Studying with an impairment

Due to the large and partially listed building stock, full accessibility is unfortunately not yet guaranteed. The biology buildings (North Campus) are currently not accessible for wheelchair users.

The majority of the larger buildings are accessible for students in wheelchairs. Information on the accessibility of individual buildings can be obtained from the Disability Officer. If required, a joint inspection/wheelchair tour can be organised.

Disabled parking spaces

There are designated disabled parking spaces for your car in almost all buildings, either on the street or on the university grounds. There is free access to most car parks. A barrier (plug-in) key or a ponder can be applied for to enter the university courtyard; if a parking permit is required, this can also be applied for (contact: Ms Sylvia Bork or via the Advice Centre).

Please note: Due to construction work on the building, the disabled car park has been relocated to the grounds of the main building (Unter den Linden 6). It is located on the side of the west wing. If you enter the grounds by car, it is about 20 metres on the left-hand side.

Barrier-free toilets

Barrier-free toilets are available in the wheelchair-accessible buildings. These are operated with a Euro key. To obtain a Euro key, please contact the Sozialverband VdK Berlin-Brandenburg e.V. This organisation is responsible for issuing Euro keys in Berlin (contact the Sozialverband VdK Berlin-Brandenburg e.V. or the representative).

Lifts

Lifts are available in the larger buildings. All lifts that have already been reconstructed are equipped with stop announcements and visual floor indicators, have Braille on the buttons and are wheelchair accessible. Inclined lifts are in use in some old buildings. A key (see above) is required for inclined lifts and some lifts. A standardised locking system with a simple socket key is used at the university for this purpose.

In many cases it is possible to obtain course scripts from the teaching staff.

In the Central University Library (Grimm Centre) and in the Natural Sciences Branch Library in the Erwin Schr?dinger Centre on the Adlershof campus, there are computer workrooms for blind and visually impaired students.

In order to use the workstation facilities in the Erwin Schr?dinger Centre, you must register once with the Computer and Media Service(PC reading room). The CMS staff will then also instruct you on the technology on site. After this briefing, all you have to do is ask for the key at the library counter.

Students with hearing impairments should contact the teaching staff in good time. This is necessary so that microport facilities can be used and, if necessary, additional written materials can be made available. The representative offers her assistance in this regard.

Microport systems are usually financed by the health insurance companies. If procurement is delayed, it is possible to borrow a microport system for a limited period from the counselling centre for students with disabilities or chronic illnesses at studierendenWERK Berlin . A mobile induction system is also available from the counselling centre.

A list of sign language interpreters can be found at the Professional Association of Sign Language Interpreters Berlin/Brandenburg. They can be ordered via studierendenWERK Berlin.

Induction loops are installed in:

1. Main building, Unter den Linden 6: cinema hall, senate hall, all lecture halls in the west wing
2. Lecture theatre 10 (Nordbau, Invalidenstra?e 42) of the Institute of Biology
3. large lecture theatre 3'001 of the Institute of Computer Science in Adlershof

Students who have a chronic and/or mental illness are often in a different situation to students with a visible physical impairment. Nevertheless, they can generally take advantage of the same opportunities for support and compensation for disadvantages.

You should find out in good time about the study conditions in the respective country, such as the accessibility of university buildings, housing options, transport services, care services, etc., as well as the possibilities of financial support.

Dialogues on Disability is an international exchange programme for students with disabilities that has been running since 2013. Students from Humboldt-Universit?t zu Berlin and students from international partner universities in London, Delhi, Mexico City and Sao Paolo take part in a week-long exchange of experiences on a variety of topics relating to disability.

Counselling

Information about study opportunities abroad, exchange programmes and funding opportunities can be obtained from the International Office at Humboldt-Universit?t.

At the European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education you will find the Higher Education Accessibility Guide. It contains information on counselling and support facilities for disabled and chronically ill students at universities in the countries of the European Union, Norway and Iceland.

Funding

Exchange and EU programmes are often associated with financial support. In most cases, however, this funding does not cover requirements. Some foreign universities themselves offer financial support programmes or free services. An attempt can also be made to apply to the scholarship providers for the additional financial expenditure caused by the disability.

BAf?G will continue to be granted during your stay abroad. In addition, there is a supplement for increased needs abroad (see information on BAf?G abroad).

During a temporary stay abroad, long-term care insurance benefits are granted for up to 6 weeks per calendar year in accordance with § 34 SGB XI. Due to a judgement of the European Court of Justice, care allowance must also be paid for more than 6 weeks in other EU countries. As a rule, care allowance according to state laws is no longer granted.

There are very different regulations for health insurance benefits. They depend, among other things, on the country, the type of insurance and enrolment at a German university. It is often advisable to take out private health insurance abroad. You should consult your statutory health insurance provider.

Social assistance is only granted if you are resident or ordinarily resident in Germany. However, integration assistance can also be granted abroad if it is in the interests of integration, the duration of the integration measure is not significantly extended and no unreasonable additional costs are incurred.