Studies with family responsibilities

As new parents, students and employees of HAWK receive a “Baby-welcome-package” from the Family Service for their children. To receive one, send an email with the subject line “Baby-welcome-package” and your address to the Family Service.

Hildesheim location: Children of HAWK employees and students are given preferential admission to the “Campus-Kinder” daycare center near the Weinberg Campus. For more information about the daycare center and the allocation of places, interested parties can contact the daycare center management directly (tel.: 05121/ 301 4603, kita-campus-kinder@stadt-hildesheim.de).

Bringing children to classes is possible in exceptional cases.
Childcare emergencies and exceptional cases: This rule applies in particular to students or employees who are forced to bring their children with them due to short-term childcare shortages (e.g., daycare closures, vacation periods, etc.).

Coordination: Bringing a child should be discussed in advance with the teacher or course instructor.

Personal responsibility: The accompanying person (parent) is responsible for supervising the child. The child should not significantly disrupt or endanger the course.

The information sheet Mutterschutz im Studium/ German (maternity protection for students) provides information about procedures at HAWK. The Familienportal (family portal) provides information about maternity leave.
The Maternity Protection Act also applies to pregnant and breastfeeding students, insofar as the university specifies the location, time, and schedule of educational events, i.e., courses, exams, excursions, and internships. The purpose of the law is to protect pregnant or breastfeeding persons and their (unborn) children from hazards and damage to their health.
Students can only invoke the protections afforded by the Maternity Protection Act if they notify the university (registration office) of their pregnancy. It is therefore in their own interest to notify the university as early as possible. The form "Mutterschutz im Studium"/German (maternity leave during studies) can be used to officially notify the registration office of pregnancy, birth, and/or breastfeeding.

As part of the disadvantage compensation scheme, students with family responsibilities (pregnancy, childcare, and caregiving responsibilities) can apply to take exams under adapted exam conditions. The type of disadvantage compensation must be specified in the application, along with a justification. Appropriate evidence must be enclosed with the application. The faculty's examination board decides on the applications.  
Information sheet “Nachteilsausgleich” (disadvantage compensation)

Application “Nachteilsausgleich” (disadvantage compensation)

Some examination regulations also stipulate that in the event of pregnancy or childbirth during the examination period, students may withdraw from an examination without this being counted as an attempt.
Please check the examination regulations applicable to your degree program to see to what extent these regulations apply.
 

All enrolled students, including those with family responsibilities, must pay the semester fee when registering and re-registering each semester.

Long-term study fees are incurred if the standard period of study for the degree program is exceeded by six additional semesters. Students with family responsibilities are exempt from paying long-term study fees under certain conditions. 

Upon request, the long-term study fee will not be charged for a semester in which the student
 

• is on leave
• actually cares for a child who has not yet reached the age of 14 at the beginning of the respective semester (child lives in the same household; if two students care for a child in the same household, both are exempt; required documents: birth certificate and a current household certificate each semester!)
• cares for a close relative

HAWK students can take advantage of the sports program offered by the University of Hildesheim and the University of Göttingen. There are also special offers for families and children.

Studienstart plus offers individual support for students in their first and second semesters at HAWK. You take fewer modules, giving you more time for other activities, such as courses on academic writing. The program is aimed at all students in special circumstances, including students with family responsibilities.
The program is eligible for BAföG funding and is free of charge.
Registration is possible before the start of your studies or in the first few weeks after the start of the semester if you are studying in your first or second semester.

All faculties at HAWK offer the option of studying part-time. It is possible to apply to reduce the workload of a full-time degree program and extend the standard period of study. Applications to study part-time at HAWK must be made for two consecutive semesters or one part-time academic year.
Semester fees are not affected by part-time study and must therefore be paid in full.
Since students in regular part-time degree programs are excluded from BAföG, they can receive Bürgergeld/ German (citizen's income) if all other requirements are met.

Leave of absence is only permitted for full semesters and, as a rule, for a maximum of two consecutive semesters at a time. HAWK generally grants up to four semesters of leave. For leave of absence exceeding four semesters, important reasons must be provided, e.g., pregnancy or maternity leave. The maximum number of semesters of leave is limited to eight.
Leave of absence can be granted upon written request within the re-registration period, or up to one month after the start of the semester upon presentation of a medical certificate.
Students are not permitted to take any exams or complete any coursework during a semester of leave.
Students on leave of absence at the Göttingen campus (Studierendenwerk Göttingen) are exempt from paying the full semester fees. Students on leave of absence at the Hildesheim and Holzminden campuses (Studierendenwerk OstNiedersachsen) must pay the applicable Studierendenwerk fee and may apply to the Studierendenwerk for a refund during the semester of leave, provided that the person can prove that they do not reside at one of the Studierendenwerk Eastern Lower Saxony campuses.
There is no entitlement to BAföG payments during this period. However, students may apply for subsistence benefits under SGB II for this period if all requirements are met.

Students in special circumstances, e.g., with family responsibilities or chronic illnesses/disabilities, can register early for courses with limited enrolment in various faculties as well as in the IPS program at HAWK Plus. Information on the requirements for early registration can be found in Stud.IP. 

The Studierendenwerk Eastern Lower Saxony does not offer apartments in Hildesheim specifically for living with children.
However, there are small apartments Blauer Kamp student residence that may be suitable for a parent with a child. These are allocated according to a waiting list.

Holzminden location:
The Student Services Association of Eastern Lower Saxony does not have any residential complexes in Holzminden and therefore no special apartments for families.

Göttingen location:
The Göttingen Student Services Association offers 170 family apartments.

Abschlussstipendium/ Graduation scholarship for students and doctoral candidates with family responsibilities. For students and doctoral candidates in the final stages of their studies, the HAWK Family Service offers the scholarship “Mit Verantwortung zum Abschluss” (Graduating with Responsibility). Each semester, two scholarships of €1,500 each (one-time payment) are available for students and one scholarship of €1,500 (one-time payment) is available for doctoral candidates. The scholarships are intended to ease the burden on scholarship recipients during the thesis phase and support them in successfully completing their studies.

Further funding opportunities from foundations and scholarships:
 

• The HAWK Deutschlandstipendium/ German supports students for 12 months with €300 per month. The award also takes into account family circumstances, such as caring for children (especially as a single parent) or close relatives in need of care.
• The “Stiftung „Familie in Not“/ German  is intended to support pregnant women in emergency situations. Applications for financial support can only be submitted to a pregnancy counselling centre in the federal state where the person seeking help lives.
• Arbeiterkind.de/ German supports first-generation university students who come from non-academic backgrounds.

The BAföG provides special provisions for pregnant students and students with children. The respective student services organizations provide advice on this matter.
Students are entitled to government benefits such as parental allowance and child benefit. The Familienportal (family portal) provides information on the various family benefits and how to apply for them.