Studying with a disability

Studying with disabilities

There are a number of options for prospective students and students with chronic physical and/or mental illnesses and disabilities to receive individual support during their studies. Below you will find important information about studying with health impairments.

Counselling centre for students with health impairments

Application and admission

The majority of undergraduate degrees at Viadrina are admission-free, i.e. prospective students can enrol directly - according to the deadlines for the summer or winter semester - if they meet the admission requirements. For degree programmes with restricted admission, prospective students must apply for a place within the respective application deadlines for individual degree programmes. Information on the application procedure can be found on the Viadrina's admission's office website.

Chronic illnesses or disabilities affecting your studies can be declared when enrolling, but do not have to be. You are not obliged to provide such information.

In order to ensure equal opportunities, Viadrina reserves up to three per cent of restricted study places for applicants who are admitted due to "exceptional hardship". With a hardship application, they can apply for immediate admission to the degree programme if they cannot reasonably be expected to wait any longer for a place. The applicant's health situation will be taken into account. Reasons for this can be, for example, a progressive illness or disability, but also the fact that the chosen degree programme promises successful professional (re-)integration. If you are applying for a degree programme with restricted admission, please add the hardship application informally to your application. Suitable evidence (specialist medical certificate) must be attached as justification for the application. General information on the hardship application can be found at Deutsches Studierendenwerk. For advice in this regard, please contact the Viadrina's Accessibility Advice Centre.

If you are applying for a degree programme with restricted admission, you can apply for compensation for disadvantages if you had a disadvantage (e.g. due to illness or disability) that had an impact on your grade when you obtained your further education admissions certificate. By applying for compensation for disadvantages, you can improve your average grade or shorten the waiting period. If you would like to apply for compensation for disadvantages, please attach an informal letter to your application. As with the hardship application, you must also enclose further documents to justify your application for compensation for disadvantages (e.g. school report). Contact the Barrier-free Advice Centre or the Admissions Office in good time for advice.

Compensation for disadvantages during studies

In accordance with the Brandenburg Higher Education Act, students with a proven disability are entitled to compensation for disadvantages. This applies both to studying in general and to examinations. The General Study and Examination Regulations (ASPO), which apply to all Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes at Viadrina, as well as the Study and Examination Regulations for the state examination programme in Law, therefore contain regulations on compensation for disadvantages for students with long-term or permanent health impairments or chronic physical and/or mental illnesses.

With the help of compensation for disadvantages, the study and examination conditions can be adapted to the personal needs of students with health impairments in order to ensure equal opportunities in their studies. Compensating for a disadvantage does not mean favouritism. As the entitlement to benefits is not reduced, compensation for disadvantages must not affect the assessment of examination results. They may not be noted on certificates or in performance reports.

The type, form and, under special circumstances, the content of the coursework and examinations to be completed can be discussed with the Accessibility Advice Centre. Because compensation for disadvantages is always individual, the following measures are primarily examples and not an exhaustive list:

  • Extension of time for written exams and seminar papers,
  • separate room for written exams,
  • Additional breaks during written exams,
  • extension of the study period,
  • Alternative credits for stays abroad,
  • Use of notebooks in written exams instead of handwritten exams,
  • Authorisation of technical and personal assistance for exams etc.

    • All students whose status is reflected in the following definition have a legal entitlement to compensation for disadvantages:

    "Persons with disabilities are persons who have physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which, in interaction with attitudinal and environmental barriers, are likely to prevent them from participating in society on an equal basis with others for more than six months." (Section 2 (1) of the German Social Code IX; Section 3 of the Disability Equality Act)


    This provision makes no distinction between visible and non-visible disabilities and includes both chronic physical and mental illnesses. In addition to physical impairments (including motor or sensory impairments), the definition therefore also includes chronic physical illnesses (including allergies, gastrointestinal diseases), partial learning disorders (including dyslexia, dyscalculia), autism spectrum disorders and mental illnesses (including depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia).

