FAQ Study with children
Studies and pregnancy
Services according to SGB II: Additional requirements for the pregnancy
After the 12th week of pregnancy, pregnant women with a low income are entitled to an additional requirement. It corresponds to who does not exceed the SGB II- requirement (Bürgergeld) with its income or exceeds it only very slightly (also in training or study possible). The monetary help is considered to cover Additional costs during the pregnancy. Like for example nutrition, body care, travel costs and smaller changes of the clothing due to pregnancy. It is currently around 85 euros per month.
Application with residence in Darmstadt:
Jobcenter Darmstadt
Groß-Gerauer-Weg 3
64295 Darmstadt
Application with residence in district Darmstadt-Dieburg
Kreisverwaltung Darmstadt-Dieburg
64276 Darmstadt
Single time aid under SGB II: Initial supplies for the baby
In addition, needy pregnant women can also apply for initial equipment for the baby. The money can be used for the acquisition of different things, which are necessary for a reasonable and appropriate household and/or life guidance with the baby, e.g. washing machine, furniture for the child or clothing. The amount of the initial equipment depends on the necessity. It is reasonable to buy the required items second hand. The application must be made before the birth of the child!
Application with residence in Darmstadt:
Jobcenter Darmstadt
Groß-Gerauer-Weg 3
64295 Darmstadt
Application with residence Darmstadt-Dieburg district:
Kreisverwaltung Darmstadt-Dieburg
64276 Darmstadt
Maternity allowance
Mothers with statutory health insurance and pregnant women who are in employment receive maternity benefits, in each case six weeks before and up to eight weeks (12 weeks in the case of premature and multiple births) after the birth of the child. The amount of maternity benefit depends on the amount of earned income prior to receipt, but is at least 13 euros per day from health insurance. The difference from the previous net income is paid by the employer. The maternity benefit is paid net. It is exempt from taxes and social security contributions. It can be applied for at the earliest seven weeks before the calculated date of birth; a medical certificate must be submitted to the health insurance fund.
The regulations are different for privately insured mothers who have a permanent employment relationship subject to social insurance contributions or who are in minor employment. You can submit an application for the so-called PKV maternity allowance to the Federal Insurance Office in Bonn. There is a one-off lump sum of 210 euros for the period of maternity protection.
Federal Foundation Mother and Child
In the event of financial need for help, all pregnant women (irrespective of their residence permit) can apply to the Mother and Child Foundation for a one-off sum to be paid before the birth for necessary purchases such as pregnancy clothes or initial equipment. There is no legal claim to these funds. The application must be made before the birth at a recognized pregnancy counselling center in your own place of residence.
Recognized pregnancy counselling centers in Darmstadt are, for example:
- Pregnancy counselling in the Caritaszentrum St. Ludwig, Donum Vitae, Pro Familia, Diakonie, Ehe-Familien und Lebensberatung e.V. (Caritas Centre St. Ludwig, Donum Vitae, Pro Familia, Diakonie, Marriage Families and Life Counselling)
Recognized pregnancy counselling centers in Dieburg are, for example:
- Diakonisches Werk Darmstadt-Dieburg, pregnancy counselling Caritas Dieburg
Maternity Protection Act and Studies
Since 01.01.2018, the Maternity Protection Act (Mutterschutzgesetz) also applies to students and interns. Essentially, it prohibits work for 6 weeks before and 8 weeks after the birth of a child. The university now has a duty to ensure that the birth of the student's child does not cause any disadvantages. This means, for example, that exams within the maternity protection period (6 weeks before and 8 weeks after the birth date) must not become a problem. There is still no uniform regulation on how this problem must be solved. However, it would be conceivable, for example, to offer alternative examination services such as term papers instead of written exams, or individual instead of group services, or prompt rewriting appointments.
There are different maternity protection periods for premature babies, multiple births and children with disabilities. For these three exceptions 12 weeks maternity protection after the birth apply and the time, which is left of the six weeks before (with premature babies), are hung behind (§ 6 MuSchG).
It is possible to waive maternity leave while studying (in this case, examinations can be written normally if the expectant mother wishes to do so). For this purpose, a written declaration must be submitted to the university that maternity protection is waived.
