Legal Basis at Freie Universität Berlin
This is where you can find information regarding the legal principles that apply to prospective and enrolled students with disabilities at Freie Universität Berlin.
Information for Applicants:
Prospective students who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory disabilities and who would like to apply for a course with limited admissions at Freie Universität Berlin are entitled to request that their personal hardships are acknowledged in a document submitted with their application (Härtefallantrag).
Section 4.6 of the Statutes of Academic Affairs states that if applicants
“are put at a disadvantage in a particular manner vis-à-vis other applicants because of a disability (...) or a long-term or recurring health condition, the body responsible for the selection process may put in place a suitable means of compensating for said disadvantage.”
You can find further information on supplementary application forms here and on the applications and admissions homepage.
Information for Students:
Priority Registration for Courses with Limited Spaces:
This quota aims to make it easier for students with disabilities or special family circumstances to access courses with limited spaces. As such, ten percent of places are retained for these students according to Section 11 of the Bylaws on Academic Matters. This applies to “students who have been credibly proven on the basis of a medical certificate to have a disability (pursuant to Section 2.1 of the Book IX of the German Social Code) or have a long-term or recurring health condition.”
Compensation for Disadvantages:
Depending on the nature of the disability, compensation for disadvantages in coursework and examinations undertaken by students with disabilities or a chronic illness may take the form of extended or more flexible deadlines, extra time or additional breaks in exams, or the use of technical aids. The Framework Regulations for Degree Programs and Examinations (RSPO) states in Section 11:
“If a student provides a medical certificate showing that they are unable to complete all or part of their coursework or an examination in the prescribed form or within the prescribed time due to disabilities (...) or due to a long-term or recurring health condition, the chairperson of the examination board shall allow the student to complete equivalent work in a different form, at a different time, or allow for extra time to complete the assignment.”
The request to adapt examination conditions must be submitted to the respective examinations office. The Office for Students with Disabilities provides counseling to those looking to apply for compensation for disadvantages and can also assist in proposing modified examination settings while also ensuring equivalence.
Taking a Leave of Absence:
Students who are unable to study for health reasons can apply for a leave of absence:
“Those (...) who are prevented from undertaking their studies in due form may apply for a leave of absence.”
A student may apply for a leave of absence pursuant to Section 14 of the Bylaws on Academic Matters because of “a long-term or recurring health condition.”
It is usually not possible to apply to take leave for more than two consecutive semesters or for the first semester to be spent in the degree program. The semester during which the student is on leave will be recognized simply as a semester spent at the university (Hochschulsemester) rather than a semester spent in the degree program (Fachsemester).
The following documents are to be submitted to the Student Records and Registration Office:
- Medical certificate
- Request form
Part-Time Study:
Along with a leave of absence, it is also possible to apply for a part-time degree program “if a disability (...) or a long-term or recurring health condition makes it necessary for a student to pursue a part-time degree program” (Section 9.2 of the Bylaws on Academic Matters). The request should be submitted to the Student Records and Registration Office together with a medical certificate.