Study barrier-free
We would like to draw the attention of students with health impairments/disabilities to specific opportunities with regard to the realisation of equal opportunities at the university.
Ziele
Unser Ziel ist es, Barrieren systematisch zu erkennen und bei der Gestaltung von Lehre, Prüfungen und Studienorganisation zu berücksichtigen – dazu zählen unter anderem:
- Leicht zugängliche Antragswege in Textform
- Realistische Organisationsfristen
- Anerkennung unterschiedlich-geeigneter Nachweise, etwa durch ärztliche/psychologische Befundberichte oder Feststellungsbescheide
- Bei dauerhaft bestehenden Beeinträchtigungen prüfen wir längere Bewilligungszeiträume
- Individuelle Studienplanung
No-one should be disadvantaged because of their disability.
Nachteilsausgleich
Sie spüren eine Mehrfachbelastung? Die Kombination aus Studienanforderungen, dem Management der eigenen gesundheitlichen Situation (mit Arzt- und Therapietermine), vielleicht noch obendrauf ein Nebenjob zur Finanzierung Ihres Lebens, führt Sie gefühlt in eine mentale Sackgasse?
Kommen Sie auf uns zu!
Die Hochschulrektorenkonferenz (HRK) hat am 4. November 2025 eine aktualisierte Empfehlung zum Nachteilsausgleich verabschiedet. Sie reagiert damit auf die steigende Zahl Studierender mit gesundheitlichen Beeinträchtigungen.
Behinderungen oder chronische Erkrankungen dürfen kein Nachteil sein. Ein Studium mit Beeinträchtigung kann Sie mitunter vor einige Herausforderungen stellen – insbesondere, wenn eng strukturierte Studienverläufe mit Ihren zeitlichen Möglichkeiten entsprechen. Nachteilsausgleiche, deren Entscheidung dem jeweiligen Prüfungsausschuss obliegt, sollen Ihnen in Belastungssituationen helfen und vorliegende Benachteiligungen ausgleichen.
Applying for compensation for disadvantages – How does it work?
The procedure for applying for measures to compensate for disadvantages is as follows:
The regulation on compensation for disadvantages at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam can be found in § 2 of the framework examination regulations of the university of applied sciences, which apply to all departments and degree programmes. Paragraphs 3 and 5 are of interest to you:
"(3) Students with physical, mental or psychological impairments and disabilities shall, upon application, be granted appropriate compensation for disadvantages in relation to their disability in order to cope with study and examination achievements. This includes in particular
a. Authorisation of technical aids,
b. Extension of processing times,
c. Recognition of equivalent study and examination achievements in another form.
[...]
(5) Applications must be submitted to the examination board responsible for the degree programme, together with the relevant supporting documents. They should be submitted in good time before the start of the examination period and cannot be claimed retroactively. The decision to grant compensation for disadvantages is made by the examination board responsible for the degree programme. It must [...] and, in the case of decisions in accordance with para. 3, involve the representative for people with disabilities."
If required, I am also available for a further discussion by telephone or video chat.
I therefore recommend the following procedure:
Further counselling and support services
Social counselling of the Studierendenwerk West:Brandenburg
The Studierendenwerk Potsdam offers free social counselling (not only) for students with disabilities or chronic illnesses.
Telephone consultation hours (+49 331 3706-254 or -251)
- Monday to Thursday: 9.00 am – 3.00 pm
- Friday: 9.00 am – 2.00 pm
Personal consultation hours: (Babelsberger Str. 2, at the Long Bridge near the main railway station)
- Tuesday: 9.00 – 12.00 am and 1.00 – 4.00 pm
- Thursday: 1.00 – 4.00 pm
Counselling on participation needs outside the university
The Supplementary Independent Participation Counselling Service supports you with questions about participation. For example, if you have questions about assistance or aids or if you want to know what a participation plan is. There are two EUTB centres in and near Potsdam:
EUTB c/o DMSG LV Brandenburg e.V.
Jägerstraße 18 (city centre)
14467 Potsdam
+49 331 2709863
eutb@dmsg-brandenburg.de
EUTB of the Centre for Culture and Visual Communication of the Deaf
Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 2
EUTB , c/o ZFK e.V. House 2
14558 Nuthetal
+49 332 00513780
eutb@zfk-bb.de
Blog "Locating Your Soul"
"Locating Your Soul" is a blog by young editors who want to offer a platform to talk about experiences with mental illness as sufferers, relatives or friends. The aim of the blog: To encourage and educate, destigmatise the topic of "mental illness" and make it easier for those affected and their relatives to get help. It is organised by the platform of the federal association "Angehörige psychisch Erkrankter e.V.".
By students for students
The university group Nightline Potsdam offers the possibility for an anonymous telephone or chat conversation on Sundays to Thursdays from 21:00 - 24:00.
Counselling by the German Student Union
The counselling centre of the Deutsches Studentenwerk in Berlin offers a comprehensive reference work for students with disabilities.
Contact person
Downloads
- Antrag auf Nachteilsausgleich (PDF, 81.4 KB)Antrag auf Nachteilsausgleich für Studierende
- Application for compensation of (extra scientific) disadvantages (PDF, 148.56 KB)Compensation for disadvantages in studies
According to the social survey conducted by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research in 2021, 24 % of students surveyed at universities in Germany stated that they had a health impairment (FMER 2022, p. 42). Almost 16% of those surveyed reported that this impedes their studies, with almost 2/3 of these stating mental impairments (FMER 2022, p. 42 and 44). At the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam this statement also applies to students with disabilities.