Services for families

Parents and children welcome

With the Family and University Charter, the University of Passau commits itself to a family-friendly profile. The charter includes all areas of university life, ranging from management to study and working conditions, day care, research and networking. The charter is based on the voluntary commitment of the participating universities. Its family-friendliness concept provides for childcare and caring for relatives.

To ensure your protection as a pregnant or breastfeeding student and that of your (unborn) child, the University of Passau is committed to measures intended to make it as easy as possible for you to reconcile pregnancy and maternity with your studies. In order that the University of Passau can carry out its duties, it is necessary for you to make an appointmentwith the Equal Opportunities Section –see contact details below.

Please present the following documents:

A certificate of expected delivery date, e.g. Mutterpass (maternity record), so that the beginning (and foreseeable end) of your maternity protection period can be determined.
After delivery: A copy of your child's birth certificate and, if applicable, proof of extension of the maternity protection period following childbirth (to help us determine the (actual) end of your maternity protection period) as well as, if applicable, your informal declaration that you are breast-feeding your child. Breastfeeding mothers are protected by legislation in the first 12 months after childbirth.

A list of the courses that you would like to attend during the current and following semester, so that potential risks can be precluded and possible disadvantages due to pregnancy/breastfeeding avoided or compensated for from the outset (e.g. replacement dates for examinations). The data will be disclosed with your consent.

Following notification of your pregnancy/breastfeeding period, you will receive a letter from the Equal Opportunities Section informing you of the beginning/end of your maternity protection period. The letter is proof of your special protection status during the maternity protection period.

Examinations
You can sit exams during the maternity protection period. Your registration for the exam is considered an explicit waiver. However, the Maternity Protection Act entitles you to revoke this statement with future effect at any time (both before and during an exam before submitting the exam). The revocation must be submitted in writing to the central Examinations Office (email is sufficient). No further proof (certificate) is necessary for this. Revocation of the waiver after taking the exam is not possible, however.

Please take the letter for the determination of the maternity protection deadline with you to exams and, in the event of a failure to attend an exam in which you are already enrolled or in the event of cancellation of the exam by the examiner or supervisor, please present it to the Examinations Office.

You will need a medical certificate if you do not attend an examination for which you have already registered or you cancel an exam before and after the maternity protection period. In this case, the normal rules for illness-related non-attendance of an exam apply.

Rest and nursing breaks
An overview of the resting and nursing rooms on the campus can be found at http://www.uni-passau.de/en/university/governance-structure/womens-representative/familienservice/ (‘diaper-changing tables’).

Student/Graduate Assistants
Please additionally report your pregnancy or breastfeeding period to the section responsible for you in the Human Resources Division.

Compulsory internship
Please report your pregnancy or breastfeeding period to your internship host.

Contacts for enquiries:

For questions about maternity protection and/or family life and study balance:
Equal Opportunities Section
Ms Marie-Helene Wünsch und Dr Claudia Krell:
familienservice@uni-passau.de
Phone: +49 851 509 ext. 1026 or 1023
Law Faculty building (Innstrasse 39) rooms JUR 010 and JUR 011
www.uni-passau.de/familie

For questions on student finance (students grants/loans etc.):
Welfare Advice Office (Sozialberatung) of the Student Services Association (Studentenwerk)
Ms Elke Penteker: Penteker@stwno.de
Phone: +49 851 509 1900
Central Library building (Innstrasse 29), room ZB 238
www.stwno.de/de/beratung/sozialberatung

For questions about semesters on leave and planning your further studies:
Academic Advice Service
advice@uni-passau.de
Phone: +49 851 509 ext. 1154, 1153, 1152, 1151 or 1150
Administration building (Innstrasse 41), first floor
www.uni-passau.de/en/academic-advice

For medical questions, e.g. on pregnancy and breastfeeding:
Dr. med. Stefan Hafner, University Physician
Praxis@Hausarzt-Passau.com
Phone: +49 851 5552
Kleiner Exerzierplatz 14, 94032 Passau
www.hausarzt-passau.com

Family Service offers at a glance

The University of Passau offers a variety of employment models. To ensure a balance between work life and family life, it has at its disposal such instruments as parental leave, part-time work, flexible office hours and childcare facilities. See the Equal Opportunities Officer's web page for details.

