Studying with a disability or chronic illness

There is a wide range of support available, such as academic accommodations, accessibility of buildings and studying material, and with various special needs concerning your studies.

The law requires the University to ensure that you, as a student with disabilities or chronic illnesses, are not disadvantaged in any way during your studies and that you can study as autonomously possible.

Regardless of whether you have a physical disability or a psychological illness, our advice service is right for you! Please don’t hesitate to make use of the advice service, specifically aimed at students and prospective students with a disability or chronic illness. We are there to offer advice on any questions pertaining to impairments or disabilities, such as study program organization in relation to your illness or disability, formal aspects such as compensating any disadvantages in examinations, extending deadlines, leave of absence, to barrier-free buildings, technology and courses; as well as support in everyday life at university.

Advice for students and prospective students

Academic accommodations

Any disadvantages you face because of a disability or chronic illness that may affect your academic performance or examination should be compensated for if possible. If you fulfill certain criteria, you have the right to academic accommodation.

Please be aware: academic accommodation measures may not alter the academic requirements of the study program, therefore measures must be determined on an individual basis.

Who is entitled to academic accomodation?

The legal definition of the terms disability and chronic illness that German universities use, can be found on the webpage of the German national association for student affairs (Deutsches Studierendenwerk) [de].

Options and request for academic accommodations

Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis depending on the student's documented disability and its functional impacts (medical certificate needed). Accommodation in examinations may include alternative formats, extension of exam time, use of aids. The request has to be filed to the head of Examination Committee (Prüfungsausschussvorsitzende*r).

You must include the following:

  • Type of accommodation you are requesting for your examinations? 
    Please name the accomodation which you are applying for (e.g. if you apply for prolonged examination time, name a percent number of prolongation you need, or if you apply for breaks in an exam, name the exact time of the breaks).
  • What is the reason for your request?
    Please describe what leads to the necessity of academic accommodation, what impact does your chronical illness or your disability have on examinations?
  • Medical certificate describing the impacts of the disability or chronic illness on your exams. The physician should also make suggestions for the accommodations you need. There is no need for naming the diagnosis.
  • There is no necessity of having a severely disabled card in order to apply for academic accommodation.

As soon as the application is approved by the examination board, you must submit the approval to each examiner so that they can take the appropriate organizational measures in time (several weeks) before the examination. Therefore, it is important that you submit the application as early as possible, preferably immediately after you have registered for the exams.

Students with a disability or chronic illness can also file a request for extending the deadlines for exams (Orientierungsprüfung, repeating exams) and for the maximum time to complete the degree. You may find the applicable rules in your study program’s exam regulations [de].

Make an informal request with your head of Examination Committee (Prüfungsausschussvorsitzende*r). The request must be accompanied by a medical certificate (Attest) which states how your illness or disability impacts your studies and exam taking and, respectively, how it justifies your needing extra time to complete exams or your studies.

In case you are receiving BAföG, it is helpful to contact the Social Counselling of the Studierendenwerk Stuttgart, concerning BAföG and extension of your studies.

Problems and accommodations in individual courses may be requested directly with the respective instructors. Simple organizational adaptations can often be clarified directly with the lecturer. If your illness or disability leads to problems concerning compulsory attendance in lectures, you should apply for academic accommodation at the chair of the examination board (see above). 
Otherwise please contact the Commissioner for students with disabilities or chronic illnesses or your Academic counseling / Study Program Manager.

Advice concerning academic accommodations

In advance of such requests, your are invited to contact the Commissioner for students with disabilities or chronic illnesses or the Student Counseling Center to discuss the possibilities and your individual needs.

Accessibility at the University of Stuttgart

The group "AK Barrierefreier Campus" has compiled information about accessability to the buildings of University of Stuttgart. You find information about accessability, as well as facilities and support for people with limited mobility and for those with sight or hearing impairments.

Accessibility to buildings [de]

The University of Stuttgart has large stock of old buildings that are not yet totally accessible by wheelchair. The University is working on enhancing accessability of it's buildings. If you are faced with the problem of an inaccessible destination, e.g. a lecture hall or office, be sure to get in touch without delay with the lecturer or with the Commissioner for students with disabilities or chronic illnesses or with the Engineering and Constructions Division, so that an interim solution can be found.

If an examination room is not accessable for you, please contact the above mentioned persons in good time before the examinations take place so that alternative rooms can be organized.

General support

Services and accessability for people with visual impairment or wheelchairs see website of the UB [de].

The Commissioner for students with disabilities and chronic illnesses has 5 mobile devices for hearing impaired students, which they can use in lecture hall for better hearing. These can be used in lecture halls by asking the lecturer to use the sender and you use the reception device in order to get the sound of the lecturer directly in your hearing aid. If you have no hearing aid, and want to use the device, you can use it with your own headset. The devices can be rented out for one or several semesters. 
If you are interested in renting out one of these devices, please contact the Commissioner for students with disabilities or chronic illnesses.

Relaxation rooms at the University of Stuttgart

At this time, the University of Stuttgart offers two relaxation rooms for students and employees with disabilities and chronic illnesses.

You are welcome to use the relaxation rooms if you need to lie down or rest during the day, or if you need to escape the hustle and bustle of uni life for a short period. These rooms are intended as spaces for relaxation, but they may also be used by students or employees with children or as baby changing and feeding rooms. These rooms cannot be reserved for a specific time.

This room is in the Haus der Studierenden on the 4th floor, room number 4.006. This room can be used as:

  • A relaxation room for disabled people, those with a chronic illness and pregnant women
  • Parent and child room
  • Baby-feeding and changing room

A lounger with privacy screen, a table with a telephone, as well as a changing table and a KidsBox are all available in this room.

This room can be used by students and employees at the University of Stuttgart and it is available for either single or repeated use – just for a short time or even for a whole day. It is not possible to sign up in advance.

By using the room, you automatically agree to the terms and conditions [de]. You can get access through the following persons with a key in the House of Students:

If no one of these persons is present at a certain time, you may get a key in Pfaffenwaldring 55 at Zentraler Hausservice on the 1st floor, room 0.364. If you need to use the room regularly over a longer period of time, you may get a key from the Commissioner for students with disabilities or chronic illnesses

This room is new and the utilization concept is currently being tested so it would be great to receive your feedback [de].

The relaxation room on the Stadtmitte campus is located at Geschwister-Scholl-Str. 24 C on the 1st floor, room number 1.124. This room can be used as:

  • A relaxation room for disabled people, those with a chronic illness and pregnant women
  • Baby-feeding and changing room

Two loungers with privacy screens,  an easychair and a table are available in this room.

This room can be used by students and employees at the University of Stuttgart and it is available for either single or repeated use – just for a short time or even for a whole day. It is not possible to sign up in advance.

By using the room, you automatically agree to the terms and conditions [de]. A key is available from these people/locations [de].

This room is new and the utilization concept is currently being tested so it would be great to receive your feedback [de].

Basic legal information

You find the relevant legal information on the following websites:

The German national association for student affairs (Deutsches Studentenwerk [de]) also offers a helpful summary of legal requirements, regulations and recommendations.

Guidelines for disadvantage compensation depend on the individual study programs and can be found in the examination regulations of the respective study programs [de].

Commissioner for students with disabilities or chronic illnesses

 

Dr.-Ing. Ulrich Eggert

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