Finances: BAföG with child
BAföG can normally only be granted to students who have not yet reached the age of 30 at the start of their Bachelor’s program. When taking up a Master's program, the age limit is 35 years. An exception, however, is made for students who were prevented from starting their studies on time for personal or family reasons (e.g. due to child rearing).
In the event of an interruption of studies (e.g. due to pregnancy or birth/care of a child), the BAföG continues to be paid for up to three months.
But be careful! As soon as your studies are interrupted for more than three months due to pregnancy or birth, this entitlement no longer applies - until you resume your studies. If this is foreseeable, the BAföG office must be informed about the interruption of studies and it must be applied for a leave of Absence. Instead, students can apply for unemployment benefit for this period as long as their household income is not too high.
If you receive BAföG, you normally have to submit a certificate of achievement by the end of the 4th semester. A justification for a later submission of these certificates can be given by reasons such as illness, illness of the child, pregnancy and child-raising. Here for corresponding proofs are required!
The BAföG entitlement ends at the end of the standard period of study. An extension of the entitlement is generally granted by one semester as well as by one semester per year of the child's life, due pregnancy. This is valid until the child is five years old and only if the child rearing is the cause for the study delay. This regulation also applies to fathers. The extension periods can be distributed among both studying parents. In this case, the parents must make a statement on how the childcare was divided between them.
For BAföG recipients with children, there is a childcare surcharge of 130 euros for the first child and 85 euros for each additional child under 10 years of age. If both parents receive BAföG, the care allowance is only granted for one parent. Actual care costs do not have to be submitted.
In order to receive the supplement, a separate form for the BAföG application must be filled.
Since the BAföG grant is an interest-free loan from the state, part of it has to be repaid, up to a maximum of 10,000 euros.
About five years after the end of the maximum funding period, the repayment obligation begins. Within 20 years, the money must be repaid in a monthly instalment of currently 105 euros. The borrower is exempt from the repayment obligation as long as he receives BAföG. In addition, the borrower can be temporarily exempted from repayment if his own income does not exceed 1,145 euros. The income limit is increased for: the spouse/life partner by 570 € for each child by 520 €. The exemption is usually granted for one year from the beginning of the month of application.
Upon application, single parents can claim the childcare costs when repaying the BAföG loan. The monthly income limit is increased by the amount of the care costs of a child who has not yet reached the age of 16 by a maximum value.
For students of the TU and the Hochschule Darmstadt (residence irrelevant):
Forms and advice:
Student financing
Mensa Lichtwiese
Alarich-White-Str. 3
64287 Darmstadt
Postal address:
Darmstadt Student Union
Student finance
P.O. Box 10 13 21
64213 Darmstadt
You can also submit your application online. Further information can be found on the BAföG online application and on the student finance website.
Finances: Parental allowance (Elterngeld)
With the parental allowance, the state supports all parents (including students) who have their residence or habitual abode in Germany and want to take care of the child's care as a matter of priority in the first year of his or her life. The precondition is that they live with their child in one household, care for and educate the child themselves and have no or no full employment (up to 30 hours a week). In the case of studies, the number of weekly hours spent on studying is insignificant. EU nationals can also receive parental allowance under certain conditions. Other foreign applicants can receive parental allowance if they have a settlement permit or a residence permit which entitles or had entitled them to engage in gainful employment.
Attention! There is no entitlement if the residence permit was issued for the purpose of training (§§ 16, 17 of the Residence Act - AufenthG -) or in accordance with § 18 (2) AufenthG and the approval of the Federal Employment Agency in accordance with the Employment Ordinance may only be issued for a certain maximum period!
The parents can share among themselves who wants to stay at home for how long. If both parents wish to take over the care and upbringing of the child, one parent alone can claim the parental allowance for a maximum of twelve months. Two further months are reserved for the partner.
Single parents can claim the full 14 months parental allowance.
The basic parental allowance is at least 300 euros and at most 1,800 euros, depending on the income in the period before the parental allowance.
In the case of multiple births, the parental allowance calculated in each case increases by € 300 for each additional multiple child (§ 2 Para. 6 BEEG). It is also possible to apply for ElterngeldPlus. It is calculated like the basic parental allowance, but amounts to a maximum of half of the parental allowance amount, for which it is paid for twice the period.
