Maternity Leave for Students

Since January 1st, 2018, the Maternity Protection Act also applies to students, if the location, time or schedule of an educational event is mandatory, or if an internship is a mandatory part of their education. Pregnant and breastfeeding students must be granted maternity protection as a matter of principle and without having to apply for it.

Specifically, this means the following for pregnant or breastfeeding students:

  • There is a temporary exemption from exams during maternity leave: during the six weeks before and eight weeks after giving birth, students have the right not to take exams. They also have the right to be excused from classes with mandatory attendance, excursions, laboratory or internship activities.
  • Students may also participate in exams or courses during maternity leave if they explicitly wish to do so. This choice must be declared in writing to the examination board. When registering for an exam in the electronic exam management system, this is automatically requested. The declaration can be revoked at any time.
  • Furthermore, there is a right to accommodation of needs during pregnancy (e.g., compensation for laboratory classes).
  • During pregnancy and while breastfeeding (in the first 12 months after giving birth), students have the right to take time off for appointments related to their pregnancy and to breastfeed their child.

Further information

In their own interest, pregnant students should inform the university of their pregnancy so that they can claim the protective rights under the Maternity Protection Act and the university can take appropriate protective measures.

This information should be provided informally (e.g. by email) to the relevant examination board of the program. To calculate the maternity protection period, the expected date of delivery must be specified (preferably by providing a copy of the maternity log). The examination board may request further evidence (medical certificates from a doctor or midwife) if necessary.

The student will then receive a notification from their examination board regarding the start and end of the protection period, information on maternity protection, and an assessment form for risk assessment (including a schedule for the protection period).

When a pregnancy is reported to the examination board, the student will receive an assessment form to determine any potential risks. The assessment form is used to determine whether the pregnant student may be exposed to health hazards during their studies and whether protective measures (e.g. accommodations for disadvantages or needs) must be taken during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

The assessment form must be completed by the student together with the internship/laboratory or seminar supervisor for each potentially hazardous event (this specifically applies to courses in the natural sciences, technical sciences and sports). In the arts, cultural studies, and social science programs, where the risk of health hazards is lower, it is sufficient for the risk assessment to be completed with a member of the examination board for the entire course of study.

The risk assessment is evaluated by the Examination Office. If all questions are answered with “no,” there are no significant risks and studies can be continued without restriction.

If one or more questions have been answered with “yes,” the examination board must generally allow for accommodations (e.g. substitute performance) to ensure the student is able to continue their studies. If further consultation is required in the cases answered with “yes,” the Occupational Safety and Environmental Protection Group and the university's occupational doctor may also be consulted.

Maternity leave documents (German only)

Go-Link of this page: www.uni-kassel.de/go/mutterschutzstudentinnen