Studying with a child is a particular challenge that requires organisational talent and flexibility. On the other hand, according to many student parents, studying is also a particularly good time to decide to have a child because you have more time for your offspring than later in your professional life.
You can find out more about the family-friendly measures in the brochure "Studying with a child at Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences (PDF)" for comprehensive information.
You can also find a helpful collection of information and experiences on the homepage www.studieren-mit-kind.org
If you have any questions or problems regarding "Pregnant at university" or "Studying with a child", our Equal Opportunities and Family Officer gladly.
Studierendenwerk Thüringen also offers counselling for pregnant women and students with children as part of its general social counselling service. You can find the contact details and consultation hours on the Counselling pages of the Studierendenwerk.
You can obtain general advice on the subject of "pregnancy and birth" from free counselling centres, e.g. the Nordhausen Family Centre.
They will also provide you with information on how to apply for financial support from the HandinHand Foundationwhich can offer great financial help when buying initial equipment, especially for student parents without additional income.
The new Maternity Protection Act (MuSchG) came into force on 1 January 2018. For the first time, this new legal regulation also includes female students.
Act on the revision of maternity protection law of 23 May 2017
The Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth has published a guide to maternity protection on the new law.
Brochure: Guide to maternity protection
As an educational institution, Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences is responsible for compliance with the protection regulations during pregnancy, after childbirth and during breastfeeding.
Pregnant students can contact the Family and Equal Opportunities Officer, Mrs Sabine Seibold-Freund (Room 18.0407, Tel.: 03631 420 573, E-Mail: ).
In order for us as a training centre to fulfil our obligation to comply with the law, it is important for us that you exercise your right to report your pregnancy. There is no obligation on your part to notify us.
You can only invoke the protective rights of the MuSchG if you inform the university of your expected delivery date. It is therefore in your own interest to notify the university as early as possible.
During the maternity protection period, female students (6 weeks before the calculated date of birth and 8 weeks after birth, 12 weeks in the case of premature and multiple births as well as children with disabilities) are exempt from attending courses and examinations. However, if the students wish to complete the coursework and examinations, they can waive the above-mentioned deadlines. The waiver can be cancelled at any time, but only before the start of the coursework and examinations.
The Maternity Protection Act stipulates that female employees may not work between 8 pm and 6 am or on Sundays and public holidays (employment ban). Female students may also work until 10 p.m. and on Sundays and public holidays, provided this is necessary for their studies and they expressly declare their willingness to do so in writing.
Possible risks to the health of mother and child can arise during studies in various teaching areas (e.g. laboratories and workshops). For this reason, it is important that the university carries out risk assessments based on the information on participation in the desired courses.
If you are pregnant during your studies, it can be useful to take a semester off to take care of your motherhood for a while and take a break from your studies. These semesters of leave do not count towards the standard period of study and you still retain your student status. An application for leave of absence must be submitted to the Study Service Centre (SSZ) and must also be submitted there (within the re-registration period). During a semester of leave due to maternity or parental leave, the student is exempt from the semester fee. Details can also be obtained from the Student Service Centre.
However, it should be noted that you are not entitled to BaföG during a semester of leave and you are not allowed to take any coursework or examinations. It is therefore important to consider whether a semester of leave is really helpful - the Family and Equal Opportunities Officer will be happy to advise you.
If the workload of your studies is difficult to reconcile with your role as a parent, it makes sense to consider continuing your studies with a child as a part-time programme. This reduces the workload per semester and gives you the opportunity to complete your studies in a more relaxed manner. Part-time semesters are counted as half semesters in terms of the duration of the degree programme.
Part-time study is possible in all degree programmes, provided this is not expressly excluded in the respective study and examination regulations. To Apply for a part-time study programme during the re-registration period for the following semester in writing to the Study Service Centre (SSZ). This is possible both before the start of a degree programme and during the course of the degree programme and must be justified with suitable evidence (e.g. the child's birth certificate). When applying, the desired reduction of the study programme must be stated. However, please note that this may affect your entitlement to BAföG.
