If you become pregnant during your studies, there are a few things to consider so that you can continue your studies without endangering yourself or your child.
As parents-to-be, you can make an individual appointment with the Family Service of the Equal Opportunities Office for advice on pregnancy, parental leave, parental allowance and subsequent childcare.
Notification of pregnancy
In your own interest, you should notify the Student Office of your pregnancy at an early stage. You will need proof of pregnancy (medical certificate/maternity pass stating the expected date of delivery). On the pages of the Student Office you will find further information.
In order to exclude or minimize possible risks for you as an expectant mother and the unborn child, a consultation with theOccupational Health Service as soon as you become aware of your pregnancy. You can make an appointment there at any time.
Implementation of the Maternity Protection Act for female students
Female students are also protected by the Maternity Protection Act. The bmfsjf has published theGuide to maternity protectionpublished.
The pages of the Lower Saxony Trade Inspectorate also provides information on this topic.
Risk assessment
How you can continue your studies varies greatly from person to person. The possible participation in the modules/courses is determined by an individual risk assessment. Please contact your year supervisor and your teaching supervisor for advice and documentation.
Please use the "Checklist for risk assessment during pregnancy and breastfeeding while studying" to plan the further course of your studies.
Interrupting your studies
You may wish to interrupt your studies during maternity leave and/or subsequent parental leave. You can obtain information on leave of absence and semesters off from the Student Office; further information can be foundhere.
Further information on the topics of parenthood and childcare can be found under the links.
Becoming a parent and starting a family is perhaps the greatest adventure of your life. The MHH Parents' UNI team will be happy to accompany you part of the way and guide you through pregnancy, birth and the first year of your baby's life in a well-informed, lovingly strengthened and reassured manner. The team of 23 midwives, physiotherapists, educators, breastfeeding and baby sleep experts, parent advisors and first aid coaches is there for you!
Whether in birth or breastfeeding preparation courses, in infant care seminars, in the free and open breastfeeding group, in postnatal and mommy fitness courses, in couple or sibling courses, in baby massage or PEKIP courses, in first aid courses or in courses on stress management and nutritional advice - the Parents' University is the right address for expectant and new families.
Find out more on the website www.mhh.de/elternschule or send us an e-mail to frauenklinik.elternschule@mh-hannover.de
As students with children need important guidance on childcare options, information events or personal exchanges with other parents to help them organize their studies and everyday life , we have carefully put together a comprehensive "Welcome Package/First Semester Student Bag" for you.
It contains information about the services and opportunities offered by MHH, the Equal Opportunities Office and the services of Studentenwerk Hannover and the Family Service Office of the City of Hannover. You can pick up our comprehensive "Welcome Package/First Semester Student Bag" directly at the MHH Family Service or in the Parent-Child Room for students.
Since 2010 there is the MensaCardKids: As part of this offer, children of students in the Canteens of the Studentenwerk Hannover at the universities in Hanover free of charge.
Since 2012 there is the MensaCard Kids for students with child/children free of charge from the MHH Equal Opportunities Office. Student parents can get a plate meal for their children for up to €4.10 in the MHH Canteen if they also buy a main course themselves.
The cards can be collected from the Equal Opportunities Office from Monday to Friday between 9 am and 3 pm. The cards are non-transferable. A cash payment or refund is not possible. However, additional amounts over €4.10 can be paid in cash at cash desk 1 in the Canteen.
The MensaCard Kids is funded by the Studentenwerk Hannover.
Contact: Family Service, Tel.: 0511 532-6474 or e-mail: familienservice/at/mh-hannover.de
In the 2024/2025 academic year, the Equal Opportunities Office, in cooperation with the AStA project groups "Students with Children", is also offering fixed study Saturdays for students with childrento prepare for written exams and tests. Childcare is free of charge for you! The learning Saturdays are funded by the Studentenwerk Hannover and the MHH-Alumni e.V..
While you study in the library, your children will be lovingly looked after by our staff. The children also receive a free lunch.
Registration with the completed and signed registration form is required at least eight days in advance.
Contact: Family Service, Tel.: 0511 532-6474 or e-mail: familienservice/at/mh-hannover.de
There is a parent-child room for students in the central teaching building J2.
The room is equipped with a kitchenette, a workstation, a travel crib and various play facilities for children. It is located next to the AStA consultation room in building J2, pre-clinic (J2, level SO, room 1060) and can be used Monday to Friday from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm and on Saturdays from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
You can obtain multi card access by sending an e-mail with your multi card number (front) to the Family Service.
Before you can open the room with your multi card, it is necessary to scan your card once a day at the master reader - diagonally left on the opposite wall.
Facilities or Institutions of the parent-child room were sponsored by the Studentenwerk Hannover and the AStA of the MHH.
AMap with breastfeeding and baby changing facilities at the MHH has been prepared for you by the Family Service.
If required, we offer guided tours to show and explain the family-friendly infrastructure of the MHH. If you are interested, please contact the MHH Family Service.
During the lecture period, if interested and on request, there is a monthly parent-child meeting for student parents takes place. You can use this event to get in touch with each other, exchange experiences and problems, get tips on balancing studies and family, financial issues, etc. while your children play together.
If you are interested in a meeting, please contact us by phone or e-mail with your suggested dates! Contact: Family Service, Tel.: 0511 532-6474 or e-mail: familienservice/at/mh-hannover.de
The project group "Students with Children" has set up a group via the ILIAS platform for networking, exchange of experience and information for students with children at the MHH on topics such as organizing childcare and reconciling studies and family responsibilities.
