My distance learning with child

The IU online study programme adapts to your life – that's a promise! This is because we know that there are other important things in your everyday life. That's why we offer flexible time models in all our Bachelor, Master and MBA programmes.

If you pay your tuition fees in advance, you will benefit from our discounts: one year in advance = 2% discount, two years in advance = 5% discount, three or more years in advance = 10% discount.

Parental allowance is a form of wage replacement payment for the loss of income during parental leave. The contribution rate is calculated on the basis of previous income.

You can find more information on this at the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.

Under certain conditions, young women studying with a child can receive maternity benefits. For this, you have to work part-time as a student and be insured yourself with a statutory health insurance fund. The entitlement does not apply if you are co-insured with your parents. You receive maternity benefit from six weeks before and until eight weeks after the birth of your child. The amount is calculated depending on your previous income. You need to apply to your health insurance fund for the money to be paid out.

You can find more information on this at the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.

From the birth of your child until the age of 18, you are entitled to child benefit. You have to apply for this at your local Family Benefits Office (Familienkasse). You should bring your child's birth certificate with you as proof.

You can apply for the child supplement as a student if one parent is employed and has a low salary. The amount depends on your income or that of your partner.

You can find more information on this at the Federal Employment Agency (BfA).

Young mothers studying with a child may also be able to receive financial support from foundations. The foundation is committed to helping pregnant women who urgently need help. Financial support depends on the individual situation of each person.

Studying with a baby can put a lot of strain on you. If state benefits are not available in time or are insufficient, you can turn to the Federal Foundation Mother and Child (Bundesstiftung Mutter und Kind). However, you have to fulfil a few requirements for this: You should apply for support in person at a Pregnancy Counselling Centre (Schwangerenberatungsstelle) before you give birth. In addition, your place of residence and domicile must be in Germany and you must be in a critical life situation. A case of hardship is deemed to exist if you cannot cover the expenses for pregnancy, birth, care and upbringing of the small child with your income and you do not receive state benefits in time or sufficiently. If you follow these guidelines, the Foundation can support you financially.

You can find more information about this at the Federal Foundation Mother and Child.