Academia and family

It should be possible to combine an academic career with family life. Yet, there are countless organizational and financial challenges for those wishing to balance everyday research life and family life – particularly for young researchers. The Hamburg Research Academy is committed to supporting families with children or relatives in need of care.

•  Do you have one or more children and need support and assistance to balance your research commitments with family life?
• Are you a doctoral student interested in starting a family and want to know more about what to bear in mind?
• Do you need help caring for a relative?

We have compiled the most important information from the member higher education institutions here. It is also worth looking at the support services available at other higher education institutions, as they are generally available to students at all institutions.

The Academic Fixed-Term Labor Contract Act

The Academic Fixed-Term Labor Contract Act (Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz, WissZeitVG) [PDF in German only] regulates the possibilities for fixed-term contracts at higher education institutions. In Germany, fixed-term contracts are only legitimate under certain conditions. This regulation is meant to prevent employers from repeatedly making use of temporary appointments instead of granting the employee a permanent contract with the respective employment protection.

The Academic Fixed-Term Labor Contract Act includes, among others,  family-relevant components, thus allowing for more flexbility. The Family Office at Universität Hamburg (UHH) provides comprehensive information, particularly on family matters.