Information and Offers for Students

Studying abroad as a parent? A study visit abroad is possible for studying parents!
On this homepage (in German), you will find important information about studying abroad with a child and can read about the experience of student parents.
When planning a study trip abroad with a child, the Academic Advice Service and the International Office of the University of Passau will assist you.

A leave of absence in accordance with § 48(2) of the Bavarian Higher Education Act (BayHschG) is possible in accordance with § 10 of the Matriculation Statute (ImmSa), provided that a written application was submitted in due time. A leave of absence can be granted if circumstances exist that entitle employees to maternity protection or parental leave. In this case, the leave of absence may exceed two semesters and is generally not credited to the subject semesters. Furthermore, during a leave of absence resulting from an entitlement to protected maternity or parental leave, students may make their first attempt at examinations (as opposed to other forms of leave which permit only resits to be taken during the leave period) in accordance with § 48(4) Bavarian Higher Education Act (BayHschG). After 25 ECTS credits have been earned during a leave of absence semester, the student's progress is advanced forward by one subject semester.

To apply for a leave of absence and to obtain further information please visit the Student Registration Office's website.
To obtain information on assessments for your degree programme, please visit the Examination Office website..

Students who are on protected maternity leave are entitled to extend the deadline for submitting written term papers, seminar papers or dissertations/theses. It is stipulated in each study programme's examination regulations that the protection period for mothers according to §§ 3, 4, 6 and 8 of the Maternity Protection Act (MuSchG) must be taken into account when calculating all deadlines according to the respective study and examination regulations.

In concrete terms, this means that if you become pregnant or give birth to one or more children when you are a student, the deadline for submitting a written term paper or thesis/dissertation will be postponed by six weeks for the period before delivery (§ 3 MuSchG) and by a further eight weeks after the delivery of one child or by a further 12 weeks in the case of multiple births (§ 6 MuSchG). However, it is always possible to take part in assessments voluntarily.

The double burden of bringing up children and studying is often a strain financially, too. There is some financial assistance to which you are legally entitled, and some which may be provided on a voluntary basis. Notable in this regard are, for example,
gifts from foundations or charitable associations, as well as financial benefits awarded in connection with special study achievements. You can get an overview of the individual funding opportunities from the Student Services Association for Lower Bavaria and Upper Palatinate and on the Women's Advancement scholarship page.

Welfare Office

The Student Services Association for Lower Bavaria and Upper Palatinate's Welfare Office helps you to ease the balancing act between the lecture theatre and the crèche, between the library and nappy-changing table, and also helps to make studying and parenting more compatible.

CampusEltern

The Student Services Association offers pregnant students and those with children the opportunity for dialogue and invites them to meet once or twice per semester. We also invite all those interested in learning more about family policy at the higher education institution.

Kid's Meal Mensacard

In addition, the University's refectory offers a free kid's meal to all students' children up to the age of six. Children can choose a main course and side dish from the current daily menu and eat with their parent free of charge upon presentation of the parents' "Kinderteller-Mensacard" (Kid's Meal Mensacard). The "Kid's Meal Mensacard" can be obtained from the MensaCard office in the central library in room 163 upon presentation of the parent's study certificate and the child's birth certificate.

In 2021, the city and district of Passau have published a brochure (in German) for local single parents.

The State Justice Administrations have created the database for interpreters and translators which compiles information about the interpreters and translators who are sworn, publicly appointed or generally authorized in the individual states of the Federal Republic of Germany. The site provides an option to search for individual or combined features of translators and interpreters by name, location or language.

The digital scholarship programme of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is open to applicants from all disciplines (with the exception of artistic subjects and architecture) who are seeking a full Master's degree at a foreign university and is open to degree programmes all over the world. Funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the pilot programme is aimed in particular at students who have so far refrained from studying abroad for health or family reasons.

Further information can be found in the DAAD scholarship database (only available in German).

The Parent-child corner in the refectory's conservatory area was ceremonially inaugurated on 14 December 2017 by Head of Administration Dr Achim Dilling.
It was designed for students, employees and their children to make visits to the refectory more relaxed and enjoyable. The area is also available to parents, children and above all breastfeeding mothers as a place of retreat outside of mealtimes.

