Students with family responsibilities, disabilities and/or chronic illnesses should be treated on an equal footing in their day-to-day studies to enable them to succeed in their degree programmes. Tailored compensation for disadvantages actively assists them, prevents discrimination and ensures their participation in university life.

Compensation for disadvantages is not a ‘privilege’, but serves to compensate for disadvantages caused by impairments on an individual and situation-specific basis. The responsibility for applying lies with the students themselves. The use of compensation for disadvantages is not noted on the academic transcript.

Students with family responsibilities may, upon application, agree a binding individual study plan. This allows them to take modules in different combinations and at different times than those specified in the module handbook. Not every study programme is suitable for this. Please contact the relevant examination board of the respective faculty for information on the procedure.
By structuring the course content into modules that are offered on a regular basis, students with children can better manage their study workload over time and, ideally, continue their studies without interruption and sit their exams.

Part-time studies are possible either if the study programme is accredited as a part-time study programme (as indicated in the study and examination regulations), or if an application is made on the grounds of special circumstances. These circumstances include, amongst others, the care and upbringing of children, caring for relatives in need of care, a disability or chronic illness, regular employment, etc.

In the case of part-time studies, all deadlines are doubled. Semesters in part-time studies count as half programme-related semesters and, at the same time, as full university semesters. A maximum of 30 credit points may be earned per academic year. A study plan is required and appropriate academic progress must be demonstrated on a regular basis.

Students who need to take a break due to family commitments such as pregnancy, raising children, caring for relatives or other important reasons may apply for a leave of absence. Depending on the study programme, this is possible for a period of one to four semesters.

A leave of absence is not counted as a programme-related semester and therefore has no impact on the regular duration of the standard programme. However, as students remain enrolled during the leave of absence, it is counted as a university semester.

The application for a leave of absence must be submitted in writing during the re-enrolment period. If the important reason for the leave of absence arises only after the deadline has passed and could not have been foreseen, the application may be submitted no later than one day before the start of seminars. The re-enrolment period for the following summer or winter semester begins four weeks before the end of lectures and ends on the last day of lectures.

It is not possible to apply for a leave of absence for the duration of a Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis, as these form part of the study plan. The leave of absence must be approved by the Chairperson of the Examination Board on a case-by-case basis. A break from studies to extend the duration of the degree programme will not be approved.

A leave of absence in the first programme-related semester is generally not possible, not even in Master’s study programmes. However, students who have already had a significant proportion of their Master’s modules credited from their Bachelor’s degree may formally enter the second programme-related semester of the Master’s study programme.

Further information is available from the Student Office.

In justified individual cases, students with family responsibilities may be permitted to make a short-notice withdrawal from a registered examination. The relevant supporting documents or reasons must be submitted to the examination board.

The Coordination Office for Family-Friendly Higher Education in Wismar has developed a central online portal on the topic of ‘Studying Abroad with a Child’. This portal offers students with children and anyone interested information and opportunities on how to successfully organise a study period abroad, despite having a child or indeed because of it. At the heart of the portal is a database of testimonials from student parents who have already completed a semester abroad with a child