Due to maternity leave and/or parental leave, special provisions may apply to coursework and examinations. In general, students on maternity leave or due to parental responsibilities can apply for an extension of the processing times for written examinations as well as Bachelor's and Master's theses. The deadlines and extension periods can be obtained from the Examination office can be enquired about. However, the project should be discussed with the examiner in advance.Â
The regulations for withdrawing from an examination due to illness (presentation of a doctor's certificate) also apply due to pregnancy or maternity leave as well as due to your child's illness. Unfortunately, it is not possible to reschedule examinations due to maternity.
The question of what happens if labour pains set in during the examination and the examination has to be terminated prematurely also comes up again and again... Even if this case only occurs very rarely: in this particular situation, the well-being of mother and child is of course paramount and a solution can be found after the examination.
As long as your pregnancy does not prevent you from completing your internship, you can also complete your internship semester during your pregnancy. It is also possible to interrupt the internship period due to maternity leave and resume it later. In this case, close consultation with the Internship office and the internship company so that problems can be avoided. The Internship Office can also give you helpful tips for finding a suitable internship for students with children.
Studying abroad with a child - why not?
Timely planning and comprehensive information about financial support are particularly important here. In addition to the regular funding for a semester abroad, special funds can also be applied for via the ERASMUS+ programme to finance additional child-related costs. Additional funding can also be applied for via the BaföG office. However, the funding varies depending on the personal situation and the desired country.
For further information please contact International Office and on the page "Studying abroad with a child„.
Every day, children from different backgrounds, cultures and lifestyles live and learn at our "Campus Kinder" daycare centre. Many of the families whose children come to us live in Nordhausen or the surrounding area. Some of the parents are students and employees of Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences, which we prioritise. Children of working parents also attend our daycare centre. Due to our bilingual education and upbringing (Russian-German), parents of Russian origin also choose our daycare centre very specifically.
The daycare centre is located directly on the campus Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences and is integrated into a student residential complex. The neighbouring residential area, the campus grounds and the natural outdoor area offer our children a green and peaceful environment as well as plenty of space for exercise. The modern and bright rooms as well as the spacious and child-friendly outdoor area are a true paradise for children. The centre is easily accessible by bike, bus and car.
Our daycare centre can Children from the age of 8 months until they start school visit. There are 25 places available - 10 of which are for children under the age of 3.
If you have any questions or are interested in viewing or enrolling your child, please do not hesitate to contact us. The head of the daycare centre, Mrs Lange, will arrange an appointment with you.
The operator of our daycare centre is Studierendenwerk Thüringen. The Day-care centre fee regulations of the city of Nordhausen. Students can apply for a childcare subsidy from the Nordhausen District Office.
Lunch, drinks and fruit are provided. The daycare centre is open from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.
You can also find more information on the website of the Studierendenwerk Thüringen.
The special situation of students with children is also taken into account in BAföG. The additional financial costs incurred by students with child(ren) (e.g. due to the use of different forms of childcare) are counteracted, among other things, by the childcare allowance as part of the BAföG training grant.
During your studies, children affect your BAföG benefits in various ways, for example by extending the maximum period of support or increasing your tax allowance. The BAföG office on campus will be happy to advise you.
The brochure will help you with the modalities for maternity, child and parental benefits as well as the Thuringian child-raising allowance, housing benefit or claiming social benefits "Study and child under one roof" and the Family and Equal Opportunities Officer gladly.
The canteens of the Studierendenwerk Thüringen offer a free lunch for campus dwarfs as soon as a meal is paid for at the normal student or staff price. For this you must apply to the BAföG office at Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences apply for a child's ID card for the canteen free of charge on presentation of your student ID and your child's birth certificate.
The canteen also offers children's chairs for free use in the canteen.
The quiet room on the ground floor of House 20 is available for breastfeeding very young children. You can ask for the key in the SSZ. It is advantageous to present the FamilyCard.
Study Service Centre
+49 3631 420-222
House 18, Level 1, Room 18.0105