Resident in Darmstadt or in the Darmstadt-Dieburg district:
Hessisches Amt für Versorgung und Soziales
Schottener Weg 3
64289 Darmstadt
Finances: Child benefit (Kindergeld)
Everyone who has a child and whose place of residence/ permanent abode is in Germany is entitled to child benefit.
Foreign student parents are only entitled to child benefit if they have a residence permit. Student parents with a residence title above §16 (for study purposes) are not entitled to child benefit unless they come from a country of origin with special agreements such as Algeria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Morocco, Montenegro, Serbia, Tunisia and Turkey. The entitlement arises with the birth of the child. The application should be made as soon as possible after birth, as child benefit is not paid retroactively for more than six months. The completed application for child benefit must be accompanied by the child's birth certificate.
Child benefit is normally paid from the month in which the child is born. However, there is one exception for students: If the pregnant student is still entitled to child benefit and interrupts her studies due to her pregnancy (e.g. semester off), child benefit is paid for the entire semester in which the birth of the child is expected.
With residence in Darmstadt and district Darmstadt-Dieburg:
Familienkasse Hessen
Groß-Gerauer-Weg 7
64295 Darmstadt
Finances: Housing benefit (Wohngeld)
Housing benefit is a financial contribution to the rental costs. Students are excluded from receiving housing benefit as long as they are entitled to BAföG benefits "on the merits", as these also include a subsidy for the rental costs.
Students are entitled to housing benefit if they are not entitled to BAföG "basically". This is the case, for example, if the age limit has been exceeded without sufficient reason for BAföG entitlement, the standard period of study has been exceeded or BAföG benefits are no longer provided due to lack of proof of achievement.
If students are on leave due to pregnancy or child-rearing, they are entitled to housing benefit.
The amount of the housing benefit depends on the number of family members belonging to the household, the amount of the family income (orphan's allowance and maintenance payments count as income in the calculation) and the amount of the rent.
Resident in Darmstadt:
Amt für Wohnungswesen
Frankfurter Straße 71
64293 Darmstadt
Resident in the Darmstadt-Dieburg district:
Kreisverwaltung Darmstadt-Dieburg
Wohngeldbehörde
64276 Darmstadt
Finances: Benefits according to social code II (SGB II)
In general, students who are basically eligible for BAföG funding are excluded from the benefits of social code II (SGB II).
However, there are exceptions for students with children. For the child, benefits according to SGB II (social benefits) can be applied for, even if the parents are excluded from the benefits.
Social benefits, additional needs and one-off assistance are possible.
Further information and advice can be obtained from our social counselling service.
In the leave semester due to care and education of the child, students can also apply for benefits on social code II (unemployment benefits) for themselves.
Resident in Darmstadt:
Jobcenter Darmstadt
Groß-Gerauer-Weg
64295 Darmstadt
Resident in the Darmstadt-Dieburg district:
Kreisverwaltung Darmstadt Dieburg
Kreisagentur für Beschäftigung
Jägertorstraße 207
64289 Darmstadt
Finances: Education and participation (according to social code II/SGB II)
Further benefits for children from low-income families are available as a result of participation in cultural and social activities (§ 28 SGB II). All children of parents who receive unemployment benefit (ALG II), social assistance, housing benefit, BAföG or the child supplement are entitled to benefits.
The different achievements in the overview:
- Additional expenses for lunch in kindergarten and school
- Tutoring for needy pupils
- Share of contributions to sports club or music school
- Subsidy for school supplies and school trips
- Reimbursement of transport costs
If you receive benefits according to social code II (unemployment or social benefits) with residence in Darmstadt:
Jobcenter Darmstadt
Groß-Gerauer-Weg 3
64295 Darmstadt
If you receive housing benefit, child allowance and BAföG with residence in Darmstadt:
Amt für Soziales und Prävention
Frankfurter Straße 71
64293 Darmstadt
Resident in the district of Darmstadt Dieburg:
District Administration Darmstadt Dieburg
Kreisverwaltung Darmstadt Dieburg
Kreisagentur für Beschäftigung
Jägertorstraße 207
64289 Darmstadt
Finances: other options
Who is entitled to advance maintenance payments?
Single parents can receive an advance on maintenance payments from the Youth Welfare Office if the parent liable to pay maintenance in cash does not pay any or sufficient maintenance for their child. The child is entitled to advance maintenance payments if he or she has not yet reached the age of 18, has his or her residence/habitual abode in Germany, lives here with a single parent and does not receive sufficient or any maintenance.
