If you have a child during your PhD (Promotion), you usually have to plan two things at once. The first is your time off work, the second is the length of your fixed-term post. Both depend on whether you are employed, what your contract says and how old your child is.
Short answer: You can take parental leave (Elternzeit) until your child turns three. Up to 24 months of it can be moved to the period until the child turns eight (§ 15 BEEG, German text). Under the German academic fixed-term law, the maximum term of a fixed-term post extends by two years per child under 18. As of October 2026.
Key points
- Parental leave is a right for employees. If you only receive a scholarship, the parental leave rules of the German Federal Parental Allowance and Parental Leave Act do not give you a claim.
- Up to 24 months of parental leave can be moved to the period until the child turns eight.
- A fixed-term qualification post can be extended by two years for each child under 18.
- Parental allowance (Elterngeld) ranges from 300 to 1,800 euros per month and depends on your income before the birth.
- Child benefit (Kindergeld) is 259 euros per child per month in 2026. The Family Benefits Office decides whether you are entitled.
What are the rules for parental leave?
Parental leave under § 15 BEEG (German text) is available to employees who live with the child and care for it themselves. The entitlement runs until the child turns three. Up to 24 months of it can be shifted into the period between the third and eighth birthday.
For a PhD, this means: if you are employed as a research assistant, you can plan your leave with your employer. If your doctorate is funded only by a scholarship, the parental leave rules do not apply, but parental allowance and the family allowance of the funder may still be available.
Which figures apply in 2026?
The table shows the amounts and rules that matter most for PhD candidates with children. The figures come from the statutes and from the funders, each with its date.
| Topic | Rule or amount | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Parental leave for employees | Until the 3rd birthday, up to 24 months until the 8th birthday | § 15 BEEG |
| Extension of the fixed term | Two years per child under 18 | § 2 WissZeitVG |
| Parental allowance | 300 to 1,800 euros per month, current law | § 2 BEEG |
| Child benefit 2026 | 259 euros per child per month | § 66 EStG |
| Family allowance in a PhD scholarship | 155 euros per month (as of October 2026) | Heinrich Böll Foundation |
Sources: Stipendienhöhe der Begabtenförderungswerke, Stand Oktober 2026 and § 2 BEEG (both in German). Child benefit depends on the age of the child and your training status.
Worked example: how far does the term reach?
Annahme: Your child is born in March 2027 and you are employed. Parental leave until the third birthday would run until March 2030. The up to 24 months can be shifted to the period until the eighth birthday in March 2035.
- Note the expected birth date: March 2027 (assumption).
- Calculate the third birthday: March 2030. Until then is the basic entitlement.
- Shift up to 24 months of it into the period until March 2035, if you plan this with your employer.
- Have the two-year extension per child under 18 recorded separately in your contract.
How does a child affect the fixed term?
Under § 2 WissZeitVG (German text), the maximum period of a fixed term extends by two years per child when you care for a minor child. This applies to the qualification phase before the doctorate and can also apply to a post after the doctorate.
The term also extends if you reduce your working time by at least one fifth to care for a child, or take leave. The law says the extension should not exceed two years for each case. Discuss this early with HR and your university, because the extension does not happen automatically.
Parental allowance and the PhD
Parental allowance under § 2 BEEG (German text) is at least 300 euros and at most 1,800 euros per month. Without income before the birth, the minimum applies. Whether and how a scholarship is counted is decided by the responsible parental allowance office in each case. You apply there, not at the university.
Health insurance for you and your child
Whether your child is covered by family insurance depends on whether you are statutorily insured. The rules are in § 10 SGB V (German text). If you are privately insured, the solution is different and you should clarify it with your insurer. Our guide Studying with a child: money, benefits and insurance covers the basics.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take parental leave during a PhD if I only have a scholarship?
Parental leave is a right of employees under the German parental leave law. Without an employment relationship this right does not apply. You can still apply for parental allowance and check with the funder whether the family allowance continues.
Is my post extended automatically after the birth?
No. The extension under the fixed-term law affects the maximum term, but it has to be put into effect in your contract or by your university. Ask for the new term in writing.
Does maternity protection apply to PhD candidates?
Employed PhD candidates are covered by the maternity protection law, like other employees. For students without employment, separate rules apply, which your university can explain. Ask your employer or the responsible office for the exact deadlines.
Do I receive child benefit during my PhD?
Child benefit is 259 euros per child per month in 2026 (§ 66 EStG, German text). Whether the entitlement continues during the PhD depends on the age of the child and your training status. The Family Benefits Office decides case by case.
Is there money for a child with a PhD scholarship?
Many funding foundations pay a family allowance. The Heinrich Böll Foundation lists 155 euros per month for this (as of October 2026). Whether you receive it and whether conditions apply is decided by the funder.
Next steps
- Check your employment contract or scholarship notice for the term and the family allowance.
- Tell your employer about the expected birth date early if you want parental leave.
- Request or confirm an extension under the fixed-term law in writing.
- Apply for parental allowance at the responsible office and ask the funder about the family allowance.
- Have child benefit checked with the Family Benefits Office once you know your child’s age and your training status.
Related reading
- Studying with a child: money, benefits and insurance
- Child Benefit Transition Period: Up to Four Months
- PhD in Germany: routes, titles and requirements
- Promotion finanzieren: Stelle, Stipendium oder Eigenmittel im Vergleich (in German)
Sources: § 15 BEEG, § 2 BEEG, § 2 WissZeitVG, § 66 EStG, Stipendienhöhe der Begabtenförderungswerke, Stand Oktober 2026 (all in German).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. For your personal situation you can get advice from Academycon: How we work.
