Studying with a disability or chronic illness
According to the law, people 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". (cf. §2 para. 1 SGB IX).
Students with disabilities experience difficulties in their everyday studies due to one or more health impairments. In the 21st Social Survey from 2016, 11% of students stated that they had one or more health impairments that made their studies more difficult (around 264,000 students).
Health impairments can include
- Mobility impairments
- Visual impairments
- Hearing impairments
- Speech impairments
- Mental illness
- Chronic illnesses
- Dyslexia and other partial performance disorders
This list is not exhaustive. Rather, it includes all health impairments that make studying more difficult.
Chronic illnesses as longer-lasting illnesses or illnesses with an episodic course, which have an aggravating effect on everyday study life, are to be classified as disabilities. Accordingly, the following information also applies to students with chronic illnesses that make studying difficult.
Legal regulations that oblige universities to enable students with disabilities to study without discrimination can be found at various levels. For example, the State Higher Education Act states:
"The universities [...] shall ensure that students with disabilities or a chronic illness are not disadvantaged in their studies and are able to take advantage of the university's offerings without outside help as far as possible; they shall appoint a representative for this purpose, whose duties shall be regulated in the basic regulations." (§2 para. 3 LHG)
A corresponding regulation can also be found in the Higher Education Framework Act (see § 2 para. 4 HRG). At an international level, the obligation to implement an inclusive higher education system can be found in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It states:
"States Parties shall ensure that persons with disabilities have access, without discrimination and on an equal basis with others, to general higher education, vocational training, adult education and lifelong learning. To this end, States Parties shall ensure that reasonable accommodation is made for persons with disabilities." (Art. 24 para. 5 UN CRPD).
Before your studies
There are various options for advice before starting a degree course. If you are unsure about what exactly you would like to study, you can contact Ms. Heigle at the Central Student Advisory Service(https://www.rwu.de/studieren/beratung/studieninteressierte#tab-3291) . If you wish, you can also contact the representative for students with disabilities and chronic illnesses, Prof. Schröttle.
If you already know your desired degree program, you can contact the student advisory service of the respective degree program.
Applicants with disabilities must generally meet the same requirements for university entrance qualifications as all other applicants. Accordingly, prospective students with disabilities must also provide proof of a suitable higher education entrance qualification.
Nevertheless, there are compensatory functions of existing regulations to achieve equal opportunities for prospective students with disabilities and to compensate for disadvantages in admission requirements. The following special applications are possible:
- Hardship quota
- Compensation for disadvantages as part of the waiting time quota or to improve the average grade
Further information on special applications can be found in the information sheetSpecial applications for admission to studies
If you have any questions, please contact the Admissions Office if you have any questions.
During your studies
During their studies, students with various concerns can contact Ms. Heigle from the Central Student Advisory Service if required. If required, the representative for students with disabilities and chronic illnesses, Prof. Schröttle, can also be consulted at your request.
Students with disabilities are sometimes unable to organize their everyday life as planned in the course of their studies. They are not always able to use their working capacity for their studies as intended, as they are confronted with additional barriers in everyday life that tie up their time and energy. A lack of flexibility in everyday study life in particular often leads to barriers and disadvantages.
In order to be able to successfully complete a course of study and create equal opportunities, there is compensation for disadvantages in everyday student life. These are intended to reduce barriers in the organization and implementation of studies. Compensation for disadvantages in everyday study life is designed individually and can therefore be very different, e.g. technical aids, assistance or individual design of the course of study.
Further information and examples can be found in the information sheet Compensation for disadvantages in everyday study life
If you have any questions about how to compensate for disadvantages in everyday study life, please contact Ms. Heigle at the Central Student Advisory Service who will support you in close coordination with the heads of degree programs. If required, you can also contact Prof. Schröttle, the representative for students with disabilities and chronic illnesses.
If students with disabilities are unable to complete their coursework as planned due to an impairment that makes their studies more difficult, there is the option of an individual study plan.
Further information on the individual study plan can be found in the information sheet and in the study and examination regulations
Before applying for an individual study plan, it is advisable to seek personal advice. You can contact Ms. Heigle from the Central Student Advisory Service or the Examinations Office .
Compensation for disadvantages is intended to create equal opportunities in studies. Compensation for disadvantages must be equivalent proof of examination performance. They do not differ in their aim, but in the form of the examination performance.