Foreign students are entitled to advance maintenance payments if their residence title permits this. Student parents with a residence title according to §16b AufenthG (for study purposes) may be entitled to child benefit if they are employed, on parental leave (employment relationship continues), or receive unemployment benefit I.
What is the amount of the maintenance advance?
Depending on the age of the child, the advance on maintenance payments is between 177€ and 314€ (status January 2022).
Where is the application for a maintenance advance to be made?
Resident in Darmstadt:
Stadthaus Jugendamt
Abteilung wirtschaftliche Jugendhilfe
Frankfurter Straße 71
64293 Darmstadt
Resident in the Darmstadt-Dieburg district:
Jugendamt Darmstadt Dieburg
Mina-Rees-Straße 2 und 6
64295 Darmstadt
Who is entitled to the assumption of care costs and what exactly is assumed?
Families with a low income can apply to have their childcare costs (day nursery, KiTa, day care person) covered. Depending on your income, the youth welfare office (Jugendamt) can then cover all or part of your childcare costs.
Where can I apply to have my childcare costs covered?
Resident in Darmstadt:
Wissenschaftsstadt Darmstadt
Jugendamt
Frankfurter Straße 71
64293 Darmstadt
Resident in the district of Darmstadt Dieburg:
Kreisverwaltung Darmstadt-Dieburg
Jugendamt
Jägertorstraße 207
64289 Darmstadt
Another possibility at the TU Darmstadt:
The Prof. Sorin Huss Fund offers financial support for childcare for students and doctoral students with children, especially at the TU Darmstadt. Preference is given to single parents, students with more than one child, international students and students/doctoral candidates in their final phase. More information can be found on the website of the TU Darmstadt about the Sorin Huss Fund.
Yes, some. Only a selection of scholarships is mentioned here. The list is incomplete.
Heinrich Böll Foundation
The foundation offers financial support for studying and doing a doctorate with a child. In addition to focusing on the humanities, social sciences, art and cultural sciences, the foundation is particularly interested in students of economics, law, engineering and natural sciences, mathematics and journalism.
More information at: www.boell.de
Hildegardis Society
The Hildegardis Society (Hildegardis-Verein) offers christian and international students (!) both loans and scholarships in order to make the compatibility of child education and studies easier. In addition, doctoral scholarships can also be applied for here. All fields of study and study goals are promoted, beside first studies second or postgraduate courses can be promoted as well.
More information can be found at: www.hildegardis-verein.de
Konrad Adenauer Foundation
The scholarship holders of the Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation are to have their lives and careers with children facilitated and a future-oriented policy promoted. In addition to the basic scholarship, scholarship holders with children from this foundation receive a family allowance of 155€ and a care allowance of 130€ per month.
More information can be found at: www.kas.de
Christiane-Nüsslein-Volhard-Foundation
The Christiane Nüsslein Volhard Foundation supports women in their doctoral theses in medicine and natural sciences. The monthly grant of 400€ is intended to help relieve the burden on the household and childcare. The funding period is usually one year in certain cases the funding can be extended.
More information can be found at: www.cnv-stiftung.de
Further information on finding and applying for scholarships.
What offers does the Studierendenwerk Darmstadt have?
We have set up our own parent-childrooms in the canteens of city center and Lichtwiese. During the opening hours of the buildings, parents with children can use these free of charge. There they can retreat with their kids, diaper up, feed, play...
In addition, we provide information about other parent-child rooms at the universities at various locations.
The locations and equipment are described on the Parent-Child Rooms page.
A visit to the Mensa is usually exciting for our youngest guests. We have children's plates and tray trolleys to make your visit easier and nicer.
Children (under six years) of students receive free food in our canteens.
This is how it works:
The student parent goes with his or her child to a food counter in one of our canteens (Stadtmitte, Lichtwiese, Schöfferstraße or Dieburg) and asks for a children's plate. The employees* at the food counters fill it with the desired side dishes.
Please show your student ID at the cash desk without being asked.
We wish you a good appetite.
Tray trolley - since winter semester 2018/19
We've purchased tray trolleys for you. These should make your visit to our canteens more pleasant.
E.g. if you
- can’t walk properly,
- are heavily loaded,
- have one or more children with you, or
- want to easily transport multiple trays.
