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Hochschule Fulda

Maternity protection for students

From 1 January 2018 on, the Maternity Protection Act also applied to students, insofar as the place, time or course of a module is compulsory or they are required to complete an internship as part of their university education. Pregnant and breastfeeding students must therefore be granted maternity protection in principle and without request.

In concrete terms, this means for pregnant and breastfeeding students:

  • There is a relative ban on examinations during the maternity protection period: six weeks before and eight weeks after giving birth, students have the right not to take examinations. They also have the right to be excused from modules with compulsory attendance, excursions and laboratory and practical activities.

  • Students can also take part in examinations or events during the maternity leave period if they expressly wish to do so. This must be declared in writing to the respective examination board (use the form "Declaration for voluntary completion of an examination during maternity leave").

  • Furthermore, students are entitled to compensation for disadvantages during pregnancy (e.g. substitute performance in laboratory courses).

  • During pregnancy and breastfeeding (in the first 12 months after birth), students have the right to take time off for examinations related to the pregnancy and for breastfeeding the child.

Pregnant students are obliged to cooperate and must inform Fulda University of Applied Sciences about their pregnancy so that they can make use of the protection rights under the Maternity Protection Act and Fulda University of Applied Sciences can take appropriate protective measures.

The information must be sent informally (e.g. by e-mail) to the study office and in CC to the responsible examination board of the degree programme. In order to calculate the maternity protection period, the date of the expected delivery must also be given (preferably by means of a copy of the maternity passport). If necessary, the Office of Student Affairs may request further proof (doctor's or midwife's certificates).

Subsequently, the students receive a notification from the study office about the beginning and end of the protection period, information about maternity protection as well as an assessment sheet for risk assessment (incl. flow chart).

If a pregnancy is reported to Student Administration, the student will then receive an assessment form for risk assessment. With the help of the assessment form, it is determined whether the pregnant student may be exposed to health-endangering influences during studies and whether any protective measures (e.g. disadvantage compensation) may have to be taken during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

The risk assessment must be completed by the student together with the examination board of the relevant department and returned to Student Administration.

The risk assessment is evaluated and filed by Student Administration. If all questions are ticked with "no", there are no special risks. Studies can be continued without restriction.
If one or more questions have been answered with "yes", the examination board must usually allow substitute performances in which no health risks can occur for the pregnant student (compensation for disadvantages). If there is a need for further advice on safety or occupational medicine, Student Administration will inform the student separately.

 

Maternity Protection Act

Guidelines on maternity leave - Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens and Youth (only in German)

Maternity leave for students

Help with questions

If you have any questions, please contact Student Administration by e-mail:
sachbearbeitung@hs-fulda.de

Declaration of examination performance during maternity leav

Download form

Notes on laboratories of the FB OE

Downloadform

Notes on laboratories of the FB LT

Downloadform