Doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers—scholarship holders
There are special legal conditions for scholarship holders with families and their social security protection differs from that of regular employees.
Scholarship funding does not establish a formal employment relationship and thus needs to be distinguished in many respects. For example, a scholarship involves the allocation of funding that does not need to be paid back; it does not constitute regular income and is thus not subject to standard social security laws. Furthermore, legal regulations on statutory maternity and parental leave do not apply.
With regard to these, scholarship providers must be consulted individually as family regulations vary greatly from provider to provider. For example, an Universität Hamburg scholarship for doctoral students based on family-friendly university measures includes an additional special child allowance. For more information on specific scholarships, please see the guide of GEW (PDF, in German only). The German Research Foundation (DFG) also offers research scholarship holders a child allowance.
So it is definitely worth comparing providers. Here are some important questions to ask:
- Will a family allowance or lump sum for childcare be provided?
- Can the scholarship period be extended if the holder has childcare obligations?
- Alternatively, can funds be retrieved in advance in lieu of extending the period of funding?
- Are there other support services to help students reconcile academic and parental obligations?