Academic achievements and examinations

According to the Hochschulrahmengesetz (HRG) and the corresponding higher education laws of the federal states, the special needs of disaabled and chronically ill students must be taken into account. The layout of the Study and examination regulations were therefore designes so that the examination conditions can be adapted to the individual needs of disabled and chronically ill students. This is intended to create the greatest possible equality of opportunity compared to non-disabled students.

Excepert of the Bayerischen Hochschulgesetz (BayHSchG) Art. 2 Abs. 3 (Baverian university law Article 2 paragraph 3):

^"1Die Hochschulen wirken an der sozialen Förderung der Studierenden mit. [...] ³Die Hochschulen berücksichtigen die besonderen Bedürfnisse von Studierenden mit Behinderung und bestellen einen Beauftragten oder eine Beauftragte für Studierende mit Behinderung, dessen oder deren Aufgaben in der Grundordnung geregelt werden. ⁴Sie tragen dafür Sorge, dass Studierende mit Behinderung in ihrem Studium nicht benachteiligt werden und die Angebote der Hochschule möglichst ohne fremde Hilfe in Anspruch nehmen können".

Contact with lecturers Hide

Your are not required to tell your specific diagnosed disabilities, chronic or psychological illnesses to anybody at the University. Most disabilities are not visible to the fellow students and lecturers. Even if your disability is visible, they might not know what restrictions this might cause for you. At the same time many lectures might be unsure on how and if to address these restrictions. This does not neccessarilly mean that they do not have any interest or unwilling to provide you with the rights and support you deserve.

Confidently advocate for your rights. With regard to face-to-face events or changes to examination modalities, it is important to communicate with the lecturers at an early stage regarding the necessary precautions:

Changing of rooms, which are not accessible due to impairments
Organisation of required individual additional equipment
Regulation of the length of breaks in teaching units
Adjustment of communication in a lecture: especially for students with impaired perception it is important that they can follow along with lectures just like the others (e. g. through a detailed description of graphics for visually impared students, an appropriate seating arrangement and noise atmosphere for hearing-impaired students)
If you need technical assistance and/or personal assistance, which could have an impact on the lecture, you should contact and inform the lecturer as soon as possible

Should you ever experience discrimination or need support contacting the lecturers please contact becks or the student parlament.

Compensation for disadvantages (Nachteilsausgleich)Hide

Information for compensation for disadvantages

Compensation for disadvantages are aimed at all students and prospective students to participate during lessosn and to take exams under an equal opportunity. How a creating an equal opportunity percisely looks like os depent on each individual case. The compensation is not about granting advantages but about creating equal opportunities and fairness. Generally: compensation for disadvantages are not documented in the transcript of records nor the diploma.

An application for a compensation for disadvantages is unstructured, written and early (at least six weeks before an exam) to be handed in to the examination office of the respective degree program (for exams concering the state law examination to examination board). In this application you will have to explain the appropriate compensation required. Furthermore you will have to provide proof in form of a specialist medical attestation or a school report, how and in which ways the completion of the studies is made difficult as a result of illness or disability.

Procedure for a compensation for disadvantages Application

1) Contact the becks team early to set up an appointment for a consultation. We will discuss together the possibilities available. Afterwards you are well prepared to approach the examination office.

2) Contact your examination office or board with clear concerns. There you will be told exactly which documents, certificates or attestations you will be required to provide.

3) With this information you will have to contact a medical specialist.

4) Hand in the application for a disadvantage compensation with completetd documents early (six weeks before an exam).

5) After the granting of the disadvantage compensation you should approach the lectures early with the percise meassures needed for your accomidation.

Possible compensation for disadvantage

Compensation for Disadvantage is always designed and approved on a case-by-case basis. becks can help to consult you to find an appropiate Compensation for Disadvantage. A couple of examples are listed below:

Time extension: Time extentions of written or oral exams, of seminar papers, preparation time for presentations and as well as for the standard period of study.

Conversion of examination forms: Oral exams into written exams or written exams int oral exams or the conversion of a internship into a theoretical work.

Admission of aid and study assistance: Usage of personal and/or technical aid, e.g. to read out the exam questions, the involvement of written and sign language interpreters, usage of laptops in exams, additional (silent) breaks or a separate examination room.

Modification of internship or excursion regulations: Exemption from the obligation to attend regular courses with compensation for absences through the provisiom of compensatory work.

Compensation for Disadvantage means some sort of effort: rooms and supervisors have to be organized, lecturing materials have to be adjusted or examination conditions have to be prepared. Please respect the preperation of the examiners and inform them as early as possible if you have a Compensation for Disadvantage. This will result in less stress for you in the lectures and on the exam day.

Compensation for Disadvantage in language courses Hide

If you need a Compensation for Disadvantage in language courses, please contact Mary Redmond in the language center at the start of your studies. She will inform the teachers of the Compensation for Disadvantage. The teachers will then discuss with you alternative participation proof or examination forms.

Leave of absence Hide

According to the BayHSchG, enrolled students have the option of being granted leave of absence from obligation to study properly for important reasons (e. g. due to an illness or disability). You can hand in application for leave of absence with appropriate proof (e.g. a specialist medical attestation) at the student administration office.

Please keep in mind that during this semester of leave of absence you will not be ablte to take exams (except for repeat exams). Depending on your situation a study period extention might be the better alternative.

Studying abroad Hide

The first contact point for the planning of a semester abroad is the international office of the univerisity of Bayreuth. For some countries an online availabe national directory exist which ofters contact persons for students with chronic illneses and disabilities, for example for France, the Netherland and Switzerland.

Across Europe many cantact persons are also listed on the website https://www.exchangeability.eu . In the USA or Australia universities usually already list detailed information on their school websites about their service offerd for students with special needs. Last but not least, reports from disabled and chronically ill students on their experiences abroad are also useful for initial information.

Although the Geman Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) does not offfer any special programs for disabled and chronically ill student to cover any additional cost that may arise when studying abroad, you can still apply for funding of up to 10,000€ under all DAAD programs.

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