The legal maternity protection period includes 6 weeks before the estimated due date and 8 weeks after birth. The period is extended to 12 weeks after birth for premature births, multiple births (twins, etc.), or if the child is diagnosed with a disability before the 8-week period after the birth has ended. During this period, you do not participate in any mandatory events and will not be admitted to examinations.
If you have already registered for examinations, this means:
- You will be de-registered from the exams. Just as in the case of withdrawals, you will be automatically registered for the next possible examination date.
- For final theses (Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis) that have already been registered, you will be withdrawn, that is, the attempt at the examination is re-set. You can then start again with the thesis.
It is possible to waive the protection period both before and after birth, but this requires an explicit declaration. This declaration may be revoked at any time during the duration of the protection period. Form “Declaration of a waiver of the maternity protection period”
It is also possible to continue studies despite taking the protection period if the student explicitly declares she wants to do so. Registering for an examination is viewed as such an explicit declaration. This declaration can also be revoked at any time.
As previously, you can also take a leave of absence during your pregnancy to interrupt your studies. More information on leaves of absence and request forms