Alternative Study Arrangements

  Lecture hall and overhead projector Copyright: © RWTH Aachen

The university takes steps to ensure that disabled and chronically ill students are not at a disadvantage during their studies.  Exam regulations also take the particular needs of disabled and chronically ill students into consideration and regulate alternative study arrangements.

 

Examples of Alternative Study Arrangements

  • More time to work during time-dependent academic assessments such as exams, papers, or final papers and exercises
  • Interruption of time-dependent academic assessments with individual breaks that will not be included in the total working time, even if this has already been extended. This applies particularly to supervised work.
  • Exam assessments that are divided up into several partial assessments
  • Written assessments subsitituted by oral ones and vice versa, for example, for students with a hearing or speech impediment
  • Exemption from mandatory attendance in courses by completing an assessment to compensate their absence
  • Interpreters allowed to provide sign-language
  • Adapted documents, such as exam papers
 

Application

If you need to apply for alternative study arrangements, please submit a written application (no particular format necessary) to the responsible exam board. VORSCHUB – Advising for Students With Disabilites and Chronic Illnesses will gladly help you with your application and the necessary supporting documents. As an individual with a disability or chronic illness, we recommend that you seek advising on this matter before or during your studies. This way, you are aware of the necessity, type of, and breadth of the alternative arrangements and can make sure you receive what you are entitled to.

 

Alternative Study Arrangements Do Not Make Assessments Easier

Alternative study arrangements do not mean that the subject-specific demands have been eased in any way.  The arrangements do not lessen the demands, rather they change the conditions of the assessments, based on the needs of disabled and chronically ill students, so that they can complete the assessments under equal conditions to those of their fellow students.

 

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