If you are interested in a degree programme with restricted admission, you may be able to submit a hardship petition to the Student Office or apply for an improvement in grade point average.

More information about hardship applications (page in German).

Further information on the topic of admissions and applying

Accessibility refers to comprehensive access and usability for all people. This encompasses both physical accessibility to and within buildings, accessible facilities and disabled friendly adaptations, and accessible communication, information, and content.

Our university is not structurally accessible in all of its buildings, although the majority of the buildings are accessible. Please let us know, if you encounter any accessibility barriers. In many cases, we can take steps to remove or mitigate these barriers. The ‘Gebäudeleitfaden’ document provides an overview of our facilities including specific information on disabled friendly adaptations.

Students with disabilities may also encounter barriers in the classroom. The university provides guidance for lecturers about how to make their classroom more accessible:

‘Leitfaden für Lehrende‘

‘Leitfaden zur Gestaltung von Lehrmaterialien in der Informatik für Blinde und Sehbehinderte’

‘Nachteilsausgleich (NTA)’ - reasonable accommodations during examinations

The Ohm’s university examination regulations (ASPO) stipulate in §23 that students with disabilities may receive reasonable accommodations for any disadvantages they may experience during examinations:

'Students who, due to a disability, are unable to complete an exam or assessment in whole or in part in the format in which it was designed will be granted reasonable accommodations to the extent necessary to ensure equal opportunity. Reasonable accommodations can be, for example, in the form of additional equipment and aids, a relative extension of the time allotted for the examination (examination duration), or completing the exam in an alternative format.’ [EN translation, exclusively the German text is binding]

The request for reasonable accommodations is an informal request (a letter) addressed to the examination committee submitted to the Student Office together with a medical certificate. The request must be submitted at the latest when you register for examinations.
Information about how to formulate your request (PDF, in German) More information about what information must be included in a medical certificate is available on the intranet: Studienbüro / Prüfungsangelegenheiten / Nachteilsausgleich. There is also more information available online at:

• ‘Nachteilsausgleich‘
• ‘Studierendenwerk: Studium und Prüfungen’

Leaves of absence and deadline extensions

If a health condition results in your being unable to attend to your studies for a prolonged period, you can request a leave of absence (‘Urlaubssemester‘).

You may also apply for a deadline extension for assessments/exams to better accommodate your individual circumstances.

If, as a result of a health condition or disability, you are unable to complete all required assessments/exams in a semester, you may request a deadline extension from the examination board of your degree programme; a medical certificate is required to substantiate your request.

The officer for students with disabilities can also provide you with information: ursula.messmann@th-nuernberg.de 

Support at the Ohm

• Counseling from the officer for students with disabilities (see below)
• Psychological counseling
• Mental Health First Aiders
  Mental Health First Aid offers peer support, providing an initial point of contact for students experiencing mental health difficulties related to or affecting their studies. If you feel that you are approaching a crisis point and can no longer manage your studies, please contact the officer for students with disabilities. They will provide you contact information for a Mental Health First Aider. All Mental Health First Aiders have completed appropriate training to equip them for this role. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need someone to talk to.
• Health promotion
  The University Health Management services offer both opportunities for sport and recreation with fellow students and a range of support services for managing stress and mental health issues.
• Writing Center (page in German)
  The Writing Center provides support for students related to academic writing.

Support from external organisations

• ‘Studium im Ausland‘
  Students with disabilities or long-term health conditions can also spend a semester abroad. Information (in German) is available on the Deutsches Studierendenwerk website under the link above. Information about spending a semester abroad for Ohm students is also available from the International Office.
• Krisendienst for Central Franconia
  The ‘Krisendienst’ is a mental health crisis lifeline that provides emotional support to anyone currently experiencing emotional distress. The hotline is available 24 hours/day.

Accessibility on campus

The ‘Gebäudeleitfaden’ document provides an overview of our facilities including specific information on disabled friendly adaptations and accessible entry points.

• Please note: Ongoing refurbishment work due to water damage means that access to the W building complex at Wassertorstraße 10 is not always fully step-free at the moment. Please contact the officer for students with disabilities, if you are affected by the current restricted accessibility.

Portable assistive listening devices

Portable assistive listening devices can be borrowed from the officer for disabled students, Ursula Meßmann.

