Studying With a Disability and Chronic Illness

In cases of exceptional hardship, admission to the degree program may be granted without taking into account the regular selection criteria of a degree program subject to admission restriction. However, the prerequisite is that the applicant has particularly serious reasons that make immediate admission to the degree program necessary. Possible reasons are defined in more detail by the university and can be viewed in the section  Allocation of study places in cases of exceptional hardship. In total, up to two percent of prospective students can be admitted to a degree program subject to admission restriction via the hardship regulation. The hardship application is submitted as an informal application when applying for a place. The regular application deadlines apply.

Disadvantage compensation is an instrument enshrined in law to ensure equal opportunities at university and to avoid discrimination. It is legally enshrined in the Basic Law, the Higher Education Framework Act and the Lower Saxony Higher Education Act. Disadvantage compensation is intended to enable students with disabilities to complete their studies to the best of their ability. It is not a "privilege", but compensates for individual and situation-related disadvantages that students with disabilities or chronic illnesses face with regard to graded and ungraded examinations and coursework.

Students of Osnabrück University who have a long-term (> 6 months) health impairment, rendering them unable to demonstrate their skills and knowledge under standard conditions or to a sufficient extent, may request disadvantage compensation. In such cases, disadvantage compensation may be an instrument to create equal opportunities for examination performance, helping to ensure that all individuals have the same chances of success.

It is generally possible to submit an informal request. For simplicity, we recommend using the  Application for disadvantage compensation (PDF, 82 kB). The application, which should be addressed to the Chair of the Examination Committee, must contain an explanation of why it is more difficult for you to complete your studies and/or graded and ungraded coursework and examinations as a result of impairment or disability.
The request must be made BEFORE taking an examination, ideally at the start of semester. This enables the necessary action to be taken in good time (e.g. separate room, additional invigilator). It is advisable to submit your application as soon as you know which subjects you will be taking examinations in. For multi-subject degree programs, you must submit an application for each subject. Your application must be accompanied by a medical certificate.

The "Accessibility" feature on the university's interactive map can be used to identify accessibility features and obstacles in buildings and on paths. For example, you can display information about automatic doors, elevators, disabled toilets, parking spaces, and height-adjustable tables. The complete list of functions can be found on the  interactive site plan.

On request, students with special needs may be accompanied by other students during their first few weeks at university. This helps them familiarize themselves with the procedures and contact points, enabling them to find their way around the university more quickly. In addition to subject-specific information, other questions relevant to first-year students can be easily clarified.  OSKA+ mentors are available to support students. If interested, please contact the Officer for Students with Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses.

Students with a disability can apply for a refund of the semester ticket. For more information, see Osnabrück University's  Student Government website.

The UN Convention took effect on March 26, 2009, and national and regional programs have been in place since 2011 to implement it. The Convention enshrines participation and equal rights in law, providing a legal basis for demanding these rights.
It can be viewed in its original language, as well as in an explanatory translation produced by people with disabilities and in plain language.

BAföG is awarded as an interest-free loan, half of which must be repaid after completion of the degree program. Financial support is granted based on certain criteria, such as parental income, personal assets, and adherence to the standard period of study. Further information on requirements and funding can be found on the website of the  Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space.
Students with disabilities or chronic illnesses may be eligible for funding beyond the maximum period. The student finance department of Osnabrück Student Services will review corresponding applications on a case-by-case basis.

Students with disabilities have various opportunities to receive financial support for their studies. There are special scholarships aimed at people with disabilities, but also general funding programs that offer disadvantage compensation.
You can find extensive information on the subject of "Scholarships for students with disabilities" on the   Deutsches Studierendenwerk (DSW) website.

The personal budget benefit was introduced with the Ninth Book of the German Social Code (SGB IX) on July 1, 2001, and became legally enforceable on January 1, 2008. With the personal budget, beneficiaries can receive a budget from the rehabilitation providers instead of services or benefits in kind for participation. They use this budget to pay for the expenses required to cover their personal assistance needs. This makes people with disabilities budget recipients who can "purchase" services independently and autonomously. They become buyers, customers or employers. As experts in their own situation, they can decide which assistance is best for them, which services they need, and which person should provide them. The  Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs website provides extensive information on the personal budget.

Who pays for a notebook with speech recognition software and mobile Braille display for lectures? Who pays for mobility training for blind first-year students? And what costs do students generally have to cover themselves?
In principle,  Chapter 6 of the Twelfth Book of the German Social Security Code establishes the legal right to receive assistance in everyday life, which is intended to enable participation in higher education. Different providers are responsible for covering the costs, depending on whether the assistance is study-related or for everyday life. Study-related aids are those that enable one to study in the first place, such as speech or magnification software for lectures.
The Deutsches Studierendenwerk (DSW) provides an overview of  integration assistance for people with disabilities and clearly outlines the requirements for the assumption of costs.
Benefits are approved on a case-by-case basis. If necessary, a medical certificate issued by a specialist or the disability ID card must be presented.
Further information on integration assistance for people with disabilities and a detailed description of services can also be found on the  City of Osnabrück website.