and your child at risk.
To assist you, the information sheet "Schwanger im Studium" - Was ist zu tun" (Pregnant in Studies – What to Do)is available in a version with links or as a als mobile Version with QR-Codes.
At the Family Service of the Equal Opportunities Office, you can schedule an individual consultation regarding pregnancy, parental leave, parental allowance, and later childcare as expecting parents.
Notification of Pregnancy
For your own interest, you should notify the Student Secretariat of your pregnancy as early as possible. You will need to provide proof of pregnancy (medical certificate/maternity record indicating the expected due date). Further information can be found on the Student Secretariat's website.
To exclude or minimize potential risks to you as an expecting mother and to the unborn child, it is strongly recommended that you seek advice from the Occupational Health Service as soon as you become aware of your pregnancy. You can schedule an appointment there at any time.
Implementation of Maternity Protection Laws for Female Students
Female students are also protected by Maternity Protection Law. The BMFSFJ has published guidelines on maternity protection. The Lower Saxony State Trade Supervisory Office also provides information on this topic.
Risk Assessment
How you can continue your studies varies greatly on an individual basis. Participation in modules/courses will be determined through an individual risk assessment. Please consult your cohort advisor and course leaders for advice and documentation.
The activity recommendations for the study programs (Human Medicine - Biomedical Science and Biochemistry, as well as the risk assessment for the Dentistry program; german versions: Humanmedizin , Biomedizin und Biochemie, Zahnmedizin ) provide good orientation regarding possible risks during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Please use the „Checkliste zur Gefährdungsbeurteilung bei Schwangerschaft und Stillzeit im Studium" (Checklist for Risk Assessment During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding in Studies) to plan your further course of study.
Interruption of Studies
You may wish to interrupt your studies during maternity leave and/or the subsequent parental leave. Information about leave and free semesters can be obtained from the Student Secretariat; further information can be found here.
Additional information on topics related to parenthood and childcare can be found through the provided links.
The Parenting School at the Women's Clinic of MHH has been established since 2008. It offers a comprehensive program for counseling, support, and information for (expecting) parents. Grandparents and siblings are also among our target groups. The core of our Parenting School consists of open free breastfeeding groups that take place on Wednesdays in the morning and afternoon. Individual breastfeeding consultations are also available. In addition to the courses for childbirth preparation and postnatal recovery that are covered or subsidized by health insurance, we offer over 40 courses and consultation options for private payers, including exercise classes for pregnant individuals, various courses to support the first year of the child's life, first aid for children, and much more.
Since students with children need important guidance regarding childcare options, informational events, and personal exchanges with other parents to organize their studies and daily life, we have carefully assembled a comprehensive "Welcome Package/First-Year Bag" for you.
It contains information about the offerings and opportunities at MHH, the Equal Opportunities Office, as well as services from the Student Union Hannover and the Family Service Office of the City of Hannover. You can pick up our comprehensive "Welcome Package/First-Year Bag" directly at the Family Service of MHH or in the Parent-Child Room for students.
Since 2010, the MensaCardKids has been available: Under this program, children of students can eat for free in the cafeterias of the Studentenwerk at Hannover’s universities. Since 2012, the MensaCardKids has been offered for free to students with children at the Equal Opportunities Office of MHH. Student parents can receive a main dish for their children for up to €4.10 in the MHH cafeteria when they also purchase a main dish for themselves.
The cards can be collected from the Equal Opportunities Office Monday to Friday between 9 AM and 3 PM. The cards are non-transferable. Cash refunds or reimbursements of remaining balances are not possible. However, any excess amount over €4.10 can be paid in cash at Cash Register 1 in the cafeteria.
The MensaCardKids is funded by the Student Union Hannover.
Contact: Family Service, Tel.: +49 511 532-6474 or Email: familienservice@mh-hannover.de
In the academic year 2024/2025, the Equal Opportunities Office, in cooperation with the AStA project group "Studis mit Kind” (Students with children) will offer dedicated learning Saturdays for students with children to prepare for exams and assessments. Childcare is provided free of charge! The learning Saturdays are funded by the Studentenwerk Hannover and MHH-Alumni e.V.
