In order to compensate for particular hardships and disadvantages, applicants with disabilities can submit a hardship application. According to the SächsStudPlVergabeVO (§ 6) SächsStudPlVergabeVO, 2 percent of study places are given to cases of exceptional hardship. "Exceptional hardship is deemed to exist if special social or family reasons relating to the applicant's own person make it absolutely necessary to commence studies immediately or to change study location immediately. The order of priority is determined by the degree of exceptional hardship" (SächsStudPlVergabeVO; § 15). For example, an illness with a tendency to worsen can constitute exceptional hardship. A specialist medical report serves as proof; further proof may be required.

Contact: Student Services

In the merit quota, places in degree programs with restricted admission are allocated according to the average grade. In accordance with the SächsStudPlVergabeVO (§ 11(05); § 36; § 38), applicants can apply for compensation for disadvantages in order to improve their average grade by claiming "personal reasons for which they are not responsible" which have prevented them from achieving a better average grade. Corresponding evidence is required. The grade improvement is determined by the grammar school, technical secondary school, etc. and confirmed by the management of the institution. This confirmation must be submitted with the application.

Contact: Student Services

In the waiting time quota, places on degree courses with restricted admission are allocated solely on the basis of the number of semesters of waiting time. Applicants can apply for compensation for disadvantages to improve their waiting time "for personal reasons for which they are not responsible" that have led to a delay in obtaining the higher education entrance qualification (SächsStudPlVergabeVO § 14; § 37). The effects of impairment-related circumstances on the waiting time (e.g. prolonged absence from school due to illness) must be proven, e.g. by means of a school certificate, school reports and a specialist medical report. The management of the institution must determine and confirm the increase in the waiting period. This confirmation must be submitted with the application.

Contact: Student Services

Compensation for disadvantages is regulated in the Sample Examination Regulations 2018 of the Dresden University of Applied Sciences: §9 (3) as follows: "If a student can credibly demonstrate that he or she is unable to take examinations in the intended form in whole or in part due to a prolonged or permanent physical disability or a chronic illness or due to pregnancy-related restrictions or during maternity or parental leave, the examination board must grant him or her compensation for disadvantages. Suitable measures to compensate for disadvantages include, for example, extended processing times, processing breaks, use of other media, use of other examination rooms within the university or a different examination date. If these measures are unsuitable in individual cases, it is also possible to change the duration, type or form of the examination. A medical or official certificate may be required for this purpose. A corresponding restriction must be reported to the examination board at least three weeks before the examination date, and thereafter immediately after becoming known."

Students with health restrictions can apply for compensation for disadvantages during examinations. This includes all forms of impairments (physical, mental, chronic illnesses) as well as partial performance disorders (e.g. dyslexia, dyscalculia, attention deficit disorder). The compensation for disadvantages relates to the examinations to be taken in accordance with the examination regulations. For this purpose, the student submits an informal application to the responsible examination board, in which he/she explains which examination performances he/she cannot perform as required due to the impairment. In addition, the student makes as concrete a proposal as possible for the possible implementation of the compensation for disadvantages. The examination board decides on the application and determines suitable measures to compensate for the disadvantage.

Please submit the application for compensation for disadvantages with suitable evidence to the responsible examination board as early as possible, but no later than three weeks before the examination date. A late application may mean that the application for compensation for disadvantages cannot be processed by the examination board before the examination and the examination must therefore be taken without compensation for disadvantages.

You can find the examination board chairs in the list of representatives (internal area) or on the respective faculty pages.

You can obtain advice on compensation for disadvantages from the representative for students with disabilities or chronic illnesses, Prof. Ines Dragon. The social counseling center of the Studentenwerk Dresden can also advise you.

Further information can be found in the brochure on compensation for disadvantages at the Dresden University of Applied Sciences.

Sometimes it happens that students are unable to take examinations or meet deadlines due to acute illness or worsening of existing health impairments. If the inability to take an examination is determined up to one week before the examination date or the date on which the subject is to be handed out, the student can deregister without stating the reasons (the form for deregistration from examinations must be submitted to the Examinations Office at least one week before the examination date). If acute illnesses or acute deterioration of existing health impairments occur less than one week before the examination date, the student must declare withdrawal from the examination and submit a medical certificate to the Examinations Office (form Declaration of withdrawal from examinations/application for extension of the processing time, see also Submission of medical certificate). The same applies to extensions of deadlines for written assignments and theses due to illness.

The study plan (part of the study regulations) is a recommendation. Students can deviate from this plan by agreeing an individual study plan with their responsible dean of studies.

You can find the deans of studies in the list of representatives (internal area) or on the respective faculty pages.

Students with disabilities have the option of contacting the timetable and room planning department in good time before the start of the semester so that, if feasible, individual courses can be planned in suitable rooms, e.g. to shorten long distances between course rooms.

Please inform yourself about the structural accessibility of the buildings.

Contact: Course and room planning

In part-time studies, the study schedule is extended, i.e. the modules are divided from one to two or from 2 to 3 semesters. This extends the duration of study accordingly and reduces the workload per semester.

The regulations for part-time study at HTW Dresden came into force on 17.08.2015. This regulates the requirements, scope, legal consequences and the procedure for part-time study.

You can find an overview of the degree programs that can currently be studied part-time on the Student Services website.

Please note that part-time study is currently not eligible for BAföG funding.

It is possible to switch from part-time to full-time study upon application.

If it becomes necessary to interrupt studies due to illness or disability, students can take a leave of absence. A leave of absence is granted upon written application. This must be submitted by the end of the re-registration period, stating reasons and providing appropriate evidence before the start of the leave of absence. In justified exceptional cases, the application can be submitted by 15.04. for the SS or 15.10. for the WS at the latest. For good cause, students can apply in writing for a leave of absence for the following semester until the end of the re-registration period, in justified exceptional cases within two months of the start of the semester. Such an application must be made in writing and accompanied by the necessary evidence. Proof of illness must be provided exclusively in the form of a certificate from a medical specialist (sickness certificates are not recognized).

Please note: The health impairment must be present at the time of the leave of absence. A semester of leave of absence cannot be granted retrospectively for past illnesses.

During the period of leave of absence, students remain members of the university and must re-register each semester and pay the semester fee for the Student Union and the Student Council. Please see (below): Exemption from the semester fee during the semester of leave of absence for exceptional cases.

During the leave of absence, examinations can be taken upon application.

Contact: Student Services