Metadata
Title
Special applications to improve admission chances
Category
undergraduate
UUID
0157b5d1b739421e839e8d2789d42f52
Source URL
https://uni-freiburg.de/en/studies/applying/how-do-i-apply/special-applications/
Parent URL
https://uni-freiburg.de/en/studies/advising/studying-with-disability/
Crawl Time
2026-03-19T05:57:16+00:00
Rendered Raw Markdown

Special applications to improve admission chances

Source: https://uni-freiburg.de/en/studies/applying/how-do-i-apply/special-applications/ Parent: https://uni-freiburg.de/en/studies/advising/studying-with-disability/

If your personal life circumstances place you under a special burden, you have the possibility to have these special circumstances considered in the context of an application for admission to a degree programme with restricted admission. This is done by means of a so-called special application, which can be submitted in addition to the obligatory application for admission (the actual application). There are a total of four different special applications that can be considered in the allocation of places for admission:

Hardship case

Disadvantage compensation – average grade

Disadvantage compensation – waiting period

Top athletes

*What measures apply*?

Before you submit a special application, you should examine self-critically whether it has a chance of being accepted. Many applicants for admission pin high hopes on the possibilities a special application opens up – but beware: Not every reason that applicants view as relevant and decisive can actually be recognized as a ‘special case’. The reasons you provide in the context of an application must indicate a serious limitation. In addition, the evidence you submit must demonstrate that this special limitation already existed before you earned your higher education entrance qualification and that it constitutes an unreasonable burden. Therefore, we ask you to please apply strict standards when formulating your reasons.

*When and how should I submit my special application?*

A special application should always be submitted at the same time as the application for admission.\ As soon as you have decided on a degree programme, start preparing your application on the University of Freiburg’s online application portal during the application period:

*However, there is one exception: German nationals, foreign nationals with a German education, and nationals of EU/EEA countries must apply on hochschulstart.de* for admission to degree programmes in Medicine, Dentistry, or Pharmacy, whose admission is restricted throughout Germany,and must also submit any special applications to Hochschulstart, which is responsible for checking and assessing them.

You can find out how Hochschulstart decided on your special application on your letter of acceptance or rejection, which you receive from Hochschulstart via your application account. You can receive a full explanation of the reasons for the decision upon written request.\

Application Portal

Hochschulstart.de

Dates and Deadlines

*What reasons can I claim?*

If you wish to submit a special application, you must include suitable evidence. For examples of such evidence/reasons, please refer to the descriptions of the special applications.\ One thing is very important: You must present your ‘special case’ in sufficient clarity through the evidence you include, so that an outsider can adequately understand the circumstances of your case on the basis of the application alone. You can therefore facilitate the processing of your application by including a written explanation with the required evidence. Your explanation should clearly state the grounds in support of your special application (e.g., health or family reasons). Furthermore, you should describe your individual circumstances as accurately and as clearly as possible.

It is therefore necessary to provide evidence of exceptional personal circumstances that are particularly serious. These exceptional circumstances should only refer to the present or the future.

Hardship case

Disadvantage compensation to improve your average grade

Disadvantage compensation to shorten your waiting period

Top athletes

Service Center Studium\ Application and Admission

Read more

Higher Education Admissions Act (HZG) [de]

Higher Education Admissions Regulations (HZVO) [de]