What is reasonable accommodation?

Students with disabilities or chronic illnesses have the right to receive reasonable accommodation.

Reasonable accommodation adapts examination conditions to the individual needs of these students.

Its purpose is to ensure equal opportunities for all students. Reasonable accommodation does not mean that anyone is given preferential treatment.

Students who receive reasonable accommodation are required to achieve the same learning outcomes as all other students and to demonstrate these through examinations and assessments, just like all other students.

There are many different types of disabilities and chronic illnesses. As a result, students may be disadvantaged in very different ways.

The field of study also influences how students may be affected.For this reason, each application is reviewed individually. As part of this process, we also work closely with academic departments and teaching staff.

Please note that it may not be possible to grant all requests made by students.

Examples of reasonable accommodations

Here are some examples of reasonable accommodations:

Changes to duration and scheduling

The length and timing of assignments and exams can be adjusted:

• More time

… for exams (for example, written tests).

… for certain assignments (for example, term papers or final theses).

• More time between

… different assignments and exams.

• Splitting

… assignments or exams into several parts.

• Breaks

… during exams or timed assignments. These breaks do not reduce the working time.

• Helping decide exam dates

… Students can take part in choosing exam dates (for example, not directly before or after medical treatments).

Changing the format

The format of assignments and exams can be adjusted:

Substitutions:

A written assignment or exam can be replaced with an oral one (and the other way around).

A practical assignment or exam can be replaced with a theoretical one (and the other way around).

Individual exam instead of group exam:

Students can take an exam alone instead of in a group.

Written addition to oral exams:

For students with hearing or speech disabilities, an oral exam can be supported with a written part.

Exemption from attendance:

Students do not have to attend classes regularly. Instead, they complete an additional task to make up for the missed attendance.

Tools and assistance:

Students may use necessary tools such as a Braille display and support services such as sign‑language interpreters. Adapted exam materials, such as large‑print documents, are also provided.

Exam in a separate room:

The exam can take place in a separate room, for example in the offices for students with disabilities or in the FGDD – Family, Gender, Disability & Diversity department.

Further information

Below you can find the legal basis for reasonable accommodations:

UG 2002 §59 (1) 12: 

“According to the legal regulations, students have the freedom to choose how they learn. This includes the right to use a different examination method if the student can prove a long‑term disability that makes it impossible to take the exam in the required format, as long as the content and requirements of the exam are not changed by using a different method.”

Important: Reasonable accommodations do not affect how assignments or exams are graded. It is also not mentioned in official documents, such as transcripts or the Diploma Supplement (the document that comes with your degree certificate).