    Applications for compensation for disadvantages for examinations and coursework should be submitted in writing to the relevant examination board. The regulations applicable to your degree programme can be found in your study and examination regulations. Before submitting an application, it is advisable to seek advice from the Accessibility Advice Centre. This centre supports affected students with the application and can also be consulted by the examination boards for advice.

    The Faculty of Law provides online forms for applying for compensation for disadvantages for its respective degree programmes. On the website of the Faculty of Business Administration and Economics you will also find a form for applying for compensation for disadvantages. Students of the Faculty of Social and Cultural Sciences should contact the Accessibility Advice Centre to apply for compensation for disadvantages. The same applies to students who would like to apply for compensation for disadvantages for examinations at the Viadrina Language Centre.

    In the application for compensation for disadvantages, students must explain, among other things, the measures that are suitable for them and why these are necessary for health reasons. The entitlement to compensation for disadvantages must be proven by a (psycho-)therapeutic or specialist medical certificate/appraisal. The Barrier-free Counselling Centre can make a recommendation to the responsible examination board upon request following a detailed consultation and examination of the certificate/expert opinion. The compensation for disadvantages approved by the examination board is recorded in writing and can be presented to the teaching staff, the admission's office, the examination office and/or other relevant bodies (e.g. BAföG office) as required.

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    In principle, students are not obliged to provide information about their medical condition. Personal data, e.g. on health impairments, is subject to special protection. According to the Federal Constitutional Court, data protection or informational self-determination is a fundamental right. According to this, students can decide individually to whom they disclose which personal information. In accordance with data protection requirements, the diagnosis does not have to be stated in the application for compensation for disadvantages. The impairment resulting from the illness/disability and its effects on the coursework and examinations to be completed are essential for the examination board to understand why a certain compensation for disadvantages and thus the deviation from the study and examination regulations is necessary.

    Our information sheet provides information on the preparation of the medical or (psycho-)therapeutic certificate/assessment. Please note that the information is not binding, but is intended as an aid for doctors and (psycho)therapists regarding the formulation of a certificate for submission to the examination board.

    Information sheet (PDF)

    Student financing

    The financial costs of studying are often higher for students with health impairments; for example, study assistants, transport services for people with limited mobility or specific aids have to be financed. Additional costs can also be incurred if the duration of studies is extended due to illness. In order to avoid a delayed start to studies, an extension of studies or similar, it is particularly important to secure funding for additional study requirements in good time. Below you will find some tips on financing your studies. You are also welcome to make an appointment with the Barrier-free Advice Centre for more detailed information.

    In the event of a leave of absence (e.g. due to illness, pregnancy, studying abroad), students can be exempted from the obligation to pay contributions. The application for exemption must be accompanied by a medical certificate. Further information and the application for exemption from the obligation to pay contributions can be found on the Studentenwerk website.

    To the Student Union

    The semester ticket is a compulsory component of the semester fee. Students who are unable to use public transport due to their disability can apply for exemption from the semester ticket. For more information, please contact the admission's office of the Viadrina:

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    Auditorium Maximum (AM)
    Logenstraße 4, 15230 Frankfurt (Oder)
    Room 08
    Telephone +49 335 5534 4793
    semesterbeitrag@europa-uni.de

    Please refer to the website of the admission's office for the telephone and personal consultation hours.

    Under certain conditions, students have the opportunity to receive financial support under the Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG). On application, it is possible to extend the funding period beyond the standard period of study (e.g. due to a longer period of study caused by a disability). However, additional expenses due to health impairments during your studies are only taken into account to a limited extent when calculating BAföG. In this regard, it is advisable to familiarise yourself with the financing options via the so-called integration assistance.

    Information from the Deutsches Studierendenwerk on BAföG for students with disabilities

    Applications and contact to the responsible Studentenwerk Frankfurt (Oder)

    Students with disabilities who require individual personal and technical support to complete their studies can apply for integration assistance benefits for "participation in education" in accordance with Section 112 SGB IX. This can be used, for example, to finance communication or study assistants, reading or note-taking assistants as well as electronic and technical aids or learning and working materials. Further study-related support through integration assistance includes mobility and housing.

