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Maternity Leave
Maternity Leave
In Germany, a new Maternity Protection Act (Mutterschutzgesetz) came into force on 01/01/2018. Subject to certain conditions, it also applies to female students during the course of their training at the University. The following important new regulations are set out in the new Maternity Protection Act.
1. Duty to inform the University [more]
Individuals may only rely on the protective provisions set out in the new Maternity Protection Act if they inform the University without delay of their pregnancy and their due date (see Section 15 of the Maternity Protection Act).
They are also required to inform the University immediately if they are breastfeeding. When informing the University, students must submit appropriate evidence, e.g. a copy of the mother's passport or a medical certificate from a doctor or midwife.
These should be addressed to:
Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln
Prüfungsamt
Unter Krahnenbäumen 87
50668, Köln.
The University will contact you promptly to discuss any changes that need to be made to your study conditions.
2. Protection periods before and after birth [more]
Individuals may only rely on the protective provisions set out in the new Maternity Protection Act if they inform the University without delay of their pregnancy and their due date.
They are also required to inform the University immediately if they are breastfeeding. As a student of the University, you are entitled to the standard protection periods of six weeks before and eight weeks after the birth of your child; this protection has been in place since the start of the year (2018).
This means that the University is only permitted to let you attend compulsory courses* and examined portions of courses during this period, if you expressly request participation. You may withdraw your request to participate at any time with future effect. You may participate in elective courses and the examined portions of such courses at your own discretion. You are not required to notify the University of your decision to participate in electives.
*Compulsory courses mainly concern the orchestral and chamber music courses. If you are unsure whether a course is compulsory or elective, please contact the Examination Office, who will be able to advise you.
3. Restriction of working hours – Night work, Sundays and public holidays.
The university is not permitted to allow pregnant or breastfeeding students to participate in university courses and events held between 10 pm and 6 am.
Participation in events and courses between 8pm and 10pm is only permitted if the following criteria are met:
- You have expressly agreed to participate. Express agreement includes registering for a course or event or, for participation in orchestral courses, notifying the Orchestra Office of your participation in advance.
- Your participation is required at this particular time for the purpose of your training.
- All and any possibility of unreasonable endangerment to you or your child resulting from unsupervised work has been excluded.
- Sundays and public holidays: You must be guaranteed one uninterrupted night's rest of at least 11 hours each week or, where appropriate, a day in lieu that is free from work.
* Unsupervised work means any work undertaken where you are not able to leave your workplace at all times or are not able to contact others for help.
4. Changes to study conditions
If, after the first notification, there are changes to study conditions that are important with regard to maternity protection (e.g. events after 8pm or work on Sundays and public holidays), please inform the university accordingly.
5. Risk assessment and opportunities for consultation
Once you have notified the University, the University is required to carry out a risk assessment and to take any appropriate protective measures as required. Furthermore, the University will offer to discuss your changed study situation with you.
6. Study and exam performance [more]
Fundamentally, it is entirely your choice whether you want to take an examination or complete a course you are studying.
If you decide to do so during maternity leave, examination and course regulations do not restrict your choice in any way. The protection periods guaranteed under the Maternity Protection Act also serve as important grounds for, among other things, applying for deadline extensions or withdrawing from examinations. Deadlines may only be extended to up to twice the originally allotted time for completion.
7. Internships
For internships, the internship position/the internship provider with whom the internship relationship was concluded is recognised as an employer within the meaning of the Maternity Protection Act. In this respect, they - and not the university - are responsible for the corresponding obligations.
8. Students employed at the University
If you are also employed by the University, you must inform the Human Resources Department and the Administration Office if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
