Hardship applications are only approved in exceptional cases, specifically when due to serious health-related, social or family reasons it would be unreasonable to expect you to wait for even one semester to commence your studies.

When submitting the usual application documents, you must also submit the following additional documents:

• Request for hardship support which can be accessed during the online application process in the application portal
• Proof of hardship (e.g. medical report that can be understood by non-medical professionals)

You do not qualify for hardship if

• you are geographically tied due to your own illness or the illness of a relative.
• you discontinued your career or studies due to health reasons, poor career prospects, on grounds of conscience, lack of motivation or aptitude.
• you can only choose from a limited range of careers due to health impairments.
• you cannot afford to privately finance the entire period of your studies if you are not immediately admitted to the study programme (e.g. allowance for orphans, German state student grant and loan (BAföG), contract relating to the title of a farm, inheritance contract, will, army pension).
• an alternative study path can no longer be funded.
• you are married and/or your employed spouse pays you maintenance, is still in education/training or stops working.
• you have one or more children.
• you are an orphan or have lost one parent or come from a family with many children.
• your parents have (or will soon have) financial problems and/or still have to support other siblings.
• you want to financially support your parents, siblings or children as soon as possible.
• your parents or siblings are ill or disabled.
• you think that you are an especially suitable candidate for this study programme.
• you have been repeatedly refused admission to the study programme.
• you can provide proof of modules and study periods that qualify for accreditation.
• you are already older than or would exceed a certain age limit after completing your studies if you are not immediately granted admission (e.g. for civil servant status).
• you were granted admission to the study programme at an earlier point in time and did not take up the study place (regardless of reasons).

You can apply for disadvantage compensation if you can provide proof that special circumstances

• prevented you from gaining a better average grade or
• you were subject to an extended waiting time

with regard to obtaining your higher education entry qualification. This only applies if such circumstances were beyond your control.

When submitting the usual application documents, you must also submit the following additional documents:

• To improve your average grade:
  • Application for Disadvantage Compensation – Average Grade which can be accessed during the online application process in the application portal
  • The last two grade transcripts received before the occurrence of the performance-impairing event and all subsequent certificates
  • Assessment from the school (not individual teachers) or, if this is not possible, assessment from an expert in education psychology
• To improve your waiting time:
  • Application for Disadvantage Compensation – Waiting Time which can be accessed during the online application process in the application portal
  • Confirmation from your school stating the reason and duration of the delay in acquiring your higher education entry qualification
  • Any other supporting documents proving your disadvantage

The specifically proven disadvantage will be compensated through the disadvantage compensation process. The rank that you receive through the improved average grade or longer waiting time can still be subject to the admission restrictions of your chosen study programme. Disadvantage compensation does not automatically result in admission.