Procedure – how does the application work?

How to apply

• Applications should be submitted to the respective examination board (Prüfungskommission) (preferably at the beginning of each course or as soon as the study programme for the semester has been established).
• Prior to lodging the application, it is advisable to discuss the matter with the teacher of each course; the teachers may prepare a statement for the examination board.
• You can contact the Study Advisory Service of the faculties or the Central Student Advisory Service to have questions concerning the actual form of compensation of disadvantages and the application procedure answered.

Decision

• details of the student’s disability; disclosure of the diagnosis is not mandatory
• a description of the handicaps actually present in the examination situation
• submission of a proposal for compensation to offset the handicap
• original (!) certificate from a medical specialist and/or statement from licensed psychotherapists. This certificate must describe the impact of the disability on your studies and/or exam situations. It may include a proposal for reasonable accommodation, but this is not strictly necessary.

The examination board will make a decision about the application at short notice and notify both the student and the teachers responsible of its decision in writing.

An example

Send an email to your Examination Office asking them to forward it to the Examination Board. In the email, explain your disability (the diagnosis is not essential) and describe how it affects your studies or the examination situation. Finally, you should make a suggestion as to how the disadvantage described can be compensated for. You should attach a medical certificate to this email (i.e. a specialist medical certificate or a statement from a licensed psychotherapist).