Support for students from crisis regions

Source: https://www.fau.eu/studying/international-students/international-study-advice/umgang-mit-krisensituationen/ Parent: https://www.fau.eu/

FAU prides itself on its international focus, and people from more than 130 countries around the globe work and study here, exploring the most important questions of our times. Almost a quarter of our students come from a country other than Germany. Many of them are repeatedly confronted with economic and political crises, armed conflicts and human rights violations or climate catastrophes in their home countries, or are even directly affected themselves, a situation that can lead to significant mental strain that impacts on their everyday life at university. At the current time, students and staff at FAU from Iran are worried about their relatives and friends, who they struggle to keep in contact with, while shocking news keeps coming out of the country.

We appreciate that each of these crises affect individual people and groups of students severely, and while individual FAU members try their best to help wherever possible, it is the University’s responsibility to care for all its members faced with these or similar situations, regardless of where in the world they are from.

We would therefore like to take this opportunity to address a number of questions and issues that came up recently in talks with students from Iran to provide reliable information, clarify any uncertainties and ensure equal opportunities for everyone who is in a similar situation.

Solidarity Standard period of study, semesters of leave, and deadlines Application and enrollment Research Support and advice

Solidarity

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My home country is facing war or a political crisis. I would like my university to clearly express its solidarity with those affected.

FAU prides itself on being a platform for freedom standing for peaceful coexistence among all people, for democracy, for freedom and for human rights. It stands in solidarity with everyone who advocates these values or who is a victim of systems and circumstances in which these values are disregarded. This underlying principle of solidarity is expressed in our communications and collaboration with other public institutions, for instance the Erlangen Declaration for Diversity, Respect and Tolerance.

At the same time, we appreciate the calls for us to express this solidarity by making a statement, especially in light of significant events that directly impact FAU or its members. In these situations, we promise to carefully consider your request and come to a decision that we believe to be appropriate from the University’s point of view and that aligns with our duties as a state educational institution. In the case of Iran, FAU has met the students’ wishes.

Standard period of study, semesters of leave, and deadlines

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Which options are there to avoid having semesters counted towards the standard duration of study due to extraordinary personal or external crises?

Legally, it is not possible to enforce special rules across the board for all students of a particular nationality.

However, students may file an individual application for an extension to the deadline for completing the Grundlagen- und Orientierungsprüfung (GOP) or for completing their degree program (standard duration of study plus two semesters). The personal situation of the person filing the application is then taken into account when coming to a decision on this matter. Applications for extensions should be filed with the Examinations Committee responsible in each individual case. At the current time, we are raising awareness among all staff at FAU for the current situation in Iran.

Please refer to the Examinations Office’s website for detailed information about examinations.

I am so worried and under such mental strain that I can no longer concentrate and I have to look after my family or fulfill other commitments. Can I take a break for one semester?

You can submit an application for a leave of absence. Please note that it is not possible to complete course or examination achievements during a leave of absence, and a semester in which you take leave of absence therefore does not count as a subject semester. It is, however, possible to resit failed examinations. You must file the application at the latest by the time the lecture period starts in the semester for which you would like to take leave of absence. It is not possible to apply to take leave of absence retroactively. All information is included in the Regulations on requests for a leave of absence from studies at FAU. Students can ask the Student Advice Center for individual advice on which option makes most sense for them. In addition, the Student Services’ counseling service offers easily accessible support for dealing with psychological stress and anxiety.

Is it possible for students in especially stressful situations to have examinations that they have failed disregarded and not counted as a failed attempt?

No, legally this is not an option. However, since winter semester 2024/25, the general rule is that students can resit a failed examination three times, rather than the two attempts that were previously the case. This does not apply to preliminary examinations (Grundlagen- and Orientierungsprüfung, GOP) and final theses.

For individual examinations, students also have the option of withdrawing from the examination. It is generally possible for students to withdraw unconditionally from an examination up to three days before the examination. Even after this deadline, it is still possible for students to submit an individual request to the Examinations Committee. It is not possible to withdraw after the examination.

Bearing this in mind, it is better for students to withdraw from the examination as a precaution if they realize that the mental strain they are currently experiencing is likely to have a detrimental effect on their examination.

What is the situation regarding postponing or withdrawing from state examinations or examinations regulated by the state, for instance Staatsexamen?

Unfortunately, FAU has no influence on the special regulations that apply to state examinations. The respective state authorities are responsible in this case:

Teaching: https://www.km.bayern.de/termine/staatspruefungen
Law: https://www.justiz.bayern.de/landesjustizpruefungsamt/erste-juristische-staatspruefung/
Medicine/Pharmacy (LPA): https://www.regierung.oberbayern.bayern.de/ueber_uns/zentralezustaendigkeiten/landespruefungsamt/index.html

I cannot concentrate on my work at the moment due to the worrying situation. The deadline for my written assignment or project report is approaching. Can the deadline be extended?

It is up to the examiners to decide on an extension to the deadline for submitting a written assignment. In this case, you should ask your lecturer directly. The Executive Board is raising awareness among FAU members for the special situation facing students from crisis regions.

In the case of final theses, you can file an application for extending the period for working on the thesis with your Examinations Committee. The members of the Examinations Committee are aware of the psychological stress that students from crisis regions are experiencing at the current time. However, applications have to be based on plausible reasons.

Application and enrollment

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At the moment, prospective students in certain crisis regions, such as Iran, do not have any secure access to infrastructure such as the internet or other communication channels. It is therefore not possible for them to apply within the set deadlines. Is it possible for application or enrollment deadlines to be extended if they cannot be met due to unusual external circumstances?

These deadlines are binding and apply to all applicants, as otherwise it is not possible for them to start their studies at the beginning of the semester. Unfortunately, we cannot defer the deadlines.

Is it possible in view of this special situation to enroll for the summer semester even if the degree program would regularly only start in the winter semester?

The immigration authorities are generally supportive; the Welcome Center and the FIT Team can provide support for researchers/students from crisis regions – for instance at the current time for those from Iran – in communicating with the authorities and, as far as legally possible, come to individual arrangements with the immigration authorities.

Research

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Is there any option for doctoral candidates whose research has been considerably affected due to external circumstances to extend fixed-term contracts at short notice?

FAU is open to considering extending contracts at short notice for affected doctoral candidates in individual cases. Funding doctoral candidates is a prime concern for FAU. Provided the financial means are available and the legal framework allows it, we do all that we can to implement extensions in consultation with the chairs and departments in order to allow manuscripts, doctoral thesis and milestones to be brought to a successful conclusion. It is important to discuss the various options open to you with your supervisor or manager in good time.

Support and advice

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Can FAU help me communicate with the immigration authorities?

At the moment, what I need most of all is information on where I can go for advice tailored to my particular situation. Whom can I contact?

If you are looking for advice about studying and spending time at FAU, in particular when the information on this page doesn’t answer all your questions, the Student Advice Center is always happy to help.

The Student Services’ counseling service is available for psychological support in crises.

In acute psychological crisis situations, the Krisendienst Mittelfranken is an important point of contact, and is available 24/7.

The following list gives an overview of central organizations and points of contact for advice on various topics.