Studying with disabilities

Studying with a disability or a chronic illness is no easy business. Some students may need a wheelchair-accessible apartment and accessible routes to university, while others require more time – and therefore more money – to complete their studies. Here, you can find out what assistance is available to students with disabilities. Alternatively, contact the Social Counselling team at Osnabrück Student Services.

Financing your studies

Various providers are responsible for providing financial support and defraying costs for students with disabilities, depending on the handicap. We’ll be happy to advise you on the different options available.

Lebensunterhalt und Ausbildung

und wie man sie finanziert

Diese Kosten fallen für alle Studierenden gleichermaßen an und werden überwiegend durch Eltern, Leistungen nach dem BAföG, Stipendien oder Studienkredite abgedeckt.

Hinweis: Das BAföG berücksichtigt die besondere Situation behinderter Studierender. So kann beispielsweise ein Härtefreibetrag oder eine Verlängerung der Förderungshöchstdauer geltend gemacht werden. Dies ist dann möglich, wenn nachgewiesen werden kann, dass sich das Studium aufgrund der Behinderung verzögert hat.

Wenden Sie sich hierfür an unsere Finanzierungsabteilung.

Behinderungsbedingter Mehrbedarf

und wie man ihn finanziert

Die Finanzierung des behinderungsbedingten Mehrbedarfs wird im Rahmen der Eingliederungshilfe nach dem SGB II und SGB XII gefördert. Aus diesem Topf können Honorare für Studienhelfer, Vorlesekräfte und Gebärdendolmetscher, Kosten für technische Hilfsmittel und aufwendige Ernährung finanziert werden.

Special arrangements for students with disabilities

In principle, students with a disability or a chronic illness are required to demonstrate the same performance in exams as students without disabilities. And yet this is often impossible without additional help. For this reason, special arrangements can be made for students with disabilities. This allows conditions to be adjusted so that the individuals concerned will be able to meet exam requirements in spite of their disability or chronic illness. Examples of special arrangements for students with disabilities include:

  • Additional time for written exams
  • Extensions to essay and thesis deadlines
  • Changing the type of examination
  • Use of technical aids, e.g. a computer as a writing aid
  • Exam assistance, e.g. writing assistance

Applications should be sent to the relevant Examination Office. Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact the Examination Office as early as possible to make special arrangements as required.

Bathroom in a wheelchair-accessible apartment

Wheelchair-accessible housing

Osnabrück Student Services has a number of wheelchair-accessible apartments available. For more information, please contact the Disability Officer at your academic institution or refer to the following page:

Services provided by dining halls and cafeterias

Staff at the dining halls and cafeterias attach great importance to ensuring that students with disabilities are able to visit the eateries, and that chronically ill students also have access to good food that they are able to tolerate.

For this reason, the dining halls and cafeterias are accessible for people with disabilities. Find out more information here.

Individual dishes allow you to put together the menu of your choice. Any additives in the food or dishes are declared in accordance with legal requirements.

The serving team will be happy to help if you require further information about the ingredients of dishes, or if you need someone to help carry your tray.

Handbook "Study and Disability"

The "Deutsche Studentenwerk" (umbrella organization of all German Student Services) has published a comprehensive handbook on the subject of "Study and Disability".

Contacts at the universities

Disability Officers are available for any other questions you may have. They cooperate closely with the institutions responsible, both within and outside the local universities.

N. N.
Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences

Christine Kammler
Osnabrück University

+49 541 9694-686

christine.kammler@uos.de

Imke Kimpel
University of Vechta

+49 4441 15378

imke.kimpel@uni-vechta.de