While you study in the library, your children will be lovingly cared for by our staff. The children will also receive a free lunch.
The next learning Saturday will take place on November 16th 2024, from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM in the childcare rooms located in Building K27, House A, Ground Floor.
Additional learning Saturdays are scheduled for: January 4, 2025; February 22, 2025; March 1, 2025; March 8, 2025; May 17, 2025; May 24, 2025; July 5, 2025; July 12, 2025; July 19, 2025; July 26, 2025; August 2, 2025; August 9, 2025; September 20, 2025; and September 27, 2025, each from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
Registration with a fully completed and signed application form is required at least eight days in advance.
Contact: Family Service, Tel.: +49 511 532-6474 or Email: familienservice@mh-hannover.de
In the building J2, there is a Parent-Child Room for students. The room is equipped with a kitchenette, a workspace, a travel crib, and various play options for children. It is located next to the AStA consultation room in Building J2, Preclinical (J2, Level SO, Room 1060), and can be used Monday to Friday from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
You will receive access with a Multi-Card by sending an email with your student ID number to the Family Service.
Before you can open the room with your Multi-Card, it is necessary to scan your card once daily at the master card reader located diagonally to the left on the opposite wall.
Please remember to lock the room with your Multi-Card when you leave.
The establishment of the Parent-Child Room was funded by the Student Union Hannover and the AStA of MHH.
During the lecture period, a Parent-Child Meeting for student parents is held once a month, depending on interest and upon request. This event provides an opportunity to connect with each other, share experiences and challenges, and receive tips on balancing studies and family, financial matters, and more, while your children play together.
If you are interested in attending a meeting, please contact us by phone or email with your suggested dates! Contact: Family Service, Tel.: +49 511 532-6474 or Email: familienservice@mh-hannover.de
The project group "Studis mit Kind" (Students with Children) has established a group on the ILIAS platform for networking, sharing experiences, and exchanging information among students with children at MHH regarding topics such as organizing childcare and balancing studies with family responsibilities.
We would like to invite you to join a mailing list for all students with children at MHH. This list will distribute invitations to events at MHH, information about childcare at the university, new laws, initiatives, and more. If you are interested in receiving regular updates on the topic of "Studying with Children," please send an email with the subject " "Aufnahme in Mailingliste "Studis mit Kind" ("Join Mailing List 'Studis mit Kind") to familienservice@mh-hannover.de. The list is also intended as a communication and exchange opportunity. You are welcome to forward your emails to the subscribers of the list. The mailing list is an anonymous list, meaning only the staff of the Family Service have access to the list of subscribers.
Group on ILIAS: Studying with Children at MHH. Another opportunity for exchange is provided by the Family Service ILIAS group (under the Campus Life section). In addition to current information, you will find a wealth of resources related to the topic of studying with children.
The brochure "On your side. Information for Parents and Children at MHH" presents the wide range of support services that MHH offers to its students and employees with family responsibilities, along with additional resources available in the state capital of Hannover on this topic.
A map of breastfeeding and changing facilities at MHH has been created for you by the Family Service.
If needed, we offer tours where we showcase and explain the family-friendly infrastructure of MHH. If you are interested, please contact the Family Service at MHH.
For students with children, the Equal Opportunities Office publishes the brochure "Studieren mit Kind and der MHH” (Studying with Children at MHH) which aims to provide an overview of childcare options and other family-friendly offerings at MHH, as well as financial support opportunities and external advisory services. The brochure is currently being revised and will be re-released for the winter semester 2024.
At Studentenwerk Hannover, students with children receive comprehensive social counseling.
At the bottom of the "Study with Children" page of the Studentenwerk, you will also find information about parent initiatives in Hannover.
The 22nd Social Survey of the german Studentenwerk is the largest student survey in Germany. More than 180,000 students from 250 universities participated in the survey regarding their living and study situations, which was conducted in the summer of 2021 by the Deutsches Studentenwerk in collaboration with the Deutsches Zentrum für Hochschul- und Wissenschaftsforschung and the University of Konstanz’s higher education research group, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
The "Studieren mit Kind" (Studying with children) information event is available in a video series by Studentenwerk Hannover. You can find the link here.
