Pregnant at University

Pregnant at University

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last updated: 17.07.2024

    Pregnant in College — Impossible, or Perfect Timing?

    • As a pregnant student you are under legal protection. You may not be discriminated against.
    • Therefore, colleges and universities make adjustments and provide concessions for pregnant students. They are often set up to take care of the needs of pregnant students by utilising staff members and posting information on their website.
    • Additionally, you are given access to financial support.
    • About 1 in 3 individuals enrolled in higher education in the UK are student parents.

    Know your rights and receive useful pointers by reading this article!

    Pregnant While Studying – A World of Opportunities

    When you found out you were pregnant, it may have seemed like you had to make a decision between dropping out of university or terminating your pregnancy. Fortunately, those are not your only two options. A world of opportunities has just been opened for you:

    Protections and provisions are in place so that you can thrive as a student parent.

    Pregnant in College – Are There Disadvantages?

    By law you may not be discriminated against for being pregnant while enrolled in higher education. This means that you may not be treated unfairly or unfavourably because you are pregnant or have a child. Wondering which laws to fall back on?

    These laws apply in the United Kingdom and protect you as a pregnant or parenting student:

    Great Britain:

    Northern Ireland:

    • Protection from discrimination for pregnant or parenting students is provided in the following legislation:
      • Sex Discrimination Order 1976 (SDO)
      • Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA)
      • Special Educational Needs and Disability Order 2005 (SENDO)
    • Details are found in the Short Guide to Discrimination Law.

    Reactions to your Pregnancy on Campus

    When you tell your tutor or professor you are pregnant, their blank expression may feel unnerving. Don’t assume they are not happy for you. The fact is, they are obligated not to show emotion until they know that you are keeping the baby. Only then will you be met with congratulations.

    Things to Consider

    Here are some things you may be considering if you are pregnant at university.

    1. Timing (taking a leave of absence, switching to part-time)
    2. Exams, coursework and other credit requirements
    3. Internships or Work Placements while Pregnant – what are the options?
    4. Childcare
    5. Living Arrangements
    6. Location (Returning in person or switching to online learning, staying or transferring to a cheaper institution)
    7. Medical Insurance

    1. ⏰ Timing

    There are several options for you to consider regarding organising your studies around pregnancy and childbirth.

    Leave of Absence

    After giving birth many student mums desire to take time off. Thereby the baby receives undivided attention, while the mum can adjust to her new situation. You have the option of taking a semester off. Specific financial support is generally available for your time away.

    • Here is information on student maternity leave:

    • Student Maternity Leave

      Great Britain:

      • You are entitled to a leave of absence, but you are not obligated to take maternity leave.
      • Apply for Universal Credit.
      • Contact your assessment authority in writing to request your student financing to continue. This is up to their discretion. Include:
        • An explanation of your financial hardship, should their payments cease
        • An explanation of your lack of alternative income
        • List of monthly expenses
      • Apply to the discretionary Student Financial Support Fund. Include:
        • Reason for your leave of absence
        • Date when you will return to university
        • Rejection letter from the assessment authority for student finance
      • Students enrolled on NHS pre-registration courses who are receiving the maintenance grant element of the NHS Bursary will continue to receive their normal monthly bursary payments, including any dependent’s allowances, during their maternity leave/absence.

      Northern Ireland:

    For more information on regulations and payments in your area, go to Maternity Leave.

    Uninterrupted Study

    Want to continue your studies without taking a break? This is permissible in most areas and accommodations are made to ensure a smooth transition to student parenthood. Specifics are listed below.

    Switching to Part-Time

    Part-time studies usually means taking 2 to 3 modules per semester. The advantages include:

    • Lower tuition cost
    • Flexible schedule

    Ask your student advisor how many credits are required for you to keep your eligibility for student loans or scholarships.

    2. ✍️ Exams, Coursework and Other Credit Requirements

    Student parents usually have a special status, allowing for specific accommodations to be made. Of course, these are only available to students who choose to reveal their pregnancy status.

    Accommodations to ask for:

    • Allowing for absences for medical appointments
    • Flexibility on assignment deadlines
    • Deferred examinations to be counted as first attempts
    • Transfer to part-time study
    • Further support for study
    • No penalty for missing practical and lab work
    • Time off for prospective mothers and fathers

    See below for more details about accommodations for student mums:

    • Accommodations for Student Parents

      Great Britain:

      • Discuss your plans with your tutor. If your tutor is not providing sufficient support, don’t let this disturb you. Contact the Head of Department.
      • For more helpful hints, go to Pregnant at Uni.

      Northern Ireland:

      • Tell your tutor if you need an extension to an assignment deadline. Should this be your final assignment you will need to use the special circumstances procedure within 14 days of the cut-off date. Include a letter from your doctor or midwife in your application, stating that you were unable to meet the deadline.

    3. 💪 Internships or Work Placements While Pregnant

    • Perhaps you have been assigned a job, on or off campus, as part of a work placement program. Work placements are often relevant to your studies and are a means of making your education more affordable.
    • Some courses include an internship or practicum lasting several weeks or even months. This may have been planned well in advance and now happens to coincide with your delivery date. Or perhaps the practicum is not suitable during pregnancy?

