Parenting Room & Support for Student Parents
Queen Mary, Malta campus are dedicated to supporting students who become, or who are, parents with caring responsibilities. Queen Mary therefore offers dedicated and practical support to ease your journey with us, whether you’re expecting a child, already have children or going through another parenting journey.
Wellbeing/Parenting room
Our Parenting Room is a private, comfortable space for feeding, expressing milk, and tending to your child’s needs.
- Location: Ground Floor, room 00-65 next to the security desk.
- Opening Hours: Monday–Sunday, 8am–7pm
- Facilities include: Fridge, nursing chair and table, baby changing mat, nappy sacks, privacy screen, a garbage bin.
Access:
For privacy, the room stays locked to students. You can ask at the security desk to be given access to that room. Alternatively, you can email student-support-malta@qmul.ac.uk with your name and student ID card number to book the room for a specific date/time, and we’ll give you access.
Safety:
Please ensure you familiarise yourself with the building’s fire evacuation signs and designated fire assembly point.
Your Rights as a Student Parent
Pregnancy and maternity are protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. This protection begins the moment you inform the University of your pregnancy, or, in the case of IVF, once a fertilised egg has been implanted. It continues for 26 weeks after childbirth. Beyond this period, if you are breastfeeding/chestfeeding, protection may fall under the characteristic of sex.
It's also important to note that partners of pregnant or breastfeeding individuals are protected from discrimination by association.
We kindly encourage you to disclose your pregnancy at the earliest opportunity. This enables us to put the appropriate support in place promptly, which may include a pregnancy risk assessment, a referral to occupational health etc.
Leave & Study Options
As a medical student, you have multiple options for when you interrupt your studies, once pregnancy has been notified, depending on factors such as your health status, pregnancy risk assessment etc.
A maximum period of two years interruption of study is permitted, as standard, throughout your five years of medical degree study. Additional time off as an interruption of study are permitted for pregnancy and caregiving, and are protected by law.
| Type of Leave | Entitlement |
|---|---|
| Maternity Leave | Up to 52 weeks (minimum 2 weeks after birth is compulsory) taken as an interruption of study. |
| Primary Carer Leave | Up to one year per child. It covers pregnancy, related illnesses, and/or caring responsibilities. This period does not count towards the standard maximum of two years permitted for interruption. |
| Paternity / Partner’s Leave | 2 weeks within 52 weeks of birth or adoption placement, taken as an interruption of study. This leave must be agreed in advance with your School or Institute. |
| Adoption / Fostering / Surrogacy | Same as maternity leave for primary carers; paternity leave rules for secondary carers; authorised absence for pre-adoption or surrogacy appointments, or to help a foster child settle. |
Support through difficult times
We’re here if things don’t go as planned.
Support is available for miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death, or pregnancy termination - for both parents.
Returning to Study
We strive to make your return into studies as smooth as possible.
Throughout your interruption, our student support team will have been in touch with you for regular check-ins and to discuss your return – so you are aware of what to expect. A student support officer can also provide you with some useful information such as local childcare options and our on-site parent facilities.
All new student parents will have an re-orientation meeting with relevant academic and student support staff upon their return to the university.
Support Services
The Student, Academic & Pastoral Support service has access to a range of services across the Maltese islands which you can be signposted or referred to.
Interested? Get in touch on student-support-malta@qmul.ac.uk
Childcare Centres across Malta and Gozo
The Foundation for Educational Services operates 13 childcare centres in Malta and 1 in Gozo as per details below. Centres have different opening hours as specified in the following link: https://fes.gov.mt/childcare-centres/
Useful booklet: https://jobsplus.gov.mt/media/zu5jnrya/jobsplus-childcare-booklet-rev_jan-25.pdf
In Gozo, you can find the following centres benefitting from the free childcare scheme.
| Name of Centre | Address | Opening hours | Cost (Euro) | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Explorers | St Lawrenz Street, San Lawrenz |
Mon-Fri 06:45 – 17:30 Sat 07:00 – 13:30 |
€3 per hour |
Charmaine Cassar 7970 6294 215 55177 |
| Footsteps Nursery | Visitation Street, Gharb |
Mon-Fri 06:30-16:30 Sat 08:00 – 12:00 |
€1 per hour |
Marylise Xuereb 2156 0556 |
| Little Explorers | Triq Mro. Dirjanu Lanzon, Victoria |
Mon-Fri 06:45 – 17:30 Sat 07:00 – 13:30 |
€3 per hour |
Charmaine Cassar 7970 6294 2155 5639 |
| Djamant | Triq Duminku Mintoff, Victoria | Mon-Fri 6am – 6pm | TBC |
Romina Haber 25985568 |
| Magic Steps | Xewkija Industrial Estate, Triq l-Ghassara, Xewkija |
Mon-Fri 06:45 – 17:30 Sat 06:45 – 15:30 |
€3 per hour |
2732 0600 |
Free childcare scheme
The Free Childcare Scheme is a system which was promised in the Government Electoral Manifesto, whereby Government provides free childcare services to parents/guardians who work or are pursuing their education. The childcare service is either provided directly through Government services or alternatively through Registered Child Care Centres.
Email: freechildcare@gov.mt
Website: freechildcare.gov.mt
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/freechildcareschememalta/about/
How to apply: https://www.servizz.gov.mt/en/Pages/Education_-Science-and-Technology/Education-Services/Early-Education/WEB544/default.aspx
Klabb
Klabb 3-16 is a national programme catering for students during after-school hours. This after-school service is operated in State schools and runs between the school dismissal time and 18:00 hours, subject to demand.
More information can be found here: https://fes.gov.mt/klabb-3-16-overview/
Skola Sajf (Summer school)
The Skolasajf service welcomes thousands of children, offering them a programme of non-formal activities that build on fun and skills. The programme is enriched with a variety of activities offered by FES and its entrusted partners.
More information can be found here: https://fes.gov.mt/skolasajf/