Students with disabilities or chronic illnesses
Studying successfully
FAU’s Liaison Officer for Students with Disabilities is the person anyone interested in studying who has a disability or chronic illness should contact to discuss all matters relating to studying at FAU (admission to the degree programme, accommodation, accessibility).
Students with disabilities and/or chronic illnesses can also contact the Liaison Officer for help when studying (e.g. organising adjustments to examination arrangements).
Advice is both constructive and confidential.
Further information is available below, organised according to topic, followed by a list of links to various internal and external advisory offices.
Successfully completing your degree programme – studying with a disability or chronic illness
Assistance during your studies
If you require assistance during your studies – such as a reader, assistant or sign language interpreter – you can apply for the costs of these to be covered by the regional social welfare authorities. The district authorities of Middle Franconia in Ansbach are responsible for students at FAU. If you do not receive funding from the district authorities, you can also apply to the Dr.-Willi-Rebelein-Stiftung in Nuremberg.
Suitable accommodation
Students with a degree of disability (Grad der Behinderung – GdB) assessed as at least 70 percent can submit an application for special consideration when applying for a place in Student Services accommodation. There are six places in student accommodation on the Südgelände (southern campus) in Erlangen for students with limited mobility.
Admission to degree programme
During the application procedure on hochschulstart.de and at FAU, there are a few additional things to take into account. If places for your chosen subject are allocated through a selection process, you may apply for adjustments to examination arrangements or special consideration due to a disability. You can ensure that you are admitted to study in your chosen location by submitting a special application called an Ortsbindungsantrag. In some cases, applicants with a chronic illness can also apply for these special considerations. If you wish to make an application, please seek advice beforehand.
Adjustments to examination arrangements
If, due to a disability or chronic illness, you require adjustments to examination arrangements, such as extra time or an extension of examination deadlines, please contact the appropriate Examinations Office.
We also strongly recommend that you contact the Liaison Officer for Students with Disabilities beforehand for advice on the options available.
Accessibility of buildings
FAU has a large number of old buildings, not all of which are fully accessible yet. The University is working towards making its buildings accessible, but it will take time. Please do not hesitate to contact the FAU Disability Liaison Officer if you have difficulties getting to your destination, such as your lecture theatre or an office.
Steps to improve accessibility at FAU are being taken within the framework of the diversity audit ‘Creating diversity’ (2016-2018) of the Stifterverband für die deutsche Wissenschaft.
FM system
The FAU Disability Liaison Officer has a wireless microphone system (Comfort Digisystem) available for hearing-impaired students, consisting of a DM10 microphone and a DH10 receiver. The Comfort Digisystem can be borrowed as and when required.
'BliSeh' project
‘BliSeh’ is a project at FAU for blind and visually impaired students. It provides assistance with the use of technical facilities as well as advice on rules regarding adjustments to examination arrangements and the transition between university and career. Its main task is to teach key qualifications for blind/visually impaired students.
The contact person for BliSeh is Dr. Wolfgang Krebs
Advice
FAU Disability Liaison Officer

Dr. rer. nat. Jürgen Gündel
Department of Academic Affairs and Student Services
Office of Student Advice and Career Service
91054 Erlangen
- Phone number: +49 9131 85-24051
- Email: juergen.guendel@fau.de
- Website: http://www.ibz.fau.de
Other counselling services available at FAU
Counselling services available outside FAU
- Counselling service of Student Services Erlangen-Nürnberg (Psychologisch-Psychotherapeutische Beratungsstelle des Studentenwerks Erlangen-Nürnberg)
- German National Association for Student Affairs (Deutsches Studentenwerk) – advice for applicants and students with disabilities
- Centre for Self-Determined Living with Disabilities (Zentrum für selbstbestimmtes Leben Behinderter e.V.)
- Pfennigparade – Career advice for people with disabilities
- District of Middle Franconia (Bezirk Mittelfranken)
- Guide on distance learning for students with disabilities from Consortium for Lifelong Learning (Arbeitsgemeinschaft lebenslanges Lernen)
- Sozialpsychiatrischen Dienst der Caritas Erlangen