Do you need to combine your studies with looking after your children? Then you can take a semester off under certain conditions and still take part in courses and examinations. You can also be given more time to complete your examinations. According to § 38 StuPO, you are eligible for parental leave during the first eight years of your child's life (and beyond in particularly justified cases). During pregnancy and parental leave, students can take part in courses during a semester of leave, complete coursework and examinations, in particular individual examinations for courses already taken in previous semesters, and use university facilities. You can also get more time to complete your examinations without taking a semester off and thus reduce the examination load per semester in order to reconcile family responsibilities and studies. However, you should also apply for parental leave and seek advice from the student counselling service responsible for you.
The student counselling service can help you to clarify how you would like to complete your studies. You should draw up an appropriate plan for this.
In any case, contact the student counselling staff at your school for advice. If you are applying for a semester off on your own, submit a corresponding application to the StudiCenter. The following documents must be enclosed with the application for parental leave or the application for a semester of leave:
- Birth certificate of the child
- Declaration by the student in accordance with Section 38 (1) StuPO: "I hereby declare that the child [name of child] lives in my household at [address], that I have custody of the child and that I myself am caring for and raising the child. [Place, date, signature]"
- Notification from the child benefit fund about the payment of child benefit for the child
Please send an e-mail to studierendenberatung-designPF[at]hs-pforzheim[dot]com for more information.
