You can apply for compensation for disadvantage (Nachteilsausgleich) because of a mental illness if depression, an anxiety disorder or another mental health condition puts you at a concrete disadvantage in exams. The application usually goes to the examination board (Prüfungsausschuss) and is backed by a current certificate. This guide explains what such a certificate should contain, which adjustments universities mention, how compensation differs from a sick note or a leave of absence, and what you can do to protect your health data.
In short: According to the university pages in Würzburg (June 2026) and Bremen, compensation for disadvantage because of a mental illness requires a longer-lasting impairment, a concrete exam disadvantage and a current certificate. The University of Würzburg names a maximum certificate age of six months and an application deadline of six weeks before the exam. The diagnosis may be stated, but it does not have to be.
Key points
- Mental illnesses fall under compensation for disadvantage if they act as a chronic illness or longer-lasting impairment. Bremen University of Applied Sciences gives an expected duration of more than six months.
- What counts is the effect on the exam, not the diagnosis alone. The certificate should describe functional limitations.
- The University of Würzburg names examples for depression and anxiety disorders such as breaks, a separate room, different exam times, individual oral exams and substitute assignments.
- For a short-term acute illness, a sick note is usually the right route, for a longer inability to study a leave of absence.
- Ask the counselling service who sees the certificate and how long it is kept.
When is compensation for disadvantage possible with a mental illness?
Bremen University of Applied Sciences does not list individual illnesses. Mental illnesses fall there under the general categories of chronic illness and longer-lasting impairment, provided the requirements are met. A severe disability card is not required. The University of Würzburg describes 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. That means the competence being tested must be there, it just cannot be demonstrated under the usual conditions.
According to the Würzburg handout, the legal basis is Article 3 of the Basic Law in conjunction with section 16 of the Framework Act for Higher Education (HRG), state law and the examination regulations. Section 16 HRG requires examination regulations to take account of the particular needs of students with disabilities to safeguard equal opportunities (gesetze-im-internet.de, retrieved on 2 November 2026). Deadlines, certificate age and procedure are set by state law and your university’s examination regulations; the details from Würzburg and Bremen are examples. The examination board decides in each individual case.
Which adjustments do universities mention for depression and anxiety disorders?
| Condition | Adjustments mentioned | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Depression | Written exam with breaks and a separate room, oral exam at a different time of day, extra working time for term papers, adjusted conditions in internships | University of Würzburg, June 2026 |
| Anxiety disorders | Written exam in a separate room with breaks, individual oral exam with an accompanying person, exclusion of the audience for presentations, postponement or substitute for work placements | University of Würzburg, June 2026 |
| General | More time in written exams, longer deadlines for term papers, additional breaks, technical aids, assistance | Bremen University of Applied Sciences |
The Würzburg handout also classifies the conditions. For depression, fitness to study is impaired depending on severity and often not given in severe episodes, while treatment according to the guidelines can restore performance. For anxiety disorders, intellectual capacity is mostly unaffected, but concentration and retrieval of performance are. This does not guarantee a particular measure: according to Bremen University of Applied Sciences, there is no legal entitlement to a specific measure.
What belongs in the certificate?
The University of Würzburg recommends a specialist medical or psychotherapeutic certificate that should not be older than six months. It should contain the following:
- Practice stamp, name and signature of the treating person and the date of issue
- A description of functional limitations for academic work, for example in perception, cognition, behaviour or bodily functions
- The expected development and, where relevant, a note that the condition is permanent
- If you wish, the diagnosis, which may be stated
Treatment reports, rehabilitation statements or a formal disability assessment can be added. According to the Würzburg handout, the examination office may ask for a certificate from the public health office. Discuss with the practice in advance which wording your university expects. It helps if the certificate names concrete exam situations, such as long written exams, oral exams in front of an audience or time pressure, and suggests suitable adjustments. Whether and in what form your practice issues such certificates, and whether costs apply, is something to clarify there.
How do you protect your health data in the application?
Information about mental illness is particularly sensitive health data. You largely decide how much you disclose. According to the Würzburg handout, the diagnosis may be stated, and what matters most is the description of functional limitations. A certificate that describes effects rather than findings is often enough and reveals less. What remains open is which office at your university sees the certificate and how long it is kept. Ask this in the counselling service before you hand it in.
Bremen University of Applied Sciences describes its counselling as confidential. For confidentiality in university counselling in general, see the guide Schweigepflicht in der Hochschulberatung (in German). The examination board needs the documents for its decision. According to the Würzburg handout, the chair informs students, the examination office and the counselling service of the outcome. Who else is informed at your university, for example examiners, you should ask before applying.
Compensation, sick note or leave of absence: what fits when?
| Situation | Suitable route | More |
|---|---|---|
| You cannot attend an exam day because of acute illness | Sick note with certificate | Guide Prüfung wegen Krankheit abmelden |
| You can take exams, but not under the usual conditions, and this lasts a longer time | Compensation for disadvantage | This guide |
| You are unable to study for one or several semesters | Leave of absence for health reasons | Guide Studium unterbrechen aus gesundheitlichen Gründen |
| You need orientation and everyday support | University counselling | Guide Psychologische Beratung an der Uni |
A severe disability is not a requirement but can open additional rights in some cases. Whether an application is worthwhile is discussed in the guide Schwerbehinderung bei psychischer Erkrankung (in German).
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to disclose my diagnosis?
According to the University of Würzburg handout, the diagnosis may be stated, and it is not expressly mandatory. What matters is the description of functional limitations. Clarify in counselling what your examination board expects.
How long is a certificate valid?
In Würzburg it should not be older than six months. The Bremen page names no age limit. Ask your university, including whether one certificate covers several semesters.
Is an acute crisis enough for compensation?
According to Bremen University of Applied Sciences, short-term acute illnesses are usually not a reason. A sick note or leave of absence then fit better. Compensation requires a longer-lasting impairment.
What happens if the application is refused?
In Würzburg, the examination office receives a formal notice open to appeal, and a lawsuit remains possible. The internal procedure does not affect the time limit for suing. Get advice first and watch the deadlines in the notice.
Do I have to report changes?
Yes. If the requirements change, for example because the impairment subsides, the University of Würzburg requires a prompt notification. Ask which duties apply at your university.
What to do now
- Get the rules and the form for compensation for disadvantage from your university, usually from the examination office or the counselling service.
- Get advice before applying and clarify the deadline, the certificate content and data protection.
- Ask the treating practice for a current certificate that describes the effects on exams.
- Submit the application early, in Würzburg at the latest six weeks before the first exam.
- Report changes and plan ahead for a new semester or internship.
Related guides
- Mental health during studies: where to find help
- Studying with a disability: Compensation, advice and support
- ADHD in studies: compensation for disadvantage
- Withdrawing from an exam because of illness
- Interrupting your studies for health reasons
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)
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The rules of your own university apply.