Dorothea Tschepke, social counselor at Studentenwerk Hannover, and Bärbel Kuhlmey, Family Manager at the City of Hannover, discuss state support for student families, childcare, and the offerings from the City of Hannover and Studentenwerk Hannover in the film "Studieren mit Kind”.
Depending on your personal situation, you can apply for maternity benefits either through your health insurance provider or the Federal Insurance Office (BVA) if you are in an employment relationship (even minor employment). Students are entitled to parental benefits even if they were not employed before their studies. Parental allowance can be received for a maximum of 14 months (up to 28 months ElterngeldPlus). Applications should be submitted to the office of parental benefits in your main residence. Students with their main residence in Hannover can apply here: Parental Allowance Office of the City of Hannover.
You can find the parental benefits application for Lower Saxony here: www.service.niedersachsen.de/detail?pstId=8664535.
In addition to child allowance, which you should apply for at the Child Benefit Office of the Employment Agency, there may also be a monthly child supplement for each child living in your household. To find out if you qualify for this, contact your responsible Family Benefits Office.
For recipients of BAföG who live with at least one child under the age of 14, the monthly need rate is increased by a flat rate for each child (see § 14b No. 1 BAföG). Furthermore, there is the possibility of extending the funding period. A maximum of 8 semesters can be extended until the child reaches the age of 14, including the time of your own pregnancy (see § 15 Abs. 3 No. 5 BAföG and Information Sheet: Pregnancy and Childrearing). According to § 23 Abs. 1 No. 3 BAföG, the amounts you can earn without reducing your BAföG entitlement increase for each child.
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Initial information on the topic of studying with children is available in a video at www.wissen.hannover.de/studieren-mit-kind.
The flyer "Wohngeld für Studierende" (Housing Benefits for Students) from the City of Hannover, dated March 2019, provides concise and relevant information on housing benefit counseling, eligibility, and application.
The brochure "Der kleine Geldbeutel" (The Little Wallet) offers an overview of expenses and potential income for young families.
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Benefits from the Employment Agency
Pregnancy can significantly disrupt the financial situation of student parents. In such exceptional cases, state support is available for students demonstrating extraordinary need. Priority is always given to child supplements and housing benefits.
- Citizen's Money in hardship cases as a loan, if income/BAföG ceases during parental leave (see § 27 Abs. 3 SGB II)
- Citizen's Money for children of students (see § 7 SGB II)
- Additional needs in special life situations/pregnancy, single parenthood (see § 21 Abs. 2 and 3; § 27 Abs. 2 SGB II)
Those who have a child, especially if they are single parents and wish to continue their studies, have a good chance of being granted a hardship application. Counseling is available through Studentenwerk Hannover or the Employment Agency in Hannover.
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Extension of Membership in Student Health and Nursing Insurance: With the birth of a child and subsequent care, student membership can be extended for a maximum of six semesters (see § 190 Abs. 9 No. 2 Sentence 2 SGB V).
Exemption from Long-Term Study Fees: Students who are actually caring for a child as defined by § 25 Abs. 5 BAföG, who is under 14 years old, can be exempted from study fees (see § 12 Abs. 3 No. 2, § 13 Abs. 1 No. 3 Lower Saxony Higher Education Act). Please contact the student secretariat directly for this.
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The Foundation Familie in Not (Family in Need) primarily supports large families who have fallen into financial difficulties due to unforeseen events.
Studying and Research with Scholarships: The Heinrich Böll Foundation has listed numerous foundations and programs that provide scholarships for students and researchers. more
The brochure"Wegweiser für Eltern an niedersächsischen Hochschulen" (Guide for Parents at Lower Saxony Universities) contains numerous tips and information that assist in balancing family and study or work.
On the websites of the Coordination Office for Student Counseling in Lower Saxony, you will find interesting information regarding studying with children. more
The website “Studieren mit Kind" (Studying with children) features contributions from former students who became parents during their studies. They have compiled a wealth of information and tips on the topic of studying with children, including studying with children abroad.