Please bring the trolleys back to the marked "parking spaces" after a meal or snack so that others can also find the trolleys.
Locations of the tray trolleys in the Mensa Stadtmitte:
- to the left of the Mensa Gabel
- in front of the Bistro Stadtmitte
- on the 1st floor: opposite the market restaurant to the left of the entrance to the Wohnservice
For emergencies we offer two options:
Ad hoc support
Parents with student ID can register their children, if
- the usual private care is not available at any time
- the kindergarten is closed
- the school is on holiday
- parents that have to study or work beyond the regular care options as a special exeption.
Children from 1-12 years are cared for in rooms suitable for children (younger children on request).
Childcare hours: Monday to Friday, 6 am to 10 pm also on week holidays, all year round.
A registration for the next day is possible until 4 pm on the previous day.
You can find more details on the page emergency care.
Childcare places are preferentially offered to children of students, together with our cooperation partners.
Therefore we work together with the two parent initiatives
- unikita Darmstadt e.V. and Krabbelkiste e.V.,
- the ASB Südhessen
- and the children's houses of the TU Darmstadt.
We present their facilities on the Kita-Plätze page.
Our social counselling offers expectant parents and students with children individual information and support, e.g.
- in the search for suitable childcare or suitable accommodation
- on social benefits and other financial assistance
- child related benefits (maintenance, child benefit, etc.)
- in the event of personal questions, doubts or conflicts in connection with the compatibility of studies and family life
Come to our consultation hour - with pleasure also with your children!
Mobility information for pregnant women and students with prams:
Our offices are accessible by elevators. All rooms are wheelchair accessible.
The offices are located on the 1st floor above the bistro, rooms 104, 119 and 120. The elevator is located on the left in the foyer of the Otto-Berndt-Halle.
The pages on studying with a child and these FAQs are intended to help students in Darmstadt - regardless of their location and mobility - to access relevant information.
These FAQs on studying with a child have been compiled and answered by our social counselling service.
We would also like to support you in this way so that your studies - even with child(s) - are a success.
Additional opportunities for students with children
Any interruption of studies requires the approval of the university. Pregnancy and child care are important reasons for such an interruption.
The requirements and necessary documents for an absence permit are different from university to university and the degree program and should be inquired about directly.
When applying for a semester off, the BAföG office must be informed. This is because BAföG isn’t paid during the semester of leave; further payments are only made when you resume your studies.
However, it is possible to apply for unemployment benefit (Arbeitslosengeld II) during this time (application must be made to the responsible job center). Semesters off are not counted towards the maximum funding period, i.e. for each semester off the fixed BAföG funding period is increased by one semester.
Also, recipients of the KfW Student Loan must inform the bank when applying for a semester of absence and will not receive any payments during this semester. It does not continue until you resume your studies or re-register.
The student is not entitled to child benefit during the semester of leave. However, there are two exceptions:
- For pregnant women for the semester in which the childbirth is to be expected
2. During the maternity protection period and the transition period of a maximum of 4 months between the end of the maternity protection period and the continuation of studies.
Semesters off are counted as university semesters, but not as subject semesters. Thus, the semester off has no influence on the adherence to the standard period of study.
As long as your income does not exceed 450€ (minor employment) or you are family insured anyway, you are still subject to student health insurance.
However, if your income exceeds 450€ per month during the semester of leave, students are subject to full social insurance, as working student status is not permitted during the semester of leave.
Whether and which examinations and certificates of achievement can be taken during the semester of leave should be clarified directly with the examination office of the university. During the maternity protection period, academic achievements can always be made during the semester of leave (see "Mutterschutzgesetz").
Mother/father-child cures have been compulsory benefits of the health insurance since 2007 and must be approved if they are medically necessary.
They serve for the prevention and rehabilitation of mothers and fathers, because the challenges of everyday life as parents often lead to severe states of exhaustion and health disorders. In a three-week inpatient prevention or rehabilitation measure, mothers or fathers are treated by an interdisciplinary team according to a specific, holistic therapy concept; the children are cared for during this time. The contact person for the mothers / fathers is the doctor.
The “deutsches Müttergenesungswerk” provides further advice and information or the counselling centers of welfare associations such as Caritas, AWO or Diakonie.