Special Request due to Exceptional Circumstances

You can submit an application for consideration due to exceptional circumstances (Härtefallantrag) when applying for a study place. This is also referred to as a hardship case. (application for consideration due to exceptional cicumstances for bachelor’s programs, applicationfor consideration due to exceptional circumstances for master’s programs) This special application is particularly reserved for those applicants who would otherwise experience extraordinary hardship if denied admission.

If you apply via hochschulstart.de for a bachelor’s study place, you must include your special application with your application and submit an additional paper copy. Further information can be found on the request form and at hochschulstart.de.

In case of a master's application, you must include your special applicationt (incl. appropriate proofs) with your application at Graduate Admissions / uni-assist. Information about a master's application is available here.

Approval of your special application means you may be admitted as part of an advance quota. However, admission is not guaranteed. Strict criteria apply when assessing your request. There must be an exceptional circumstance justifying the claim of hardship.

What requirements do I need to fulfill?

Bachelor studies

You must first fulfill the general and subject-specific admission requirements for your chosen degree program. Otherwise you are unable to submit a special request.

You can submit a special request due to exceptional circumstances if your health, a physical disability or social and family circumstances urgently require you to commence your studies without delay.

This also applies if your health, a physical disability or family or social circumstances make it unreasonable for you to study outside the state of Berlin and if the waiting period for the degree program you wish to study is more than four semesters.

Further information about the special request due to exceptional circumstances is available in the hochschulstart application portal.

Master studies

You must first fulfill the general and subject-specific admission requirements for your chosen degree program. Otherwise, your submitted special request is not effective.

You can submit a special request due to exceptional circumstances if your health, a physical disability or social and family circumstances urgently require you to commence your master studies immediately.

The evaluation of your special request will be conducted analog the standards for bachelor's programs.  Further information about the special request due to exceptional circumstances is available on hochschulstart.de.

How do I submit proof of hardship?

When submitting a special request, you must provide relevant proof outlining your case and justification. This may include medical reports with sufficient detail on the individual criteria referred to in the request. This report must be written in language that can be understood by laypersons and address the progression of the illness and possible treatments or impairments as well as prognoses of further progression.

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