Prospective students

Before you finally decide on your place of study, you should form your own opinion. It plays a big role that you feel comfortable in the city, in the university, at the faculty. It is something else to read information or to find out on site what distances you have to cover on campus. The University of Paderborn is a campus university, which has the advantage of short distances and quick accessibility, because all buildings are located on one site (with a few exceptions). Therefore, come by and get to know the campus and the study programs with our taster offers.

We are happy to assist you in exploring the campus. We will guide you through the university, show you the shortest routes for wheelchair users, ramps and elevators, reserved seats in lecture halls, handicapped accessible toilets or rest rooms. We will be happy to arrange an individual appointment with you.

We also offer the campus tour digitally with the app Actionbound.

With the new stage of life also come other needs to cope with everyday study for impaired students. The term disability-related additional needs covers these additional costs during studies that arise due to an impairment. BAföG does not cover these as a lump sum. 

Examples of a disability-related additional need during studies are, for example, costs for aids or a study assistance. These costs are covered by the social welfare authorities if it is evident that the additional need arises exclusively from the commencement of studies and would not be incurred without this. We will be happy to inform you about existing aids and also advise you on how to apply for suitable aids.

Here you find futher information on the special financing needs of students with disabilities.

The search for a suitable apartment plays a major role for students with impairments: Which apartments are barrier-free? Who can I turn to? How does the apartment search proceed? What do I have to consider? 

The Studierendenwerk Paderborn offers several barrier-free apartments in its dormitories. The general housing market also offers barrier-free housing options. Tips for living in Paderborn are summarized here.

Please note: even for barrier-free living, demand unfortunately far exceeds supply. Therefore, it is extremely important to look for housing as early as possible. We are happy to help you and can support students with impairments in their search for housing.

The allocation of study places via the website "Hochschulstart" is normally based on the grade of the university entrance qualification and the waiting period of the prospective student. In special cases, an additional criterion, the so-called "hardship case", can be included in the allocation of study places. Hardship cases include personally very stressful circumstances, which would call into question the possibility of successfully studying the subject by delaying the start of studies. Applicants who provide evidence of such hardship will be admitted to the program immediately. The hardship application must be submitted together with the application documents. Afterwards, the hardship application and the admission to the study program will be reviewed individually by Hochschulstart.

If the places are allocated decentrally via the University of Paderborn, a hardship application can also be submitted to the Student Secretariat. You can find all the information you need on the help pages on special applications  in the application.

Hardship applications are highly individual and require good planning, as very narrow criteria are applied. We offer to discuss the hardship application with you before you submit it.