Family Policy & Work-Life Reconciliation

Balancing studies or work with family responsibilities, such as childcare or caring for relatives, can be challenging. This page guides you to the resources available at the university.

The Service for Families helps university members to balance family life with their studies and careers. It provides counselling services, flexible childcare options, and family-friendly study structures. It raises awareness of family issues through workshops and public relations work. In cooperation with the university, the service creates family-friendly structures and continuously adapts its services to the needs of university members. This is supported by collaboration with regional networks and other universities.

The central equal opportunity commissioner and their deputy support the university in ensuring equal opportunities for women and men. They advise university members on equal opportunity-related issues and work toward dismantling existing disadvantages. More information about the legal mandate can be found here.

Focus of work

• Providing strategic advice on equal opportunity matters in higher education
• Offering individual counselling in cases of sexualized discrimination, harassment, conflicts and compatibility issues
• Advising university management and various committees on staffing procedures, development concepts, equality plans
• Delivering continuing education on gender- and diversity-sensitive skills acquisition
• Consulting on gender-sensitive language, gender bias, and structural barriers facing women in science
• Promoting gender research at the intersection with equality policy
• Conducting anti-discrimination initiatives and ensuring protection against discrimination

The Welcome Center Potsdam is the central advisory and service point for international mobile researchers at the University of Potsdam and for members of GFZ, PIK, AWI, AIP and HPI.

We support you and your hosts in planning and implementing your stay in Potsdam/ Berlin and offer comprehensive information, advice and support before you come to Germany, during your stay here and before your departure.

You can choose from a wide range of consultants. Please send your enquiry by e-mail to the appropriate contact person from the team or find out about office hours on the respective websites. We kindly ask you to send your enquiry to only one person. This reduces the processing time.

Click here to access the advisory services offered by the Welcome Centre.

Servicepoint "Am Neuen Palais"

Am Neuen Palais 10 | House 8, Room 1.11 | 14469 Potsdam
Personal consultation time: Monday & Tuesday 1 p.m. - 3 p.m., Thursday10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
as well as via Zoom, telephone and by appointment.

Servicepoint "Telegrafenberg"

Telegrafenberg | A 34 , Room 207 | 14473 Potsdam
0331 / 6264-2322; -2326
Telephone consultation hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Personal appointment by arrangement.

Involving families in the recruitment of qualified scientists is an important part of the University of Potsdam's family-friendly employment strategy.

For many couples, the decision to accept a position depends on the career opportunities available to their partners in the region.

To this end, the University of Potsdam ensures that not only its newly appointed professors, but also their partners, settle in well in Potsdam.

The Dual Career Service offers the following services:

• Review of application documents
• Information on further education opportunities and language courses
• Support with organisational matters
• Support in finding childcare and schools
• Support in finding accommodation.

Are you facing challenges with academic writing projects, considering applying for equality measures, or looking to plan your studies more efficiently? We are happy to help you with these.

This offer is designes for prospective students, current students, and doctoral candidates living under special circumstances – such as stress, a disability, chronic illness, mental health issues, or care obligations. 

Based on your individual needs, we will advise you on your questions about your studies and doctorate. In addition to teaching you specific learning, writing, and planning techniques, our counseling particularly focuses on motivational aspects and the individual’s experience of self-efficacy.

We will be delighted to offer you long-term assistance!