Studying
with a
disability

People with disabilities and chronic illnesses can also study in Saxony. It is important to actively seek advice in this regard. To ensure everything is in order when you start your studies, it is best to contact your university for free advice six to nine months in advance or contact your Student Services. Of course, you will also receive help if you develop a disability during the course of your studies.

It is a fundamental principle that everyone has the right to study at Saxony’s universities without discrimination and with equal opportunities. This is regulated by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the German Basic Law (Grundgesetz), the German Higher Education Framework Act (HRG), and the Saxony Higher Education Act (SächsHSG). This also means that wherever accessibility cannot be guaranteed for everyone, appropriate provisions must be made. The so-called “compensation for disadvantages” (Nachteilsausgleich) regulates individual adjustments to funding under the Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG), the admission procedure, the course of study, or examinations, for example, and must be applied for in writing in most cases.

Don’t let possible circumstance at the university influence your decision to study. The important thing is the goals you have set yourself — depending on your own abilities and interests. Once you have made your decision, you need to make the right preparations. It’s best to take a look at the university and your new surroundings. University information days, campus tours, or a taster course offer a good opportunity to do this. 
When it comes to the application itself, the same requirements apply as for everyone else. However, you can increase your chances of admission by demonstrating the effects of your impairment. The hardship application is particularly important here.

Universities also attach great importance to facilitating participation for all during their studies. Therefore, it is important to coordinate with your contact persons, such as the teaching staff, at an early stage. If necessary, classes can be moved to another building, special arrangements can be made during lectures, or digital and print media can be adapted as required.