I.

According to § 18 paragraph 2 sentence 1 RPO Ba/Ma, students during the maternity leave period may only complete examinations or coursework in accordance with §§ 3 ff. of the Maternity Protection Act (MuSchG). This provision stipulates that the maternity leave periods, which in principle only apply to employed persons, must also be observed during studies, in particular the regulations in § 3 MuSchG.

The following applies:

1. Before giving birth, expectant mothers may not take any examinations in the last six weeks before giving birth unless they expressly declare their willingness to take the examination (relative examination ban). The declaration must be submitted in writing to the Examinations Office and can be revoked with effect for the future up to the start of the examination. If the student subsequently cancels the examination for health (or maternity-related) reasons, these health concerns will be taken into account in accordance with the general regulations on cancellation. Pregnant students can decide for themselves whether or not to make use of this deadline. If the deadline is used, the examination ban is considered a recognized reason for withdrawal and the examination office will register the pregnant woman for the next regular examination date. The examination ban therefore has no influence on the number of examination attempts. If the requirements according to § 9 paragraph 3 sentence 6 RPO Ba/Ma are met, a cancellation of the registration may also be considered in individual cases.

2. After giving birth, new mothers may not take any examinations until eight weeks after giving birth, unless the student expressly requests this from the Examination Office. This period is extended to twelve weeks for mothers following premature or multiple births and if the child is medically diagnosed with a disability within the meaning of Section 2 (1) sentence 1 of the Ninth Book of the German Social Code before the end of eight weeks after the birth; in the case of premature births, this period is also extended by the period that could not be utilized before the birth. As with the maternity protection period until the birth, there is therefore also a relative ban on examinations during this period. Consent must be given in writing to the Examinations Office and can be revoked with effect for the future up until the start of the examination. If the examination is subsequently cancelled by the student for health (or maternity-related) reasons, the consideration of these health concerns is governed by the general regulations on withdrawal. The examination ban will be considered a recognized reason for withdrawal and the young mother will be registered by the Examination Office for the next possible regular examination date, so that the examination ban has no influence on the number of examination attempts. If the requirements according to § 9 paragraph 3 sentence 6 RPO Ba/Ma are met, a cancellation of the registration may also be considered in individual cases.

3. Reasons for withdrawal must be asserted immediately and by the start of the examination. For this reason, subsequent invocation of the maternity protection periods after the start of the examination is excluded.

II.

In accordance with § 18 paragraph 2 sentence 2 RPO Ba/Ma, the chairperson of the relevant examination board may stipulate different examination conditions for pregnant students at the request of the student, taking into account the individual case. Such applications must be submitted to the Examinations Office in good time. In justified individual cases, pregnant students have the option of changing the form of examination if module examinations cannot be completed in the intended form as a result of the pregnancy, if the module description permits several forms of examination.

III.

Withdrawal, cancellation of registration: Even outside the maternity leave periods, a pregnant student who has already registered for an examination can withdraw from it if complications arise during pregnancy. A declaration of cancellation and the submission of a medical certificate to the Examination Office are sufficient for this. If the requirements according to § 9 paragraph 3 sentence 6 RPO Ba/Ma are met, a cancellation of the registration may also be considered in individual cases.

IV.

The maternity leave periods do not lead to an extension or interruption of the processing time for assignments or other written examinations that have to be completed over a longer period of time. This is because if the submission deadline is within one of the two leave periods, the student must decide whether they are willing to take the examination. There is therefore no extension of the deadline because the only question is whether or not to invoke the relative examination ban. This does not affect an extension of the processing time for good cause in accordance with Section 12 (2) RPO Ba/Ma.

V.

Rescheduling of examination dates: If examination dates are rescheduled, these new dates are decisive. If the date now falls within one of the maternity leave periods, the explanations in sections I.1 and I.2 must be observed. If, on the other hand, the postponement means that the new examination date falls outside the maternity leave periods, it must be checked on a case-by-case basis whether it can be taken.

VI.

Internships: The maternity leave periods must also be observed for internships that must be completed as part of the degree programme. In this case, the student must decide whether or not to invoke a ban on examinations during the internship.

VII.

In addition, students on maternity leave have the option of taking a leave of absence from their studies, which must be applied for at the Student Secretariat. During a leave of absence, examinations can only be taken in exceptional cases in accordance with Section 12 (11) RPO Ba/Ma.