Food can be heated up in the kitchen. There is a games corner, a travel bed and a comfortable couch. The room is locked. You can get the key for it at the check-out desk of the Central Library by leaving your CampusCard as a deposit. Anyone not affiliated with the university may apply for permission to use it from the Executive Support Unit for Diversity and Gender Equality.

Please send us your suggestions and wishes: familienservice@uni-passau.de

Every year, the University of Passau holds its Family Day on the Day of Prayer and Repentance (public holiday) in November. Thanks to the commitment of various institutions, professorships and chairs, a varied workshop programme is offered for school-age children.

If you have any questions about financing your studies with a child, please contact the social counselling service of the Studierendenwerk Niederbayern/Oberpfalz.

Every semester we offer an information event concerning study–life balance. Topics include the organisation of studies and questions of financing and more. The event also facilitates getting to know and connecting with other parents on campus. The dates are announced on the Family Service website, in our Family Service newsletter and on Instagram.

The University's refectory also offers a free kid's meal to all students' children up to the age of six. Children can choose a main course and side dish from the current daily menu and eat with their parent free of charge upon presentation of the parents' "Kinderteller-Mensacard" (Kid's Meal Mensacard).
The "Kid's Meal Mensacard" can be obtained from the MensaCard office in the central library in room 163 upon presentation of the parent's study certificate and the child's birth certificate.

Our campus pram is now available for short-term rental for use on the university grounds.
The pram can be used as a means of transport for one child or also asa twin pram; for example, for an infant and a toddler.
The campus pram can be borrowed on prior request from the Family Service of the Executive Support Unit for Diversity and Gender Equality. To borrow it, please send an e-mail to familienservice@uni-passau.de

Student parents can park in the student underground car park, even if they live in Passau. If a child is under ten years old, the CampusCard will be activated upon presentation of the birth certificate.
Contact:
RGB, room 218
Rudolf-Guby-Strasse 3
See the regulations for using the University's underground car parks

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)

If you are interested or would like to become a buddy, please get in touch with Carina Schropp:
schropp.c@stwno.de

Contacting CampusEltern, more information about the meetings as well as suggestions and discussions are available in the Campus Eltern group in Stud.IP.

Rainbow families are families in which at least one parent is lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex and/or non-binary. These family constellations can come about in many different ways. For more information, visit the Family Portal of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. 

The Student Services Association for Lower Bavaria and Upper Palatinate's Welfare Office helps you to ease the balancing act between the lecture theatre and the crèche, between the library and nappy-changing table, and also helps to make studying and parenting more compatible. For questions about the Welfare Office, please contact
Zsofia Schnelbach, Student Services Association
Phone: +49 851 509 1900
Innstrasse 29, room ZB 238
94032 Passau
Germany
Office hours

The University of Passau honours the achievements of parents who have been able to successfully combine studies and childcare with the "Studying as a Parent Award". This is awarded once per semester at all faculties to the best students with a child or children. The prize money is a one-off payment of 500 euros.

There are permanently installed changing tables in almost all university buildings. For breastfeeding or feeding, there are numerous places on campus that are equipped with breastfeeding pillows. You can find a summary of exactly which rooms are designated for this in the overview of changing tables and breastfeeding areas. The University of Passau's breastfeeding areas are certified by profamilia Niederbayern e.V. as a "breastfeeding-friendly location".

All baby changing and breastfeeding facilities as well as the rest rooms on campus are marked on the map.

In the Student Services Association for Lower Bavaria and Upper Palatinate's Passau student halls, there is "mixed housing stock" consisting of single and double rooms. The double rooms are called "Doubletten" and consist of two adjoining rooms with a common anteroom and hallway, kitchen and bathroom. Parents with a child or children can rent a "Doublette" at half price; for the second room, the basic rent is reduced by half. In Passau, there are 38 "Doubletten" in the Donau-Schwaben student halls and up to five "Doubletten" in the student halls in the Bräugasse, which also features a large studio apartment. You can obtain further information via the Student Services Association for Lower Bavaria and Upper Palatinate website.

