Legal framework
In the following, we have compiled some important information on legal framework conditions such as maternity and parental leave. In addition, the following overview provides you with important information on how the KU supports you in combining your studies with family responsibilities and which measures you can benefit from.
Notification of pregnancy and risk assessment
If you are pregnant as a KU student, you should inform the Student Office of your pregnancy. This notification of pregnancy is voluntary, but we advise you to report your pregnancy as this may result in benefits for you.
To report your pregnancy, please get in touch with the contact person in the Student Office who is responsible for your surname range. This person will provide you with further information for pregnant students and student parents. Your contact person will also draw your attention to the risk assessment that is carried out to ensure that you and your unborn baby are protected in the best possible way at your place of study.
The risk assessment will be carried out by the Officer for Occupational Health and Safety, Mr. Herdegen. Please contact Mr. Herdegen after notifying the Student Office of your pregnancy. Mr. Herdegen will discuss your study situation with you in detail, for example which courses you are attending and whether you have contact with hazardous substances. Based on this assessment, it will then be determined whether you can continue your studies as usual or whether adjustments need to be made.
Following the interview, the responsible faculty manager will be informed about the pregnancy and the risk assessment. If the risk assessment reveals a need for action, it is best to discuss the implementation of the necessary measures directly with the faculty manager and the lecturers concerned.
Maternity leave
As a student you are also entitled to maternity leave. Detailed information on maternity leave as well as on pregnancy and breastfeeding during your studies can be found on the website of the Student Office.
A leaflet for you as (prospective) student parents at the KU on the topics of leave of absence, application, leave of absence due to maternity/parental leave, financial implications and examinations can be found here (in German).
Part-time studies
A good way to combine studying with family responsibilities is to study part-time. However, this is not possible in all courses of study at the KU, but you can study the following courses of study part-time:
- Bachelor programmes: Applied Musicology and Music Pedagogy, European Studies, Geography and Mathematics
- Master programmes: Education for Sustainable Development, European Studies, Journalism with a focus on Innovation and Management, Environmental Processes and Natural Hazards.
For further information, please contact the responsible person at the Examination Office. If you wish to study part-time, you must notify the Student Office. A change from full-time to part-time and vice versa is only possible in the re-registration period for the following semester.
You can find further information on the website of the Central Student Advisory Office.
Parental leave - semester off
As a student, you can take advantage of leave semesters in case of an imminent birth or for the subsequent care of children. During such a leave semester due to maternity or parental leave, it is possible to take exams and attend courses.
You can find detailed information on leave of absence on the website of the Student Office.
A leaflet (in German) for you as (prospective) student parents at the KU on the topics of leave of absence, application, leave of absence due to maternity/parental leave, financial implications and examinations can be found here.
Examinations and examination deadlines
As a general rule, an examination is considered failed if, for reasons for which you are responsible, you exceed the deadlines for registration or withdrawal from the examination or for taking the examination. If these deadlines are exceeded due to family obligations, you can assert and substantiate the reasons for exceeding a deadline in writing immediately after it has occurred and apply for an extension of the deadline in accordance with § 20 paragraph 4 APO. Please address the request to the board of examiners and submit it to the Examinations Office, which will arrange for it to be forwarded. In the application, you must explain which examination is affected and which family obligations led to the registration or deregistration deadline being exceeded or to the inability to take the examination, for example due to illness of the child or the absence of a suitable supervisor. The supporting documents must be enclosed with the application.
Further information can be obtained from the Examinations Office.
Extension of the duration of studies
As students with family responsibilities, you can apply for an extension of the deadline for passing the Bachelor's or Master's examination. According to § 11, paragraph 2 APO, the deadline for the first time failure and according to § 11, paragraph 4 APO the deadline for the final failure can be extended upon request. The application must be addressed to the Examination Board and submitted to the Examination Office, which will arrange for the application to be forwarded. Your application must contain the requested extension period and must specify the family obligations which justify this extension period. The supporting documents must be enclosed with the request. The request must be submitted before the deadline.
Further information can be obtained from the Examination Office.
Extension of the processing time for final theses
Due to family obligations, you can apply for an extension of the processing time for the Bachelor's or Master's thesis by a maximum of four weeks in accordance with § 12 paragraph 5 APO. You submit the request directly to the Examination Board. It must contain the requested extension period and name the family obligations that justify this extension period. The evidence must be enclosed with the application. The request must be submitted before the deadline.
Further information can be obtained from the Examinations Office.