Parking permits

Students with mobility impairments can apply for a parking permit for the facilities on campus. To apply, please contact:
michael.klisa@th-nuernberg.de 

Living accommodations

Students with a disability rating (‘Behinderungsgrad’) of at least 70% can apply for preferential consideration for a place in one of the Studierendenwerk’s halls of residence. The St. Peter student residence has four dormitory places designated for disabled students. Information about student halls of residence:
www.werkswelt.de 

Quiet rooms

Students with disabilities or health conditions may use the following first-aid rooms as quiet rooms:

• KA.042b (Ground floor)
• KI.005 (Ground floor)
• KT.310 (3.OG)
• HQ.U10 (Basement floor) no step-free access
• WE.003 (Ground floor)
• BL.011 (Ground floor)
• BB.009 (Ground floor)
• A.1.244 (1.OG)
• F47.022 (Ground floor)

Financial and assistive technology support for students

Living with a disability or long-term health condition is usually associated with additional costs. Costs may result from medical treatment, the need for specialised technical equipment or support, or from the fact that it may take longer to complete your degree. 

• Detailed information on financial assistance for students with a disability or long-term health condition is available in German at: Deutsche Studierendenwerk
• If you need additional help with your studies, such as sign language interpreters, reading staff, or support staff, you can apply for the costs to be covered by the regional social welfare agency.
  The district administration of Middle Franconia in Ansbach is responsible for our university:
  District of Central Franconia, Sozialreferat (Social Services Department), Danzigerstraße 5, 91522 Ansbach,
  Tel.: 0981/4664-24002, Address: Postfach 617, 91511 Ansbach

 Another source of information about this topic in German:

https://www.studieren-in-bayern.de/rund-ums-studium/studieren-mit-behinderung/finanzierung/ 

For students who require assistance with personal care support, the ‘Persönliches Budget’ may be an option.

‘Persönliches Budget’ – a solution?

People with disabilities who want to make use of the ‘Persönliches Budget’, a federal inclusion benefit, and thus have the opportunity to lead an independent life, need effectively designed information, counseling, and support services.

Further information is available online.

• www.familienratgeber.de
• www.forsea.de 
• www.akse-ev.de

Scholarships, grants, and other financial support

• Google Europe Students with Disabilities Scholarships (for computer science students):  https://www.barrierefrei-studieren.de/stipendien/google-europe-students-disabilities-scholarship
• Educational loans for female students: hildegardis-verein.de/projekte/darlehen/

More information about student funding.

Information about job market entry (in German) for people with a disability or long-term health condition:

• www.ixnet-projekt.de 
• www.arbeitsagentur.de/menschen-mit-behinderungen 
• www.studentenwerke.de/themen/studieren-mit-behinderung/beruf-und-karriere  
• www.hildegardis-verein.de/inklusionsguides.html  
• https://karriere.myability.jobs/myabilitytalent/GERMANY 
• Integrationsfachdienst für Menschen mit Autismus: www.ifd-ggmbh.de 

The ‘Pfennigparade’ offers a job database. You can search directly for jobs for people with a disability:

www.pfennigparade.de 

Prospective and current students with disabilities can find valuable information and counseling from the Studying with Disabilities - Information and Advice Center of the Deutsche Studierendenwerk in Berlin. Their website also provides more information about studying with a disability.

Studying with Disabilities - Information and Advice Center
Monbijouplatz 11
10178 Berlin
Tel. 030 / 29 77 27 - 64
Fax: 030 / 29 77 27 - 69
Email: studium-behinderung@studierendenwerk.de
Internet:  Studying with Disabilities - Information and Advice Center

Contacts for specific groups:

Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Hörbehinderter Studenten und Absolventen e.V. (Federal Association for Hearing Impaired Students and Graduates)
Internet: www.bhsa.de

Deutscher Verein der Blinden und Sehbehinderten in Studium und Beruf e.V. DVBS (German Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired in Study and Work)
Email: info@dvbs-online.de
Homepage: http://www.dvbs-online.de/

BVL Bundesverband für Legasthenie und Dyskalkulie e.V. (German Association for Dyslexia and Discalculia)
Email: studium-behinderung@studierendenwerk.de 
Internet: http://www.bvl-legasthenie.de  

ADHS Deutschland e.V. (Association for ADHD in Germany)
Email: info@adhs-deutschland.de 
Internet: www.adhs.info & www.adhs-deutschland.de 

Autismus Deutschland e.V., Bundesverband zur Förderung von Menschen mit Autismus (National Association for the Advancement of People with Autism)
Email: info@autismus.de 
Internet: www.autismus.de 

Other important addresses for students with disabilities in the Nuremberg/Erlangen area:

Support from the Social Counselling at the Studierendenwerk Erlangen-Nuremberg:
Hoffmannstraße 27, 2.OG, Room 206, 91052 Erlangen
09131/8002-757
sozialberatung@werkswelt.de 
www.werkswelt.de (click under the Service & Counseling (en) menu) 

