Studying as a Parent

Pregnancy and the birth of a child bring new challenges to your life and study organisation. It is better to prepare for this new situation in time. Many student parents are faced with coordinating the care of their child while managing their studies and, in most cases, a job on top of it all. With the following topics we want to offer you assistance in answering some of the most important questions concerning study organisation as a parent.

Whether you've already given birth or are pregnant, the social counselling department of the "Studentenwerk" (student services) can provide information on financing your studies. In certain circumstances and to a limited extent, foreign students and German single mothers might be able to obtain financial support from the social fund of student services.
The social counselling department can also offer you assistance with childcare and other organisational matters.
Social Counselling Contact (Ms Marianne Strutzberg)

Either the mother or the father may file an application for exeat to attend to their child; student parents may also take turns caring for their child each term.
Detailed information on e.g. the periods and maximum duration of exeat, as well as the appropriate application form, can be found here:
Exeat

In the case of low income and particularly strong cases of social hardship (e.g. pregnancy or single parenthood), an application for a subsidy from the social fund may be filed with the HTW’s semester ticket office.
The complete application (form completely filled out incl. all verification documents) must be filed with the semester ticket office two weeks after the payment period for semester fees at the very latest. After this date, a subsidy is generally debarred and only possible if the student is able to provide proof of circumstances caused by no fault of his or her own.
The payment obligation for semester fees and the payment deadlines specified by the Office of Admissions and Enrolment remain unchanged upon application for a subsidy. Subsidies will only be granted as a belated reimbursement.
Semester Ticket Office

At the Treskowallee campus, there is a nursery in the low-rise building which can be used for play, quiet time, nursing children, etc. The key to the nursery can be obtained from the Central Women’s Representative, Dr. Helga-Maria Engel.
Childcare is done by the student parents themselves according to their own arrangements with one another. This form of childcare is reliable, as the nursery is used rather spontaneously instead of continuously. There is now also childcare available by the hour in Blankenburg and at the Wilhelminenhof campus. Information on this can be obtained from the part-time women’s representatives of Departments 2 and 5.
Women's Representatives at the HTW

The women's representatives of the HTW can offer you support when you have financial questions or require help, especially when putting together a convenient course schedule.
Women's Representatives at the HTW

Further information can be found at our German website:
Studying as a Parent