Finding a balance between lectures and nursery, library and changing table: Pregnancy, childbirth and upbringing confront students with a variety of challenges in their daily life and personal life planning. Time extensions, finances, diaper-changing facilities: The webpage Studying as a parent provides various offers and advice for parents with children.

What do I need to consider before and following the birth of my child? This list offers an overview of all important steps.

The newly established room provides a central space on campus for parents and children. It is located in the Central Library building, to the right of the lobby (room 117). The room is equipped with a computer, a play corner, a cot and a comfortable couch. Food you bring along can be heated in the adjacent kitchen. The room for parents and children is kept locked when not in use. Please approach the Central Library’s lending desk to borrow the keys – you will have to leave your CampusCard with the lending desk and it will be returned to you when you bring them back. If you are not a university student or staff member, you may register to use the room with the Equal Opportunities Section.

Registration for use of the parent-child room for external users (German)
Overview over diaper-changing facilities in University buildings (German)
If you have any suggestions or feedback, please contact familienservice@uni-passau.de.

Parent association ‘CampusEltern’, free children’s meal, parent-child room in the Central Library: This leaflet informs you about all offers and contacts for families at the University of Passau.

The Family Service newsletter informs you about current changes related to the reconcilability of family and studies or working life.

The refectory offers free children’s meals to all children up to age 6 whose parents are studying at the University. Children may choose a main and side dish from the daily menu for free. To use this service, you need a child cafeteria card, which you need to register for by submitting your letter of enrolment for the current semester and your child’s birth certificate to the ‘MensaCard’ office in the Central Library building, room ZB 163 (opposite the refectory's main entrance).

Students with children below the age of ten are entitled to use the student underground car park. When applying to have your CampusCard underground parking access functionality activated, you should submit their birth certificate.
Contact: Buildings and Estates service office
Rudolf-Guby-Strasse 3

Terms of use of the University’s underground car park (German)

A designated parent–child parking space has existed since July 2017 in the underground car park for students at Innstrasse 27/29.
Map showing the parent–child parking space (labels in German)

Experienced students with children help newcomers: The Student Services Association connects mentors with new studying parents at the University. If you are a studying parent interested in participating in this mentoring programme (as a mentor or mentee) please contact Ms Elke Penteker:
penteker@stwno.de

In order to make contact with the parent association ‘CampusEltern’, join the group on Stud.IP.

The Welfare office of the Student Services Association helps you to perform the balancing act between lectures and nursery, library and changing table, and to support your study with a child/children. For questions concerning welfare advice and individual life planning, Ms Elke Penteker is at your service.

The University of Passau's Studying as a Parent Award honours the outstanding commitment of studying parents successfully combining parenthood and studies. It is presented annually to the best students with a child/children of each faculty who successfully completed their studies, and comes with a cash prize of €500. For details, see the info sheet ‘Studying as a parent' (German).

Application form for the Studying as a Parent Award

Passau's University crèche is located on campus and offers day care for children of University students and staff. Two groups of 12 children, ranging from approximately 10 months to kindergarten age. You can apply for a place at any time.
Phone: +49 851 509 1930
Innstrasse 47, 94032 Passau, Germany
E-mail
Web page

External offers

The University of Passau has committed itself to a high reconcilability between study/work and family life. We would therefore like to inform you about existing day care facilities in and around Passau.

Europabibliothek Library: Princesses, clowns and baby dragons

The Europabibliothek in Passau puts on a variety of events each year for children of different ages, including a musical reading, a performance of the royal court theatre Lumumba and a baby dragon club for children up to age 3. All events are free and do not require registration. Programme

Recreational offers for families

The region between the three rivers Danube, Inn and Ilz and the Bavarian Forest national park offer numerous leisure activities for parents and children. Whether you like to hike, take a bike trip, go swimming or visit a wildlife park – the region has it all. Also, the city of Passau has much to offer: take a look at our leisure tips. If your family is up to a smaller adventure, visit one of the city’s playgrounds.

Passau’s Family Card

The Family Card is an offer for families provided by the City of Passau. Whether at Passau’s swimming pool, in nearby museums or when using public transport – the Passau Family Card lets you access a variety of discounts.

The PassauCard

Spend your free time engaging in a variety of activities in and around Passau! Whether in the baths, at a leisure parks, a sports centre or a boat tour on the rivers Inn and Danube – you can save money by using the PassauCard.

In 2013, students with children were asked to take part in a survey on the reconcilability of study and family life. We greatly thank all students who were willing to take part in the survey!

See the survey results