    Learn about internships/work requirements and accommodations for pregnant and parenting students below:

    • Information on Internships/Work Requirements and Accommodations

      Great Britain:

      Northern Ireland:

      • You must take compulsory maternity leave for two weeks after your baby is born, or four weeks if your internship is in a factory.
      • When you inform your tutor of your pregnancy, your tutor will review the risk assessment for your specific work and make necessary changes to protect you and your unborn baby's health.

    4. 🚼 Childcare in College

    Most courses of study require a lot of time and attention, necessitating childcare. The need for childcare also arises if you are supporting yourself and the baby while studying. Provisions are often made both by the university and the government to help with the facilitation and funding of childcare.

    This is how your childcare needs are being met in the UK:

    • British Isles - Childcare in College

      Great Britain:

      • The Childcare Grant is available to full-time students. To qualify, you must have a dependent child or children in registered or approved childcare. If you qualify, you can receive up to 85 per cent of your actual childcare costs.
      • Lone Parent's Childcare Grants are government payments to universities towards the cost of registered childcare costs. The maximum amount you can receive is up to £1,215/ year. You should apply for this from your college or university, who will choose who to grant it to out of their Childcare Fund.
      • Tax Free Childcare covers 25% of your childcare costs, up to £2,000 per year
      • For more information and advice please contact your university or college.
      • Day Nursery
        • Many universities offer day nurseries for 3 month olds and up
      • Other childcare options are childminders (£6 per hour), day nursery (£100 to £200 per week) and nursery school for ages 3-5 (free)
      • Get Childcare helps you find daycare and financing.

      Northern Ireland:

      • Both Ulster and Queens offer day nurseries/creches on campus. 
      • Childcare grants cover 85% of your costs, paying up to £148.75 per week.

    5. 🏠 Living Arrangements for Student Parents

    You have the right to live in your residence room until delivery. This buys you time to find suitable housing for you and the baby. Some universities provide family flats. Government housing or rent support is usually made available to student mums. Here is more information on housing support in your area:

    6. 🗺️ Location

    • Another option worth considering is to transfer your studies. Perhaps switching to your local college will allow you to continue studying, by broadening your support base. Placing yourself closer to home may provide you with the support of family, close friends or relatives.
    • Online learning may also be a good fit, giving you more flexibility regarding location and timing.
    • Employers usually look at your academic performance rather than the name of your institution. Switching to a less prestigious institution rarely affects your career opportunities.

    7. 🩺 Medical Insurance

    Worried about maternity medical expenses? As a low-income student, you are covered by the NHS.

    💰 Financial Support for Pregnant Students

    Fortunately, pregnant, and parenting students have recourse to public and private funding, providing them with ample financial support.

    1. Scholarships and other Resources for Pregnant Students

    Find scholarships for student parents below:

    • Scholarships and other Resources

      Great Britain:

      • The government supplies universities with discretionary funds for students who have financial difficulties because they are single parents. Ask your Student Support or Student Services Office how to apply.
      • Access to Learning Fund (ALF) is available at your university. Google 'ALF' and pick out your university's page.
      • Get free baby items such as nappies, clothes and a car seat through Baby Banks.
      • Go to the Advice and Guidance Team of your university. They will be able to help you to discern what help is available, to apply for grants, and to know how to talk to your tutor. 
      • Get advice from the National Association of Student Money Advisors (Nasma).

      Northern Ireland:

      • Your Student Resource Centre will help you find available scholarships.

    2. Government Support for Pregnant Students

    This is where you can find information on your government’s financial aid for student parents:

    Peer Support for Pregnant Students

    Walking this road with other student parents can make a huge difference: you have a community to do life with. You can find out what worked for others, swop baby clothes and babysitting duties, and feel understood. Universities often facilitate groups for pregnant and parenting students. Find out how to access a peer support group by referring to the chart below:

    University: Perfect Timing for Pregnancy and Childbirth?!

    There are advantages to having a baby while at university. In retrospect many student parents felt that this was providential rather than unfortunate. Here are some real life experiences of student mums:

    • 'I have never had so much time for my child as I did during my student years. The flexibility was invaluable!'
    • 'Parenthood sharpens one’s personal skills: bearing responsibility, time- and financial management. These are important skills for a successful life and have added to my employability.'
    • 'Parenting while I am young makes it easier for me to relate to my child. I get so much more out of the experience.'
    • 'Knowing that I was improving the future of my children was a huge motivator to keep going.'

    Nonetheless, it is understandable that you initially feel overwhelmed at the thought of managing your studies and raising a child simultaneously. You might wonder whether you have what it takes. Why not take the test?

    Unintended Pregnancy in College - Overrun with Concerns

    Hopefully this article has provided you with some ideas on how to navigate studies and pregnancy simultaneously... you may still feel unsure, being flooded by mixed emotions and a multitude of thoughts on where to go from here.

    We understand! You do not have to walk this road alone. Our free digital resources provide you with unbiased counsel. Get the clarity you need, in order to discern which path is right for you:

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