Maternity, paternity and parental leaves

Maternity, paternity and parental leaves

According to the Act of July 20, 2018 – The Law on Higher Education and Science, PhD student is entitled to suspend education for the period corresponding to the duration of:

1. the maternity leave,
2. the leave on the conditions of maternity leave,
3. paternity leave,
4. parental leave

as defined by the Act of June 26, 1977 – Labour Law.

PhD student applies for suspension of education to the Head of Doctoral School. In the cases referred to in par. 1, items 1 and 2, the application shall be submitted no later than 21 days from the date of occurrence of circumstances entitling to the suspension. The application should include the documents justifying the suspension (child's birth certificate/child's adoption certificate).

During the period of suspension of education, the provisions concerning the determination of the amount of the maternity allowance shall apply accordingly to the determination of the amount of the doctoral scholarship, except that the basis for the amount of the allowance shall be the monthly doctoral scholarship, applicable on the date of the application for suspension.

The length of maternity and parental leave depends on the number of children born during one labour or taken for upbringing and is:

1. Maternity leave
   • up to 20 weeks for one child
   • 31 to 37 weeks for more than one child
2. Parental leave

• • 41 weeks for one child, including 32 weeks that can be divided between both parents or used by one of them and 9 weeks that can be used only by one parent
  • 43 weeks for more than one child including 34 weeks that can be divided between both parents or used by one of them and 9 weeks that can only be used by one parent
  • 38 weeks when a foster family takes a child up to the age of 7 (or up to 10 years old if the child's school obligation is postponed) or an insured person takes up a child up to the age of 14 and submits an application for initiation of adoption proceedings.

Paternity leave is granted to the father for up to 2 weeks, but no longer than:

• until the child is 12 months old,
• until 12 months from the date on which the decision adjudicating the adoption of a child becomes final and no longer than until the child turns 14 years old.

Paternity leave may be used at once or in no more than 2 parts, none of which may be shorter than a week.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at dod@pw.edu.pl.