    Information on integration assistance

    In certain cases, health and long-term care insurance companies cover costs incurred in connection with studying. For example, study-related medical aids can be covered by the health insurance companies upon application, provided they are not financed via integration assistance. Students with disabilities and chronic illnesses who have a proven need for care are also entitled to benefits from long-term care insurance.

    Information on cost coverage by health insurance

    Information on cost coverage by long-term care insurance

    Upon application, all students who find themselves in a financial emergency situation have the opportunity to apply for a hardship loan from the Studentenwerk. The guidelines for granting hardship loans adopted by the Administrative Board serve as the basis for decision-making.

    The maximum amount of this interest-free loan is €500. The management of the Studentenwerk decides on the granting of the hardship loan. The repayment modalities are agreed individually on the basis of the guidelines for granting hardship loans and amount to at least €50 per month.

    There are few study grants specifically for students with disabilities. These include, for example, funding for mobility abroad for students with disabilities or health impairments through the Erasmus+ programme:

    Information on funding for stays abroad for students with disabilities

    The scholarship organisations of political parties, churches and trade unions also take the needs of disabled applicants into account when awarding scholarships (see also "Scholarship organisations and foundations"):

    Tips from Deutsches Studierendenwerk for students with disabilities on finding scholarships

    In principle, Viadrina students have the opportunity to apply for a scholarship from the various funding programmes. The Viadrina Scholarship Office provides support in the search:

    Scholarships and Graduate Funding at the Viadrina
    Auditorium Maximum
    Logenstraße 4, 15230 Frankfurt (Oder)
    Rooms 210 and 213
    stip@europa-uni.de | Phone +49 (0) 335 5534 - 4797 / -4855

    The nationwide organisations for the promotion of gifted students and foundations are also of particular importance when it comes to promoting people with disabilities. As part of the application process, students and doctoral candidates with health impairments are entitled to compensation for disadvantages, for example if they exceed the age limit due to illness.

  • Rosa Luxemburg Foundation
  • Cusanuswerk
  • Evangelisches Studienwerk
  • Friedrich Ebert Foundation
  • Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom
  • Hanns Seidel Foundation
  • Hans Böckler Foundation
  • Heinrich Böll Foundation
  • Konrad Adenauer Foundation
  • Foundation of the German Economy (sdw)
  • Study Foundation of the German People
  • DFG (German Research Foundation)


    • Further funding opportunities:

    • Portal for foundations and the foundation system
    • Online scholarship & career network e-fellows.net
    • Scholarship Plus - support for gifted students in higher education
    • MyScholarship

    Student loans are another option for financing your studies or bridging individual semesters financially. As the offers and conditions of such instruments vary greatly, you should obtain detailed information about them in good time. The CHE student loan test provides an overview of student loans, student loans and education funds.

    to the CHE student loan test

    The Studentenwerk Frankfurt (Oder) also offers advice on student financing, including educational and student loans.

    to the Studentenwerk Frankfurt (Oder)

    semester abroad

    Experience abroad is a central component of students' study and career planning. In some degree programmes, semesters abroad or internships are a compulsory part of studying at Viadrina. These experiences not only make it easier for you to start your career, but also give you the opportunity to improve your foreign language skills, familiarise yourself with different cultures and familiarise yourself with other higher education systems. Students with health impairments should plan their semester abroad carefully, depending on their personal needs, as accessibility (in terms of infrastructure, technology and institutions) may be implemented differently at different universities. You should therefore allow one to two years for planning, especially if you are also seeking a scholarship.

    The Viadrina's Career Center offers individual advice and support with internship planning. Students with disabilities can receive individual advice and support in choosing the right place to study and planning their stay abroad at one of Viadrina's partner universities in cooperation with the Accessibility Advice Centre at the Viadrina International Affairs.

