Maternity temporary leave

The University Regulations for Doctoral Schools at art. 25, point 4 states that doctoral students has the right to ask for maternity leave.

According to Italian law (D Lgs. 151/2001 and subsequent amendments, art. 16 and 20) about parental leaves, maternity leave can be requested starting two month before the assumed date of birth and for the three months following the effective date of birth. Optionally maternity leave can be requested starting one month before the assumed date of birth and for the four months following the effective date of birth. In this case is strongly recommended to ask for a specific medical certificate.

Doctoral student who becomes pregnant while enrolled in a doctoral school has to submit to the school coordinator and also to the research Doctorate Office the maternity leave request form together with a medical certificate. Within 20 days after the date of birth she has to send a self-certification attesting the date of child birth (according to the Presidential Decree art. 46 no. 445 of 28.12.2000).

Upon doctoral student’s return to courses she should inform the school coordinator and also the Research Doctorate Office.

It is also possible to ask for a further suspension period starting from the end of the maternity leave upon PhD Committee permission. The request form (available at page Doctoral withdrawal, suspension, exclusion) should be submitted to the School and to the Research Doctorate Office.

Grant payment suspension

During maternity leave and further suspension period grant payments will be suspended.

The University Regulations for Doctoral Schools at art. 25, point 6 and 7 states:

• The Doctoral School Committee can then decide whether to readmit the student in the year in progress or readmit the student to the following year. Student readmitted in the year in progress will be awarded a grant, minus the amount already paid during year in which the student was absent.
• If the Doctoral student fails to attend the Doctorate for over thirty days or if the student is excluded from the Doctoral School, payment of the grant will be suspended.

Maternity allowance

Doctoral students enrolled in INPS retirement contribution system “gestione separata” can ask for INPS maternity allowance. Further details on requisites, amount, etc. can be found on INPS webpage  or contacting directly the INPS offices.

Health and Safety

Pregnant ladies and their fetus can be put in danger in certain working environments facing with Physical agents (e.g. ionizing and non ionizing radiation, static magnetic fields, vibrations, impacts), chemical agents (e.g. carcinogens, mutagens, toxic for reproduction), biological agents and particular working conditions (e.g. manual movements of loads, noise, thermal stress). It could be an hazard handling particular agents or working in potentially dangerous places, e.g. laboratories, mostly during the first three months of pregnancy.

In order to avoid any potentially dangerous situation for pregnant women and their future child’s health, PhD students working in the above mentioned conditions, must communicate that they are pregnant to Servizio di Prevenzione e Protezione and to the Head of the organization (e.g. Department) where they work. Under guidance of the Competent Doctor any undue risk and undeserved damage will be kept off.

In each stage of the pregnancy, should arise specific safeguard needs for mother or child, maternity leave can be disposed as a matter of course by the PhD Committee, upon hearing the head of the organization.