Doctorate with a Child: Post, Scholarship and Parental Allowance

A doctorate with a child needs planning, because a post or scholarship, child benefit and parental allowance follow different rules. This guide shows the amounts, the sources and the points to clarify in advance.

The key points at a glance

• Child benefit does not depend on your income. It is paid whether you hold a post or a scholarship.
• Parental allowance has a minimum of 300 euros and a maximum of 1,800 euros per month.
• The family allowance in a doctoral scholarship is 155 euros (BMFTR) or 276 euros (Foreign Office, for international students) according to the overview.
• A fixed-term post is extended by two years for each child under 18.
• Whether you receive parental allowance on top of a scholarship is decided case by case by the parental allowance office.

Which benefits can you receive for your child?

The benefits come from different sources. The table lists the amounts, the date and the legal basis.

Sources: section 66 EStG (in German), section 2 BEEG (in German) and overview of doctoral scholarship amounts by the Heinrich Böll Foundation (in German).

How do you add up your income with a child?

An example shows how the benefits combine. Assumption: one child under 14, a doctoral scholarship funded by the BMFTR with the maximum basic scholarship.

1. Basic scholarship (maximum): 1,750 euros
2. Family allowance: 155 euros
3. Allowance for study, research or mobility costs: 100 euros
4. Child benefit: 259 euros

Sum in the example: 2,264 euros per month before taxes and contributions. Whether your scholarship is taxable is covered in the guide on studying with a child and in the German guide on scholarship taxes (in German).

How does parental allowance work?

Parental allowance replaces part of the income you lose. The amount depends on your income before the birth. Without income you receive at least 300 euros per month, and the maximum is 1,800 euros (section 2 BEEG, accessed October 2026).

Whether and how much a doctoral scholarship counts is decided by the responsible parental allowance office case by case. For the basics, see parental allowance for students.

Is your post extended because of a child?

For a fixed-term post, the statutory maximum under section 2 (1) sentence 4 WissZeitVG rises by two years for each child under 18. Details and special cases are in the German guide on fixed-term doctoral posts.

What applies to maternity protection?

Whether the Maternity Protection Act applies depends on your legal status, that is, whether you are employed or receive a scholarship. For deadlines and exceptions, see maternity protection for students. For specific questions, your health insurer or your university’s advice service can help.

Frequently asked questions

Can I receive parental allowance if I have a doctoral post?

Yes. Parental allowance does not depend on whether you hold a post. Without income before the birth you receive at least 300 euros per month (section 2 BEEG).

When does the family allowance of a scholarship apply?

The allowance depends on the funding. The overview names it as a family allowance on top of the basic scholarship. The scholarship provider sets the exact conditions in its guidelines.

Is child benefit paid for a child over 18?

Yes, if the child is in training, for example at university, and has not yet reached the age of 25 (section 32 (4) EStG). Further conditions apply.

Do I still receive child benefit if I have a scholarship?

Yes. Child benefit is a separate benefit from the family benefits office and does not depend on your scholarship. What matters is that you care for the child and meet the conditions.

What to do now

1. Clarify the type of funding: post, scholarship or both. Read the contract or the notice.
2. Apply for child benefit at the family benefits office and parental allowance at the responsible office.
3. Ask your scholarship provider about the family allowance and childcare support before you calculate.
4. Plan any extension of your post under section 2 WissZeitVG and raise it early with your supervisor.

How do you plan childcare and the doctorate together?

A doctorate with a child usually needs more time planning than one without. You have to coordinate childcare, research and, where applicable, teaching. The benefits in this guide help with funding but do not replace childcare places.

• Clarify early how long your scholarship or contract runs and how that fits with the expected birth date and childcare.
• Note which evidence the family benefits office and the parental allowance office require, and keep copies ready.
• Agree schedules for submission, childcare and conferences with your supervisor.
• Ask whether your university offers an advice service for family in academia.

Worked example with a part-time post

Assumption: you work with 65 percent of a grade E13 post, step 1. The part-time guide gives 3,093.59 euros gross per month for that. Child benefit of 259 euros is added. That makes 3,352.59 euros gross per month, before taxes and contributions. Parental allowance is not included in this sum, because it follows the care period after the birth and is not calculated alongside salary. The detailed calculation is in the German guide on part-time doctorates.

How do I apply for child benefit?

You apply for child benefit at the family benefits office of the Federal Employment Agency. Entitlement depends on whether the child meets the conditions, for example age. The legal basis is section 66 EStG.

Related reading

• Parental Allowance for Students: Minimum Amount, Application and BAföG
• Child Benefit for Students: Eligibility and Application
• Befristete Promotionsstelle: Was kommt danach?
• Doctorate with a Child: Post, Scholarship and Parental Allowance

Sources: Section 66 EStG (accessed October 2026); Section 2 BEEG (accessed October 2026); Doctoral scholarship amounts, Heinrich Böll Foundation (as of October 2026).

Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.