Support for Pregnant Students Policy

A student will need to discuss their pregnancy with their Programme Chairperson or Principal Supervisor to be clear on any academic implications. The student may wish to defer a Semester or year or seek alternatives. The University will respect the students’ wishes as far as this is practicable within the limitations of the academic structures. In cases of deferral on grounds of pregnancy, the student’s grades will not be negatively affected, and the result of the deferred module will be taken as the grade for calculation of the annual progression mark. 

Registry

For extenuating circumstances, postponement of examinations/assessments or deferral of an academic year, please contact Registry for guidance on the correct forms to complete, and deadlines to adhere to. 

Registry Forms

Registry Contact Details

If students experience medical issues or complications during pregnancy and need to be absent from class or require extensions, the normal ‘Extenuating Circumstances’ procedure should be used. Staff should support students’ requests where feasible and academically viable, but such requests should be supported by a note from the medical practitioner, as per normal procedures.

Postgraduate Research students who intend to go on maternity leave should use the  R-40R form relating to a Suspension of Study (this can be taken for 6 months or a full academic year) and read the Guidelines on Suspension of Study.

Students taking part in strenuous activities or who are required to attend labs as part of their programme of study, are asked to contact their Programme Chair or Principal Supervisor to ensure that any risk to the student or pregnancy is identified and managed appropriately. Programme Chairs or Principal Supervisors can contact the Health and Safety Office who can assist in carrying out a risk assessment.  Students will not be expected to take part in any activity considered to be ‘risky’ during their pregnancy and, where possible and practicable, an alternative to this activity will be arranged. In cases where a physical activity or lab presence is deemed to be unavoidable for academic reasons the student may have no alternative but to defer the module for their own safety and that of the pregnancy.

Research students who have teaching hours are asked to talk to their Supervisor to ensure the work environment is safe by carrying out a risk assessment. 

In the case of programmes which include a work/clinical or teaching placement, or in the case of programmes which contain a study abroad component, the rigour of the academic calendar and agreed arrangements with external partners may not allow flexibility for the students to defer this component within the given academic year and a deferral to the following academic year may be inevitable. This should be discussed with the Programme Chair. 

Where feasible, the University should attempt to ensure that the geographic location of placements is conducive to the continued care of the student who is pregnant or a new mother. If the pregnancy is not known to the student when placements are allocated, an empathetic approach by the Placement Coordinator, or nominee, in reassigning the student to a more suitable location, if feasible, will assist the student in the circumstances.

The School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health (SNPCH) and clinical partner services are committed to protecting the health and safety of all new and expectant mothers. Students must inform the BSc Programme Co-Ordinator and the Student Allocation Liaison Officer (SALO), as soon as the pregnancy is confirmed, to review their programme plan and ensure that the student and the pregnancy is not put at risk. Failure to inform the University may result in a prolonged interruption to the programme. A particular consideration is being able to identify a suitable placement for new and expectant mothers. A risk assessment is required to be conducted by the Placement Co-Ordinator before any new or expectant mother can be allocated to a placement. The student should also contact the BSc Coordinator prior to returning to the programme.

In the case of students completing a placement in a pre-school / primary / post-primary or Further Education and Training (FET) setting, it is in the student’s best interest to disclose her pregnancy to the Co-operating Teacher/Placement Director to ensure that the placement setting is able to provide all reasonable support to the student. The disclosure by the student may be required in the context of the placement setting’s Health & Safety policy.

As students on INTRA are employed directly by a company, the rules and regulations of the company will apply and may vary. For Health & Safety reasons, we would suggest that the student disclose their pregnancy to the company.

For students on Exchange or Study Abroad, the University is limited in the ‘practical’ support it can provide to the student. DCU Placements will liaise with the institution overseas to ascertain the level of support available to allow the student to make an informed decision. Where a study abroad period is considered a risk to the student, the pregnancy or to the newborn infant, the student should consider a deferral or transfer to another programme, where this is possible.

In the cases of all placements, the University will endeavour to facilitate the student in securing a placement location which is conducive to the student’s pregnancy or care of the newborn.

In many cases, students who are pregnant will be able to proceed with examinations in the regular fashion. If, however, students require additional provisions (e.g. a smaller exam venue), please contact Registry directly at least four weeks before the examinations commence. A candidate’s request for additional provisions must be supported by a medical certificate. Registry will endeavour to provide reasonable accommodation as far as practically possible.  The University cannot set alternative examinations for a candidate who is unable to sit an examination due to pregnancy but will support a postponement of examination to the next available sitting.

