The waiting period is based on the number of semesters that have passed since you acquired your higher education entrance qualification (i.e. "Abitur"). In some cases, however, special circumstances might led to a delay in you completing your higher education entrance qualification. In such a case, you can have your waiting time recalculated by requesting a re-calculation of the waiting period.
Example
If you were applying to begin your studies during the winter semester 2015/2016 and you had earned your higher education entrance qualification in June 2014, this means that your waiting period would have been two semesters. However, you can prove that you had to repeat your 11th school year due to illness. If you had not had to repeat this school year, you would have graduated in June 2013. In this case, you could have claimed a waiting period of four semesters.
This is how you could have your waiting time recalculated and improve your waiting list position by submitting a request for re-calculating your waiting period.
How do I file a request to re-calculate my waiting period?
- Make sure to indicate on your online application that you you will be submitting a request to re-calculate the waiting period.
- Include all the required documents listed in the application materials.
- Include your informal, written request to re-calculate the waiting period (German: Antrag auf Nachteilsausgleich Wartezeit).
- Include any supporting documents as certified copies.
- Hole punch your documents and attach them using a file fastener ("Heftstreifen").
- Mail your complete application to the University of Konstanz.
Required supporting documents
- Official school confirmation of the reason and length of the delay in earning your higher education entrance qualification
- all other documentation that supports your request
Important!
Documentation of the reason for the request (e.g. illness) is insufficient and will lead to a rejection of your request. You must also prove that this reason caused the delay in you earning your higher education entrance qualification.
Justified requests
If the following cases apply to you, then your request for re-calculating the waiting period will most likely be approved.
Special health-related reasons:
- longer absence from school due to illness (doctor’s note)
- severe disability of 50 percent or more (confirmation certificate from the pension office (Versorgungsamt))
- other long-term disability or illness (doctor’s note)
- pregnancy while enrolled in school (doctor’s note or child birth certificate)
Special social reasons:
- special financial reasons (please provide appropriate supporting documents)
- other similar social reasons (please provide appropriate supporting documents)
Special family reasons:
- you cared for your own under-age children while you were still in school (birth certificates of children)
- your cared for older direct relatives (parents/grandparents) or siblings that required nursing care while you were still in school (certificate of nursing care level 2 or 3 according to the eleventh book of the German social code, or a doctor’s note documenting the need for nursing care)
- you cared for under-age siblings who lived with you while you were still in school (birth certificates of your siblings)
- you lost one or both parents before earning your higher education entrance qualification, without having been married and before turning 25 (death certificate of your parents and explanation of your past marriage status)
- multiple change of schools due to family relocation (documentation of school changes and proof of your parents' registration with each municipality)
- other similar special family circumstances (appropriate supporting documents)
Top athletes
membership in an A, B or C team belonging to a national sports association for at least one year, without interruption (certificate from the relevant national sports association)
Other reasons:
other similar special reasons (please provide appropriate supporting documents)