TU Dortmund University is very active in creating equal opportunity study conditions for students with disabilities, chronic and/or mental illnesses. Thus, you will also receive extensive support during your stay abroad at TU Dortmund University.

When planning your stay, specific requirements - depending on your personal situation - need to be discussed and arranged. These may relate, for example, to your participation in courses and examinations, your accommodation and/or mobility. Whether in academic or administrative matters, your contact persons at TU Dortmund University will be happy to take time before and during your stay to discuss and arrange your support.

The International Office is also your primary contact in this regard. You are welcome to contact us before you apply in order to learn about the extensive support options. You can also indicate whether you are in a special situation as part of your application so that we can provide you with the best possible support right from the start. Your information allows us to clarify adequate accommodation in consultation with the Studierendenwerk Dortmund, if this is necessary in your case, as well as to discuss with our service unit Disability and Studies (DoBuS) - preferably in a joint conversation with you - an initial assessment of, among other things, academic support options (e.g. with regard to compensation for disadvantages in exams).

If you need psychological support, you can contact the Psychological Student Advisory Service at TU Dortmund University. In emergencies, it is possible to visit a psychiatric clinic. However, please take into account that there are long waiting times of several months for therapy places in Germany. If you are already undergoing psychological therapy or are planning to do so, you should arrange with your treating therapist to continue your therapy during your stay abroad (e.g. in virtual form) in order to ensure this. If you require prescription medication, please note that you are generally only allowed to bring it to Germany for a period of three months and that you will need a prescription for follow-up medication in Germany if your stay is longer. In this case, we will support you by connecting you with a local psychiatric clinic to issue the prescription ( the continuation of therapy is not possible as explained).

TU Dortmund University thus provides extensive support in planning and organizing your mobility, but cannot pay any financial support. Please contact the International Office of your home university in this regard, as outgoing students with a restriction may be able to apply for additional funding as part of their stay.

Implementation of the European Disability Card

EU citizens with disabilities often find that their national disability cards are not recognized when they travel to other EU member states. The  implementation of a European Disability Card by 2030 should change this in the future and serve as proof of disability status throughout the EU. The European Disability Card will complement the existing national cards and grant people with disabilities the same rights and privileges as nationals with disabilities in other EU Member States, even for short stays of up to three months. Member States will be obliged to issue and renew the card free of charge. In addition, people with disabilities will be able to take legal action if the regulations are not complied with or enforced. The card will be available in both a physical and a digital version, and it will also be possible to enter an A for assistance.

Although the introduction of the European Disability Card will still take a few years, we would like to draw your attention to this innovation so that it can be taken into account when planning future stays. Information on the current status of implementation can be found on the European Commission's website.