Special applications
When applying for degree programs with restricted admission, special applications can be made for cases of hardship or where compensation for disadvantages may apply (such as grade attainment and waiting periods).
Applications for cases of hardship
A hardship application helps you assert your right to particular treatment when applying for a place with restricted admission. This may relate to circumstances that require your immediate admission or a change to your existing study location. Failed admission to your desired degree program qualifies as an extraordinary hardship.
When does this extraordinary hardship apply?
A case of hardship means that health, social, or family reasons make it necessary to start studying immediately, for example:
- Illnesses that are likely to worsen, which require an immediate start to your studies
- Lack of opportunities to bridge the waiting period meaningfully, due to disability or chronic illness
- Limited job prospects due to disability or chronic illness
- Particular family or social circumstances that require immediate admission (description and evidence of situation through e.g. registration certificates, marriage certificate, care and employment contracts, etc.).
Application and specialist medical certificate
The hardship application can be made over the course of the normal application procedure. This requires - in addition to a concise letter of explanation - a medical certificate by a specialist, which must meet certain formal and substantive requirements. The medical certificate should:
- State the origin, severity, and treatment options for your illness, as well as its predicted course.
- Be comprehensible for medical laymen.
Presenting a copy of your disability ID card, as well as a medical certificate of assessment, will certainly help.
In the international admission procedure, only those with EU citizenship or with a German Abitur (higher education entrance qualification) may apply for hardship.
Hardship quota
Strict standards are applied when recognizing cases of hardship. Only two percent of places are allocated via an ex ante quota without taking other selection criteria into account, such as your Abitur grades or waiting period. The recognition of a hardship case existing does not guarantee that you will be assigned a place—as the quota may already be filled.
There is no hardship provision under the separate quota for non-EU/non-EEA nationals.
Applying for compensation for disadvantages
You may also be eligible for compensation for disadvantages for time spent in vocational training, which qualifies you for university entrance. This can be reflected through an adjustment to the average grade or waiting period.
You cannot assert a hardship claim for degree programs with pre-registration, academic orientation, or aptitude testing processes, as these don't have restricted admissions. It is however possible to aplly to receive compensation for disadvantages when you take an aptitude test.
Under certain circumstances, you can also claim compensation for the disadvantages concerning examinations.
Further information
- If you have any further questions regarding special applications (hardship cases, compensation for disadvantages, such as improving your average grade or waiting period), please refer to the document "Supplementary Information on Applications" from the Stiftung für Hochschulzulassung (Foundation for University Admissions). LMU Munich also applies the criteria set by the Foundation to evaluate applications for hardship cases and compensation for disadvantages concerning degree programs that are admission restricted.
- If you have any further questions regarding your application, hardship case, admission, or general advice on studying, please contact the Study Information Service (SIS) or—if you have specific questions regarding disabilities—Advisory Services, Central Student Advisory Office.