Inclusive studiesThrough all phases of a course of studies

What are you planning to study? If your desired degree programme is offered at Heidelberg University, check whether you will find good conditions for your health impairments there. Take advantage of our information and service offers and come to Heidelberg early to familiarise yourself with the campus. Feel free to schedule an appointment with the Inclusive Studies Team and get advice on subjects such as your study decisions, special application forms, accessibility, study assistance, or compensation for disadvantages. 

If you are meeting the formal requirements for a course of studies (e.g., Abitur (higher education entrance qualification)), you can simply enrol for open-admission degree programmes and apply for admission-restricted ones. Under certain conditions, you may be able to submit a hardship application or another special application. 

Plan for enough time to arrange for an accessible dorm room and to take care of funding your studies. 

If desired, we will support you in finding peers from your department or departments who will help you with orientation and getting started in your course of studies. 

You may find that you need to deal with difficulties and overcome particular obstacles due to your health impairment once everyday life sets in during your studies. You probably will not be the only person at the university who feels this way. We can only encourage you to network and tackle your difficulties together. We provide COMMUNITY, an exchange platform on Moodle, for this purpose. 

You have the right to compensation for disadvantages to ensure that you have equal opportunities to study with your fellow students in spite of your illness or disability. We provide information on possible compensation for disadvantages and will support you with the application process. Please contact us about six weeks before the situation, e.g., examination, for which you want to file an application. Implementation of measures will always take some time. 

A leave of absence for the current or following semester may be able to take some acute pressure off of you, e.g., if you are suffering episodes of illness or if you need to spend time in a hospital. However, you may also reduce your workload in the long term and – if your degree programme allows it – study part-time. 

The Central Student Advisory Office offers various workshops against stress, procrastination, exam nerves, or writer’s block to promote your self-management skills and to support you in difficult study situations. The “Fit to Study” programme is available to all students. 

Would you like to go abroad for a work placement or a course of studies? Don’t let anyone stop you and inquire about exchange programmes and scholarships. Such stays need to be planned thoroughly early on. We also advise you on how to implement your study abroad in spite of a disability or chronic illness, and under consideration of the same.

Students usually have to complete some special tasks, write theses, and take examinations at the end of their degree programmes. The question of compensation for disadvantages may become particularly relevant here. Do not hesitate to contact us for advice in time. 

As you are nearing graduation, the matter of starting your career is also drawing near. Disabilities or chronic illnesses may make finding a job particularly challenging. This is why you are welcome to use the Career Service's offerings, which are open to all students at Heidelberg University, in preparation while you are still studying. There are also some counselling and job placement services that will consider special needs of graduates with disabilities or chronic illnesses. iXNet is the corresponding network of the Federal Employment Agency with a wide range of online seminars on career orientation.