Students with disabilities are entitled to compensation for disadvantages if they meet the requirements, but not to a specific form of compensation for disadvantages. Decisions regarding compensation for disadvantages are made on a case-by-case basis and are based on the specific case and situation. Therefore, the form of compensation for disadvantages can vary greatly.
Further information and examples can be found in the information sheet and in the study and examination regulations.
- Information sheet on compensation for disadvantages in coursework and examinations
- Compensation for disadvantages form
- Current study and examination regulations
Before applying for compensation for disadvantages in coursework and examinations, it is advisable to seek personal advice. You can contact Ms. Heigle from the Central Student Advisory Service or the Examination Office .
Not all buildings at Ravensburg-Weingarten University of Applied Sciences are barrier-free. You can find information on individual aspects of structural accessibility in the campus map.
Some buildings at Ravensburg-Weingarten University of Applied Sciences have elevators and barrier-free toilets. However, it should be noted that not all buildings are equipped with door openers. In addition, there are no guidance systems or induction loops available in the buildings.
We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the structural conditions on campus before starting your studies. If you have any questions or need advice, please contact the representative for students with disabilities and chronic illnesses, Prof. Schröttle.
For students with mental illnesses or problems, there is a self-help group organized by students.
The meetings are on Mondays from 7.30 to 8.30 pm.
The meetings currently take place online.
If you are interested, please contact: selbsthilfe-wgt@web.de
You will then receive an invitation to the BBB conference by email.
Unsure? Can I manage it?
- I find it difficult to structure extensive work assignments into sub-goals and work through them in sequence
- I am generally bad at planning things and anticipating consequences
- I am afraid of having to give oral presentations
- I have problems concentrating in unfamiliar surroundings and/or large rooms (lecture halls!)
- I find it difficult to listen and take notes at the same time
- I am easily distracted by external stimuli
- I cannot recognize the intentions and moods of others from their facial expressions and gestures
- it is very stressful for me to make contact with others or join a group - I often don't know how to behave in social situations
- I find it difficult to get help - I don't know who to turn to
If you answered several of these statements with "Yes" then you should take advantage of our specialized peer mentoring program, which is tailored precisely to these problems.
More information: SpecializedPeer Mentoring Program (PDF)
Students with disabilities can complete stays abroad during their studies just like students without disabilities. Students with a degree of disability (GdB) of at least 30 who are receiving Erasmus+ funding to study or do an internship in another European country can apply for additional funding. Further information is available from the DAAD and at the International Office of the RWU.
Financing the cost of living
In principle, students with disabilities have the same options for financing their living expenses as students without disabilities. BAföG offers the possibility of taking disability-related needs into account. In exceptional cases, students with disabilities can also receive additional benefits under SGB II or SGB XII. It is also possible to receive child benefit beyond the age of 25 due to a disability. Students with disabilities may also be able to receive a reduced earning capacity pension during their studies.
You can find further information here or in the Handbook "Studying and Disability" of the Deutsches Studentenwerk and on the website of the Information and Advice Center for Studies and Disability of the Deutsches Studentenwerk.
Funding for disability-related additional needs
BAföG does not provide allowances for disability-related additional needs. Disability-related additional needs can be financed via social benefits in accordance with SGB II or SGB XII. Both training-related and non-training-related additional needs may be relevant.
When checking individual benefit entitlements, we recommend contacting the relevant funding body and seeking individual advice. You can also contact Ms. Heigle from the Central Student Advisory Service for further information.
You can find further information in the Handbook "Studying and Disability" of the Deutsches Studentenwerk and on the website of the Information and Advice Center for Studies and Disability of the Deutsches Studentenwerk.
Scholarships
In principle, students with disabilities can apply for all scholarships. Further information can be found here.
There are also other scholarship programs that specifically support students with disabilities, such as
- Aktion LuftsprungThis program supports students with the hereditary disease cystic fibrosis, inflammatory bowel disease (especially Crohn's disease), rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis or young people with similar chronic diseases.
- Bowel Disease Foundation: The support program of the Bowel Disease Foundation is aimed exclusively at young people with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
- Elfriede Breitsameter Foundation: Support for people suffering from multiple sclerosis or poliomyelitis who have a low income
- German AIDS FoundationIndividual help for HIV-positive people in material need
Tuition fees
Students with significant study-impairing disabilities are exempt from the second tuition fee. International students with severe disabilities are also exempt from tuition fees. Further information can be found here.
