Raising Children While Studying

Students can take a maximum of two semesters of leave. In justified cases, which includes pregnancy and parenthood, applications to take leave for additional semesters can be submitted.

On the websites of the Student Services you find instructions for applying for a leave of absence.

Scholarship holders who interrupt their studies due to pregnancy or parenthood, i.e. who withdraw, should promptly report this to the scholarship sponsor since scholarships stipends taken unduly must generally be repaid.
If, however, a scholarship holder remains enrolled, he or she is generally still entitled to receive the scholarship stipend.

Always consult your scholarship sponsor ahead of time concerning the specific terms of the scholarship.

There are essentially no limitations on the duration of studies at the University of Basel.

According to the student regulations, the University of Basel recognizes academic achievements earned in other degree programs or at recognized higher education institutions other than the University of Basel provided that the skills and knowledge constitute part of the curriculum of the bachelor's or master's degree program applied for at the University of Basel. Academic achievements are recognized in the form of transfer or credit points by submitting an application to the respective faculty. As a general rule, only credit points that have been earned during the last five years can be recognized.

Contact the Dean's Office of the respective faculty. In the case of sports science and nursing science, contact the institutes directly to clarify the detailed rules.

There is no uniform rule in place at the University of Basel for dealing with absences from classes. We recommend contacting the respective instructor directly or the Dean's Office ahead of time to obtain information on absence rules, for example, whether a child's or family member's illness will be considered as a legitimate reason for an absence and the ways available to compensate for absences or missed coursework.

Exam dates can generally be postponed if there are valid grounds to do so.
Contact the appropriate Dean's Office or the Institutes of Nursing Science or Exercise and Health Sciences ahead of time to find out about any relevant rules and clarify the arrangements for any necessary repeat examinations.

The regulations for bachelor's and master studies state that in cases of hardship, justified exceptions from the rules listed in the regulations can be made.

The University of Basel allows part-time study. The respective regulations for bachelor's and master's degree programs list the regular period for full-time study and state that part-time studies are possible but that the duration of study may be prolonged accordingly.

However, the practical prerequisites for part-time studies vary depending on the subject. We therefore recommend contacting the appropriate Dean's Office or the Institutes of Nursing Science or Exercise and Health Sciences.

Find an overview of the family-friendly infrastructure of the University of Basel on the Family Service web page.

The university has its own fund to aid students with limited resources.

The family situation is taken into account when calculating the amount of the university’s support as well as of the cantonal scholarships or loans. It is always worth clarifying the conditions.

Further information can be found at the Social Services of the University of Basel or at berufsberatung.ch (GER).

In addition to the state-funded agencies that award scholarships, there are several private foundations and funds that provide aid to students and trainees, especially with family responsibilities.
The website of the Office of Educational Grants of Basel-Stadt provides further information and documents on this topic, including a directory of scholarships in Basel.

Are you pregnant and working in a laboratory or coming into contact with dangerous substances?

The safety of you and your child is the top priority. The document Maternity protection in the workplace: information sheet and checklist provides information on protective measures and offers a comprehensive guide to reviewing the safety of the workplace. If you have any questions, please contact our Occupational Health & Safety Coordinator, who also supports students.

Have you taken a longer break from your studies after the birth of your child? Would you like to return to university, but are a little unsure whether you can manage it?

The Diversity & Inclusion Office spoke with Michelle, a mother of three children, who started to study at the University of Basel a few years ago. She has an inspiring attitude and she is very open to share her experience with other parents. Thank you Michelle! Here you find an overview of her tips.

The University of Basel is committed to supporting students from diverse backgrounds, including parents returning to education. This guide is designed to offer practical tips and strategies to help parents successfully balance their academic pursuits with family responsibilities. The challenges in this situation are different for everyone. Please use this document as inspiration and adapt the tips to your situation.