Undergraduate Students and Postgraduate Taught Students

If a student defers a semester or a year of study due to difficulties during pregnancy or having given birth during the academic year and informs the University about the reason for the deferral, the University will ensure that no financial penalties will be imposed. It is important that the student keeps in touch with the University to ensure all correct forms are completed and any changes to a leave of absence is communicated to the University in an appropriate timeframe. 

Any changes to a leave of absence could have further impact on academic studies or fees.  A student should contact a Student Adviser, who will liaise with their Chairperson, Registry and the Student Fees Office for advice and guidance.

Financial Impact on Studies

In the first instance, contact the Chairperson of the programme to discuss potential absence from a programme.  Depending on the time of year that the baby is due or if a leave of absence is required, the impact on studies and fees will differ as each programme will have different regulations. A decision on how much time will be taken away from studies will determine what forms to complete with Registry.  See section on ‘Academic Studies’ for more information. It will also determine the impact on fees. See section on ‘Fees’ below.

If there is a professional placement or INTRA placement, this will need to be discussed with the Chairperson of the programme to understand the impact on the studies and the options available, prior to contacting the Student Fees Office.

Fees

For fee queries, contact the Student Fees Office to discuss the impact on fees.  There is financial support available that can also assist during this time. See section on ‘Financial Supports’ below. 

Student Fees Office 

Financial Supports

Students who are repeating a year or part thereof on medical grounds or due to pregnancy may seek to have their repeat fees waived on medical or pregnancy grounds. To be eligible, students must be in good financial standing with the University and have paid all fees to date.

The student should inform the University of the situation by applying for fees remission when they return to their studies. For more information please refer to the Remission of Fees Scheme or contact celine.geraghty@dcu.ie .

If a student is on a SUSI grant, they may cover fees in a repeat/deferred year where evidence of pregnancy is provided – this should be investigated by the student, as the University cannot make representation on behalf of the student. For more information please refer to SUSI.

Students can also apply for financial assistance towards childcare costs through the University’s Student Assistance Fund. For more information, speak to the SAF team in advance of a leave of absence. 

Postgraduate Research Students

Postgraduate Research students in receipt of monthly scholarships funded by Research Ireland may be eligible for maternity payments for a period of up to 6 months (where they do not receive maternity benefit paid by the State) - such payments are currently paid by the University through the tax-exempt stipend process. There will be specific paperwork required for this and the Graduate Studies Office should be contacted for advice (email graduatestudiesoffice@dcu.ie). Note that Research Ireland students undertaking a Master's by Research will only qualify for maternity payments if their funding is for 24 months.

For other research students funded internally from school scholarships, they should check with their School/Faculty Office to ascertain if maternity payments apply to them.

Students are under no obligation to disclose their pregnancy unless their programme of study puts them or their pregnancy at risk. This may be applicable to students undertaking a programme of study with a lab component or clinical placement, where manual handling or strenuous activity is involved. It is, however, highly advisable to inform the University of a pregnancy to develop a comprehensive plan of support and discuss academic implications of the pregnancy.

The Student Health Centre is not in a position to provide comprehensive ante-natal care but can provide information on ante-natal hospitals and facilities, if required. It is very important that a student who is pregnant is under the care of an external medical provider to ensure their safety.  The Health Centre can provide a rest facility for students who are pregnant and require this during the course of the day. Staff in the Health Centre can also refer a student to other services within the University who can provide personal support.

DCU supports breastfeeding mothers by providing a private, comfortable ‘Mothers’ Rest Room’ for them to express and store breast milk for their babies. The room includes cleansing and refrigerated storage facilities. 

Glasnevin Campus  XG‐38 (Ground floor X Block – Lonsdale Building)

St Pats Campus       B131 

Please contact the Health & Safety Office, safety@dcu.ie  for swipe card access to the Mother’s Rest Room in XG38 and B131. 

Access to a Rest Room on the St Patrick’s Campus is through the Student Health Centre directly.

There are no specific breastfeeding facilities on our campuses. For reasons of health & safety and to avoid disruption of classes or study, students should not bring a baby into the classes or areas where other students could be disturbed.

DCU has a commercially operated childcare facility on the Glasnevin campus. A student should consult with the Student Advice and Support Centre for information on this facility as early as possible in the pregnancy, as Financial Assistance may be available through the Student Assistance Fund for childcare on or off campus, in a registered crèche.