General information about living in Weingarten can be found here.
The White Rose Student Union offers barrier-free rooms in the following halls of residence:
- Briachstraße 2, 88250 Weingarten
- Henri-Dunant-Straße 6, 88213 Ravensburg
The application process is the same as for other applicants via our online form. If you require a barrier-free room, we recommend that you contact the Weiße Rose Student Union in advance by telephone.
At the end of your studies
The Career Service supports students with questions about finding a job and acts as an interface between the university and companies. The Career Service offers both advice and seminars on starting a career. Further information can be found here.
Seminar for career starters
The Information and Advice Center for Studies and Disability (IBS) of the Deutsches Studentenwerk offers an annual four-day seminar for students and graduates with disabilities to prepare them for starting a career. Further information can be found on the homepage of the IBS.
Portals for people with disabilities with regard to working life
Rehadat TalentplusPortal on working life and disability
Job exchange of MyHandicap
ixNetNetwork of and for academics with disabilities
The Information and Advice Center for Studies and Disability (IBS) of the Deutsches Studentenwerk offers an annual four-day seminar for students and graduates with disabilities to prepare them for starting a career. Further information can be found on the homepage of the IBS.
- Rehadat TalentplusPortal on working life and disability
- Job exchange from MyHandicap
- myAbility Talent Program
- iXNetNetwork of and for academics with disabilities
Contact persons and advisory services
Representative for the interests of students with disabilities or chronic illnesses
Prof. Monika Schröttle
Central Student Advisory Service
Jana Schön
+49-751-501-9627
Student Services
Admission and Examination Office
Zulassungsamt: +49-751-501-9344
Examinations Office: +49-751-501-9529
Student Advisory Service
The head of the respective degree program is responsible for advising students. You can find the specific contact person for your degree program on the homepage of your degree program.
Student councils
Social counseling / counseling for students with disabilities of the Studierendenwerk Seezeit
Marlies Piper
+49-7531-887305
Psychotherapeutic counseling center of the Studierendenwerk Seezeit, Weingarten branch office
Judith King
+49-7543-609602
Supplementary independent participation counseling (EUTB) Weingarten
Schützenstraße 5
88250 Weingarten
+49-751-79103449 or +49-751-79103451
Supplementary independent participation advice (EUTB) Ravensburg-Sigmaringen
Schubertstraße 1
88214 Ravensburg
+49-751 9992397-0
E-mail: info@eutb-rv-sig.de
Homepage: www.eutb-rv-sig.de
City of Weingarten
Doris Konya
Zeppelinstraße 3-5
88250 Weingarten
+49-751 405 177
Ravensburg District Office
Help for people with disabilities
Gartenstraße 107
88212 Ravensburg
+49-751/85-3349 or +49-751/85-3358
Bahnhofsplatz 5
88214 Ravensburg
Glossary
Acute illnesses are short-term illnesses with a relatively short duration. In the case of an acute illness, an application may be made for compensation for disadvantages in study and examination achievements, insofar as this is necessary to ensure equal opportunities. The Central Examination Board decides on the type of compensation to be granted.
Accessibility refers to the accessibility of buildings, information, etc. without assistance. Accessibility is to be understood multidimensionally.
According to Section 2 (1) SGB IX, people with disabilities are those "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."
The degree of disability (GdB) describes the severity of a disability in terms of its impact. The GdB can be between 20 and 100 and is graduated in steps of 10. From a degree of disability of 50, people with disabilities are considered severely disabled. The degree of disability is determined by the pension office upon application on the basis of a medical report. The Versorgungsamt then issues the so-called (severely) disabled person's pass accordingly.
The hardship quota is an instrument that enables admission to studies in individual cases if a rejection of a study place would be associated with particular hardship. Impairments that make studying difficult can constitute a reason for hardship.
Compensation for disadvantages is an instrument for creating equal opportunities in studies and compensating for disadvantages due to impairments. Compensation for disadvantages can be important both for admission to studies and during studies.
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (also known as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities) specifies the existing human rights for the lives of people with disabilities. Germany has been obliged to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities since March 2009.
Further information
dof the Deutsches Studentenwerk and the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs
Information and Counseling Center Study and Disability (IBS) of the Deutsches Studentenwerk
Handbook on studying and disability of the Deutsches Studentenwerk
Study "Studying with a disability - best2"
Guide for people with disabilities of the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs