Compensation for disadvantage (Nachteilsausgleich) for ADHD in German higher education is possible if your impairment puts you at a concrete disadvantage in exams and you can document it. What matters is the application to your examination board (Prüfungsausschuss), usually with a current medical or psychotherapeutic certificate. This guide explains the typical requirements, what a certificate should contain, which adjustments are mentioned for ADHD and where to find advice.
In short: You apply for compensation for disadvantage with ADHD in writing to the examination board, usually with a certificate. The University of Würzburg asks for the application at least six weeks before the exam and a certificate no older than six months. According to Bremen University of Applied Sciences, there is no legal entitlement to a particular measure, and the exam content stays the same. Deadlines and forms differ by university. Last updated: June to November 2026.
Key points
- Legal framework: section 16 of the Framework Act for Higher Education (HRG) requires examination regulations to take account of the particular needs of students with disabilities to safeguard equal opportunities. State laws and examination regulations implement this.
- You need a concrete disadvantage caused by an obstacle to performance, not merely a weaker performance. A severe disability card is not required.
- The certificate should be current and describe how ADHD affects academic work, not only name the diagnosis.
- Adjustments mentioned for ADHD include a separate room with a visual screen or more time for term papers.
- The examination board decides case by case. Advice beforehand is common and recommended.
Are you entitled to compensation for disadvantage with ADHD?
Compensation for disadvantage balances out the fact that someone cannot take an exam under the usual conditions because of an impairment, although the competence being tested is there. According to the University of Würzburg handout (June 2026), the legal bases are Article 3(1) and (3) sentence 2 of the Basic Law and section 16 HRG. The wording of section 16 HRG says that examination regulations must take account of the particular needs of students with disabilities to safeguard equal opportunities. In addition come the state higher education act and the examination regulations of your programme, in Bremen for example section 31 of the Bremen Higher Education Act.
The Würzburg handout names three requirements: a disability or chronic illness, ideally with an ICD-10 diagnosis, a concrete disadvantage under general exam conditions and an obstacle to performance rather than a performance weakness. Bremen University of Applied Sciences adds that the impairment must be expected to last longer than six months. Short-term acute illnesses are usually no reason there. Other routes exist for them, for example the guide Prüfung wegen Krankheit abmelden (in German).
On ADHD, the Würzburg handout says that treatment according to the guidelines can usually compensate for the impairments so that fitness to study is preserved, and that compensation is needed in individual cases. That is no argument against applying. It describes the yardstick: what counts is what still acts as an obstacle for you in the exam despite treatment.
Which adjustments are mentioned for ADHD?
| Exam format | Possible adjustment for ADHD | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Written exam | Separate room with a visual screen | University of Würzburg, June 2026 |
| Term paper | Extended working time | University of Würzburg, June 2026 |
| Written exam, general | More time, additional breaks | Bremen University of Applied Sciences |
| Term paper, general | Longer deadlines | Bremen University of Applied Sciences |
| General | Technical aids, assistance | Bremen University of Applied Sciences |
The table shows examples from two universities, not entitlements. According to Bremen University of Applied Sciences, there is no legal entitlement to a particular measure, the exam content does not change, and the compensation does not appear on the certificate. The examination board decides which measure is appropriate in your case. The more precisely your certificate describes where ADHD takes effect in the exam, for example with long reading texts, distraction in the room or time management, the more precisely an adjustment can be justified.
What belongs in the certificate?
The University of Würzburg recommends a specialist medical or psychotherapeutic certificate that is current (no older than six months). It lists as content the practice stamp, name and signature of the treating person, date of issue, a description of the functional limitations for academic work, for example in perception, cognition and behaviour, the expected development and, where relevant, a note that the condition is permanent. The diagnosis may be stated. Treatment reports or statements from a counselling service can be added.