We would like to invite you to join a mailing list for all students with children at the MHH. The list will be used to send invitations to events at the MHH, information on childcare at the university, new laws, initiatives, etc. If you are interested in receiving regular information on the subject of "Studying with children", please send an e-mail to familienservice/at/mh-hannover.de with the subject line "Add to mailing list "Studis mit Kind". The list is also intended as a means of communication and exchange. You are also welcome to forward your e-mails to the subscribers of the list. The mailing list is an anonymous list, i.e. only the employees of the Family Service have access to the list of subscribers.
Group in ILIAS: Studying with child/children at the MHH. The ILIAS group of the Family Service (under the heading Campus Life) offers a further opportunity for exchange. In addition to current information, you will find a lot of information about studying with children.
In the brochure "Rückenwind. Information for parents and children at the MHH" presents the wide range of support services that the MHH offers its students and employees with family responsibilities; in addition, the services in the state capital of Hanover on this topic are described.
Students with children receive comprehensive social counseling at Studentenwerk Hannover.
At the bottom of the "Studying with a child" page of the Studentenwerk Hannover you will also find information on parent initiatives in Hannover.
Aid fund for students with children and students with disabilities
The emergency aid fund is tailored to the needs of students with children and students with disabilities/chronic illnesses. These students usually find it difficult to cover the rising costs in all areas by working extra jobs; in addition, the financial constraints of this group of students are usually greater.
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The Studentenwerk Hannover also offersthe information event "Studying with a child " in the video series.
You can find the link here.
Link to Studentenwerk Hannover information events for students with children
Dorothea Tschepke, social counselor at Studentenwerk Hannover, and Bärbel Kuhlmey, family manager at the state capital Hannover, provide information in the film "Studying with children" about state support for student families, childcare and the services offered by the state capital and Studentenwerk Hannover.
Depending on your personal situation, you can maternity benefit either from your health insurance fund or the Federal Insurance Office (BVA) if you are in (even marginal) employment. Students are entitled to parental allowanceeven if they were not employed before their studies. You can receive parental allowance for a maximum of 14 months (up to 28 months parental allowance plus). You can apply to the parental allowance office at your main place of residence. Students whose main place of residence is in Hannover can apply here: Elterngeldstelle der Landeshauptstadt Hannover
You can find the parental allowance application form for Lower Saxony here: www.service.niedersachsen.de/detail?pstId=8664535
In addition to child benefit, which you should apply for at the Family Benefits Office of the Employment Agency, you may also receive a monthly child supplement for each child living in the household. You can find out whether you can benefit from this scheme from your local family benefits office.
For recipients of Federal financial aid (Federal financial aid) who live in a household with at least one child who has not yet reached the age of 14, the monthly requirement rate is increased at a flat rate for each child (see § 14b No. 1 Federal financial aid). There is also the option of extending the funding period. A maximum of 8 semesters can be extended until the child reaches the age of 14, including your own pregnancy (see §15 Para. 3 No. 5 Federal financial aid and information sheet: Pregnancy and raising children). In accordance with § 23 Para. 1 No. 3 Federal financial aid, the amount you are allowed to earn without reducing your Federal financial aid increases for each child.
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Initial information on studying with a child can be found in a video at www.wissen.hannover.de/studieren-mit-kind.
The flyer "Housing benefit for students" published by the City of Hannover in March 2019 provides brief and concise information on housing benefit advice, eligibility and application.
The brochure "The small purse" provides an overview of expenses and possible income for young families.
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Benefits from the employment agency
Pregnancy can completely disrupt the financial situation of student parents. In such exceptional cases, there is state support for students who demonstrate extraordinary need. Priority is always given to child supplement and housing benefit.
- Citizen's allowance in cases of hardship as a loan if income/Federal financial aid is lost during parental leave (see §27 Para. 3 SGB II)
- Citizen's allowance for children of students (see §7 SGB II)
- Additional needs in special circumstances/pregnancy, single parents (see §21 para. 2 and 3; §27 para. 2 SGB II)
If you have a child, are possibly a single parent and would like to continue your studies, you have a good chance of being granted a hardship application. Advice is available from the Studentenwerk Hannover or the Hanover Employment Agency.
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Extension of membership in the student health and long-term care insurance: With the birth of a child and subsequent care, student membership can be extended for a maximum of six semesters (see § 190 Paragraph 9 No. 2 Sentence 2 SGB V).
Exemption from long term study fees: Students who are actually caring for a child within the meaning of Section 25 (5) Federal financial aid (Federal financial aid) who is under 14 years of age can be exempted from tuition fees (cf. Section 12 (3) No. 2, Section 13 (1) No. 3 Lower Saxony Higher Education Act). Please contact the Student Office directly.
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The Family in Need Foundation primarily supports families with many children who have fallen on hard times due to unforeseen circumstances.
Study and research with scholarships: The Heinrich Böll Foundation has listed numerous foundations and programs that support students and scientists with scholarships. more
The brochure "Wegweiser für Eltern an niedersächsischen Hochschulen" (Guide for Parents at Universities in Lower Saxony) contains numerous tips and information to help with the compatibility of family and studies or career.
You can find interesting information about studying with children on the website of the Coordination Office for Student Advice in Lower Saxony. more
On the website "Studying with a child" former students who became/were parents themselves during their studies have compiled a wealth of information and tips on the subject of studying with children - including studying abroad with children.