Children
Going to school while raising a child always poses series challenges, especially for foreign students. That is why it is important that you are familiar with the available services designed to make both easier. For more information about child visas see here.
Child Allowances
To be eligible for child allowances, you must have permanent domicile or habitual abode in Germany. This means that you must be living in Germany under circumstances which demonstrate that your life is based here and not somewhere else. Non-EU nationals must also have a residence permit. (The limited ‘Aufenthaltsbewilligung’ will not be accepted.) Your children must also have their main place of residence in Germany. Applications for child allowances must be submitted to the Child Allowance Department at the Aachen Employment Office (Kindergeldkasse des Arbeitsamtes Aachen):
Familienkasse der Arbeitsagentur Aachen
Talbotstr. 25, 52068 Aachen
Telefon + 49 241 5682-109
Jugendamt der Stadt Aachen
Adalbertsteinweg 59-65
52070 Aachen
Telephone: (49) 241 432 0
Hours: Mondays to Fridays, 8:30am to 12:30pm, Wednesdays, 1:30pm to 4:15pm
In Germany, children between the ages of six and fifteen must attend school. If this applies to your child, please contact the local education authority:
Schulamt der Stadt Aachen
Wilhelmstraße 96
Telephone: (49) 241 4320 oder 4324035
or its regional branch:
Regionale Arbeitsstelle zur Förderung von
ausländischen Kindern und Jugendlichen aus
Zuwandererfamilien (RAA)
Eintrachtstraße 3, left entrance, 2 nd floor
52068 Aachen
Telephone: (49) 241 533288
Fax: (49) 241 160 354 69
Email:: RAA-Aachen@t-online.de
Child Care Offerings
The amount of child care on offer for infants and small children is nowhere close to meeting parents’ needs. As a result, many parents have begun their own initiatives offering alternative forms of child care, such as playgroups. You can find such postings for these alternative forms of care in the newspaper, the Internet, or the “Krabbelgruppenkartei” of the Aachen Student Union’s department for social needs. The Student Union, known as the AStA, offers advising for parents who study at university. If you have specific questions, please consult the appropriate office at the AStA Student Union.
The RWTH has an office for parents’ needs, which gives out advice and puts people in contact with others who can help. All employees of the university who have questions or need assistance should consult this office.
c/o Gleichstellungsstelle der RWTH Aachen
Kármánstr. 9, 3 . Etage, Raum 313
Email: kinder@rwth-aachen.de
Telephone: (49) 241 80-93579, -93545
Hours: Mondays to Thursdays, 9:00am to 12:00pm
Because of the general child care shortage, you should start looking as soon as possible to help your chances of securing a slot for your child. Here is a list of day care centres associated with the university. For your child to be eligible, you must be a registered student.
Aachen Student Union
The Aachen Student Union has 67 child care slots and two facilities. Children may remain in “Piccolino” up to the age of three and in “Pusteblume” until they enter school. You can find out more about the facilities and the requirements for obtaining a slot here.
Kinderkrippe “Piccolino” des Studentenwerks Aachen
for children between the ages of 6 months and three years
Melatener Straße 39
52072 Aachen
Telephone: (49) 241 8884180
Email: kinder@stw.rwth-aachen.de
Kindertagesstätte “Pusteblume” des Studentenwerkes Aachen
for children between the ages of four months and six years
Schillerstr. 10
52064 Aachen
Telephone: (49) 241 7508958
Email: kinder@stw.rwth-aachen.de
Kindertagestätte an der RWTH e.V.
Schlossstraße 11
52066 Aachen
Telephone: (49) 241 504733
(50 slots in all)
Uni und Kind e.V.
Augustinerbach 2 a
52062 Aachen
Telephone: (49) 241 80 97948
or via the AStA Student Union
Telephone: (49) 241 80 93792
Email: uniundkindbetr@rwth-aachen.de
Kindertagesstätte der Katholischen Hochschulgemeinde
Höfchensweg 35,
52076 Aachen
Telephone: (49) 241 60 52 952
FH Aachen “Studieren mit Kind”
In addition to child care, the FH Aachen’s project “Studieren mit Kind” offers help, information, and tips as well as organizes useful lectures and seminars.
FH Building
Bayernallee 9
52066 Aachen
Room 123
Telephone: (49) 241 6009 1180
You can find out more information about the project here.
You can find the addresses of other child care centres in the telephone book.
You can find a complete listing of facilities offering child care at the Aachen youth welfare office (Jugendamt der Stadt Aachen).