Berufsberatung für Abiturienten und Studierende (Career Counseling for ‘Abitiurienten’ and University Students)
Arbeitsagentur Nürnberg, Richard-Wagner-Platz 5, 90443 Nuremberg
Tel. 0800 / 4 555 00
Email: nuernberg.berufsberatung@arbeitsagentur.de 
Internet: www.arbeitsagentur.de/menschen-mit-behinderungen 

Self-help projects:

ZSL e.V. Erlangen, Zentrum für selbstbestimmtes Leben Behinderter e.V. (Center for autonomous life with a disability)
Luitpoltstr. 34, 91052 Erlangen, Tel. 09131 / 98783-0
www.zsl-erlangen.de

ADHS-Deutschland e.V., Self-help group for people with ADHD
www.adhs-deutschland.de/unser-angebot/selbsthilfegruppen 

HörEnswert e.V.
Association of young people with hearing impairment in Northern Bavaria
Blaicher Strasse 12, 95326 Kulmbach, tel 09221 / 395-9752, info(at)hoerenswert.org
www.hoerenswert.org

Nuremberg/Erlangen area 

If you need to apply for assistance to study on the basis of social assistance:

District of Central Franconia: Sozialreferat (Social Services Department), Rettistraße 54-56, 91522 Ansbach, Tel: 0981 4664-2402
Arbeitsbereich24(at)bezirk-mittelfranken.de  
www.bezirk-mittelfranken.de
Postal address: Postfach 617, 91511 Ansbach

The Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm is committed to ensuring students with disabilities or long-term health conditions have access to university life and are enabled to pursue their studies independently and on an equal footing. The Officer for students with disabilities provides support and counseling to prospective students and to students in all areas related to being a student, e.g., degree programme administration, support during their studies, reasonable accommodations for exams, etc. This support is provided based on specific regulatory/legal foundations.

Legal basis

The right to equal opportunities in higher education is established in various laws and regulations. 
The legal basis for this right can be found in the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the German Social Code Book. Relevant regulations at the Ohm are established in the university examination regulations ‘Allgemeinen Studien und Prüfungsordnung‘ (ASPO).

Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany, Article 3 (3) line 2
No person shall be disfavoured because of disability.

Admission to university and student opportunities
Hardship petition (‘Härtefallantrag’), improvement of the average grade school assessment reports (page in German)

Technical aids
In the REHADAT database, you can search for technical aids for various types of disabilities. 

Other
Portal for people with disabilities (in German)

Information from the Agentur für Arbeit about studying and working with a disability (in German)

What do we mean by disability or long-term health conditions?
The rights of students with disabilities and long-term health conditions are addressed by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany, and the German Social Code Book.
Additional regulatory provisions relating to higher education are defined in the Higher Education Framework Act (‘Hochschulrahmengesetz’) and the Bavarian Higher Education Act (‘Bayerisches Hochschulgesetz’).
The university examination regulations (‘Allgemeinen Studien- und Prüfungsordnung’) provides further regulations at the Ohm.

Who can request reasonable accommodations?
A disability or chronic health condition can affect different aspects of your studies. However, the impact varies considerably for each individual. In principle, students are entitled to reasonable accommodations if they have a disability or health condition that adversely affects their studies and can be appropriately accommodated. However, they are not necessarily entitled to the specific adjustment or accommodation they would prefer. If you are unsure whether your disability or health condition makes you eligible for reasonable accommodations, please feel free to contact the officer for students with disabilities (see contact information below).

How do I request reasonable accommodations for examinations?
See the section on this website about ‘Reasonable accommodations during examinations’ (tab above on this page).

Do I have to provide a medical certificate?
Yes, you will need to provide a medical certificate from a specialist physician or therapist. Specific requirements for medical certificates is available in this PDF (in German)

Can I go on a leave of absence for reasons related to a disability or long-term health condition?
Yes, this is possible. You must provide a medical certificate along with your request.

Are there places on campus where I can rest?
You can use the first-aid rooms as quiet rooms. Information about the buildings and facilities on campus are available in the ‘Gebäudeleitfaden’.

What do I do, if I experience extreme emotional distress or other crisis?
If you experience acute emotional distress, you can contact the ‘Krisendienst’ for the District of Central Franconia. The hotline can be reached 24h/day and the staff on the hotline can provide you with help:
www.kdmfr.de/krisendienst-mittelfranken/ 
You can also speak with students, who have been trained as Mental Health First-Aider. Faculty advisors or the officer for students with disabilities can help you find a contact.