For questions regarding maternity protection leave and/or the compatibility of family and studying

Executive Support Unit for Diversity and Gender Equality
Marie-Helene Wünsch and Dr Claudia Krell
familienservice@uni-passau.de
Phone: +49 851 509 ext. 1026 or 1023
Innstrasse 39, JUR, room 012 and 011
www.uni-passau.de/family

For questions regarding the application for leave of absence due to maternity and parental leave

Office of Student Affairs
studierendensekretariat@uni-passau.de 
Contact form for leave of absence
Phone: +49 (0)851/509-1127 or -1128
Innstraße 41, VW, ground floor, 94032 Passau
www.uni-passau.de/studierendensekretariat

For questions regarding student financing (BaföG and others)

The Student Services Association for Lower Bavaria and Upper Palatinate's Welfare Office
Carina Schropp 
Tel. +49(0)851/509-1916
Central Library building (Innstrasse 29), room 238
www.stwno.de/de/beratung/sozialberatung

If you have any questions regarding leave of absence and planning your further studies

Academic Advice Service
advice@uni-passau.de
Phone: +49 851 509 ext. 1154, 1153, 1152, 1151 or 1150
Innstrasse 39, JUR, rooms on the ground floor
www.uni-passau.de/en/academic-advice

For questions about health during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Dr med. Stefan Hafner, company doctor at the University of Passau
Praxis@Hausarzt-passau.com
Phone: +49 851 55552
Kleiner Exerzierplatz 14
www.hausarzt-passau.com

Psychological Counselling Service
Phone: +49(0)851/509-1153
Innstraße 39, JUR, rooms on the ground floor
https://www.uni-passau.de/en/counselling

Baby Timer

The Baby Timer is a service offered by the Bavarian State Ministry for Family, Labour and Social Affairs, which (expectant) parents can use to keep track of all important dates and appointments before and after the birth (all the way up to their child's third birthday) and get important tips.

Family Portal

The Family Portal provides information on parental leave, parental benefits and other family benefits.
Contact the service telephone phone number for individual questions.

Caritas pregnancy counselling offers help, support and discussions for all questions and problems before and during pregnancy, up to the third year of your child's life.

Donum Vitae e.V. is a recognised advice centre for expectant parents, families with children up to the age of three and for questions regarding family planning and sexuality.

The advice centre for pregnancy questions at the Passau Administration's Public Health Office provides information and regional points of contact in the form of an overview of addresses.

On the City of Passau's homepage, you will find an overview of childcare facilities in Passau.

The Koordinierende Kinderschutzstelle (KoKi) (Coordinating Child Protection Agency) is a counselling and care service for young families, under-age mothers and fathers and parents with sole responsibility for upbringing during pregnancy and in the first years of life up to primary school age.

Nummer gegen Kummer e.V.(only in German) is the umbrella organisation of currently 87 local providers of helplines, mostly local associations of the German Child Protection Association and other welfare organisations. The network is the largest free telephone counselling service for children, young people and parents in Germany. Specially trained and mainly volunteer counsellors support callers and help them to help themselves with everyday problems and difficult life situations.

Children's and youth helpline (German): 116111
Parents' helpline (in German): 0800-1110550

In order to make young people with disabilities, such as blindness or visual impairments, more aware of the services on offer and to convey to them that it is a good idea to seek help with worries and problems, Nummer gegen Kummer e.V. has further developed the materials in the current school box (in German) together with the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth and the Federal Government Commissioner for Matters relating to People with Disabilities as well as associations, competence centres and self-help associations for blind and visually impaired people.

116117 is the telephone number for the medical on-call service in Germany. It provides a central point of contact for medical help outside of regular surgery hours. The medical on-call service enables patients to receive medical advice and, if necessary, arrange a home visit or referral to an emergency outpatient clinic. You can find more information on the 116117 website.

The association pro Familia Niederbayern is a contact point for many different topics, further information can be found on the websites linked below:

• Pregnancy counseling
• Marriage, partnership, family and life counseling
• Counselingcenter „Punkt!“: Specialist center for perpetrator work on domestic violence
• The queer counseling center up2you – Life. Love. Self-determined.
• WonneProppen: Collection and donation of well-preserved maternity clothing and baby equipment