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    Living, eating and sport

    Accessible flats are available to Viadrina students in the 'Große Oderstraße' (expected to be ready for occupancy from October 2024), 'Logenstraße' and 'Berliner Straße' residential complexes. Based on the needs of people with health impairments, the flats can also be individually adapted to the respective requirements. The Studentenwerk Frankfurt (Oder) is responsible for organising the flats.

    To the Student Union

    The Studentenwerk Frankfurt (Oder) offers a comprehensive lunch menu with a free choice of components in the canteen in the Gräfin-Dönhoff-Building (GD). This individual choice of components is particularly practical for people with chronic illnesses, allergies or other special diets. In addition, the bistro in the Main Building (HG) and a canteen in the Collegium Polonicum cater for the physical well-being of students.

    In the canteen at the European University Viadrina, guests can choose between three different dishes as well as side dishes, salads and desserts. At least one vegetarian or vegan alternative is offered. In addition to conventional cow's milk, lactose-free milk or plant-based alternatives are also available in the university cafeterias. The menu also contains information on ingredients, preservatives and acidifiers. The types of meat contained in all meals are also precisely labelled.

    Lunches for students are subsidised by the state of Brandenburg and students can take advantage of the corresponding discounts on presentation of their student ID at the checkouts.

    The canteen in the GD and the bistro in the HG are accessible for wheelchair users with a lift. Barrier-free sanitary facilities are located in the immediate vicinity of all buildings. The corridors in the buildings are wide.

    Canteen menu in the GD

    The University Sports Club Viadrina e.V. (USC) with fitness centre is currently located at Beckmannstraße 25a, 15230 Frankfurt (Oder) (currently without barrier-free access) due to the renovation work.

    The USC is also a member of the Behinderten-Sportverband Brandenburg e.V. This means that students with health impairments have the opportunity to take part in health sports (upon presentation of a medical certificate and authorisation from the respective health insurance company). Licensed trainers carry out the rehabilitation sports activities, which are primarily aimed at prevention and include targeted physical exercise and relaxation exercises.

    To the USC Viadrina

    Further counselling services

    Central Student Advisory Service and Advice Centre for Students with Health Impairments (in short: Barrier-free Advice Centre
    The Advice Centre for Students with Health Impairments is affiliated to the Central Student Advisory Service. Here you can receive confidential and free advice on general questions about studying as well as studying with a health impairment.

    Psychological Counselling
    The Viadrina's Psychological Counselling Centre is an open service for students who find themselves in a difficult or stressful situation during their studies. It is a confidential, free and solution-oriented counselling and discussion service.

    Immatriculation Office
    As part of the Admission's Office, the Admissions Office supports students in the application process for their degree programme, including with applications for hardship cases and compensation for disadvantages. Should a leave of absence from studies be necessary for health reasons, for example due to a longer stay in hospital or a rehabilitation measure, the Admission's Office will support you with the relevant applications in cooperation with the Barrier-free Counselling Centre.

    Equal Opportunity Department and Family Office
    The various offers and measures of the Equal Opportunity Department are aimed in particular at students and employees who are discriminated against and structurally disadvantaged on the basis of their ethnic origin/nationality, gender, sexual identity or orientation, social origin or position, disability and/or racism. The department is also committed to family friendliness at the Viadrina. The Family Office advises students with children and relatives in need of care on all issues relating to the compatibility of studying and family life.

    Studentenwerk Frankfurt (Oder)
    The Studentenwerk Frankfurt (Oder) has various support services available for you. Here you can get information and help with social or financial issues.

    Ministry for Social Affairs, Health, Integration and Consumer Protection of the State of Brandenburg (MSGIV)

    Representative of the state government for the interests of people with disabilities (Brandenburg)

    Representative for Equality and Disability of the City Administration of Frankfurt (Oder)

    Supplementary independent participation counselling (EUTB) Frankfurt (Oder)

    Lebenshilfe Frankfurt (Oder) e.V.

    Further counselling and support services in Frankfurt (Oder) and Brandenburg can be found on the website of the city of Frankfurt (Oder) and at www.rehadat-adressen.de/.