Bremen University of Applied Sciences points to its own handout on medical evidence, so universities usually keep templates ready. Ask for your university’s form before the medical appointment. How certificates for mental illness look in general and what to consider on data protection is covered in the guide Nachteilsausgleich bei psychischer Erkrankung (in German). The assessment itself is covered in the guide ADHS-Diagnose im Erwachsenenalter. According to the S3 guideline on ADHD in the version cited (version 2.0), it rests on a clinical interview, not on lab values or EEG.
How does the application work?
| Step | Example: University of Würzburg | Example: Bremen UAS |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Form to the chair of the examination board by email from your university address | Online application form for all programmes |
| Deadline | As early as possible, at the latest six weeks before the first exam | No deadline stated on the page |
| Evidence | Current certificate, ideally from a specialist or psychotherapist | Medical evidence, checklist and handout |
| Advice | Initial counselling voluntary, expressly recommended | Confidential advice from the counselling service |
| Decision | Chair of the examination board, formal notice open to appeal if refused | Examination board reviews each case individually |
The details come from the university pages (Würzburg, June 2026, Bremen, accessed in November 2026) and apply only there. Your programme may differ, especially for state examinations, for which the Würzburg handout says separate rules apply. Check the examination regulations and the form at your university. If an application is refused, the Würzburg handout notes that legal recourse remains, and the internal procedure does not affect the time limit for a lawsuit.
Where can you find advice?
- Counselling service for students with impairments at your own university: clarifies requirements, forms and certificate content, usually in confidence. An overview is in the guide Studying with a disability: Compensation, advice and support.
- University psychological counselling: for exam pressure or accompanying complaints, see Psychological Counselling at University: Services and Appointments.
- Student services social counselling: for questions on funding and living situation, see Sozialberatung des Studierendenwerks (in German).
- Psychotherapeutic consultation hour: for assessment and treatment where needed, see Psychotherapeutische Sprechstunde.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a severe disability card for the application?
No. Both the University of Würzburg and Bremen University of Applied Sciences state that a severe disability card is not required. According to the Würzburg handout, it does not create an entitlement on its own either. What counts is that the impairment concretely hinders your exam performance under the usual conditions.
Does the compensation appear on my certificate?
According to Bremen University of Applied Sciences, it does not appear on the certificate, and the exam content stays unchanged. Whether the same applies at your university is set out in the examination regulations, or the counselling service can tell you.
Does the compensation apply automatically to all exams?
That depends on the university. In Würzburg, the deadline applies to the first exam if several exams are due, and changes in the requirements must be reported without delay. Ask how long an approval applies and whether you have to reapply each semester.
What if I do not have a diagnosis yet?
Without evidence an application is usually not possible, because the examination board needs a reliable basis. The route to an assessment is described in the guide on ADHS-Diagnose im Erwachsenenalter. Allow for waiting times and do not apply shortly before an exam.
Does compensation for disadvantage change my BAföG funding?
It regulates exam conditions, not funding. For the funding period, a disability can be a separate ground for extension under section 15(3) BAföG. The student funding office (Amt für Ausbildungsförderung) examines each case.
What to do now
- Read the rule on compensation for disadvantage in your examination regulations and download your university’s application form.
- Book an appointment with the counselling service for students with impairments and clarify the deadline and certificate content.
- Ask the treating practice for a current certificate that describes the effects on exams, not only the diagnosis.
- Submit the application early, ideally well before the first affected exam, and keep copies.
- If refused, show the reasons to the counselling service and check whether an objection makes sense.
Related guides
- Mental health during studies: where to find help
- Compensation for mental illness: certificate and application (in German)
- Studying with a disability: Compensation, advice and support
- ADHD in adult women: signs and assessment
- ADHD diagnosis in adulthood: process
Quellen:
Section 16 HRG, gesetze-im-internet.de (German)
University of Würzburg, KIS: Compensation for disadvantage, June 2026 (PDF, German)
Bremen University of Applied Sciences: Compensation for disadvantage, accessed November 2026 (German)
S3 guideline ADHD, AWMF register 028-045 (long version 2.0, German)
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The rules of your own university apply.
