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Information for students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing

People who are deaf or hard-of-hearing can attend university events without any obstacles, but they will encounter initial barriers when spoken language needs to be understood. People who are deaf or hard-of-hearing who cannot be adequately served via technical aids in higher education may not be able to follow lectures, exercises and discussions in seminars and the like. Lip reading is usually not sufficient to be able to follow a coherent longer text, lengthy explanations or contributions to discussion (e.g. if a lecturer explains blackboard pictures with his back to the students or in classrooms or lecture halls that have been darkened). Likewise, it is difficult for people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing to follow important conversations with university instructors and fellow students without misunderstandings. Taking examinations will also be adversely influenced by such restricted communication, which may have a negative impact on the result of the examination.

Technical and acoustic barriers also come up, especially when it comes to remote teaching, and these need to be minimized using different solutions. For these reasons, targeted accommodations and assistance are essential for students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.

Before starting your degree program:

  • a) Application procedure (hardship application)

    In this area, advising includes information on disability-specific accommodations such as

    Applying for preferential consideration of the top choice of university and/or Hardship application for immediate admission to a degree program as well as information on required materials for the application.

  • b) Housing search

    The deaf and hard-of-hearing are supported in their housing search

    • By contacting the Student Union, which prioritizes dormitory assignments to students with disabilities
    • Through mediation/support with telephone calls, which are essential in any housing search.

  • c) Financing issues

    Questions concerning the financing of studies mainly involve applying for German Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG) support and financing additional needs due to disabilities within the framework of integration assistance.
    Benefits within the framework of integration assistance primarily involve the financing of:

    • Sign language interpreters
    • Study assistant note takers
    • Good headset compatible with hearing aids (digital events)
    • Funding for books

      With regard to German Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG) support, the following points should be noted in particular:

    • Consideration of an additional hardship allowance for the income limit
    • Possibility of extending the maximum funding period
    • Response to late work in the event late submission due to disability

  • d) Granting disability accommodations

    During the various stages of study, different accommodations may be required which are facilitated by the Work Area, e.g.:

    • Contacting university instructors
    • Disability-specific set-up of the study environment
    • Modification of examination requirements to compensate for disability
    • Modification of degree program and examination rules
    • Arranging for sign language interpreters
    • Support in applying for note taker assistance, book allowance, etc.

Accommodations to support the studies of students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing at Philipps-Universität Marburg

  • Technical aids

    In order to support communication with the deaf and hard-of-hearing

    • the LA-90 is available for check-out at the SBS. This desktop device picks up sounds via an integrated or external microphone and sends them out via the built-in inductive loop. The segments sent out can be received using a hearing aid set to the “T” or “MT” position.
    • or the Phonak series mobile system. This can transmit speech to the hearing aids without interference, even over long distances (e.g. seminar rooms), thanks to special transmitter and receiver devices.

  • Personal support

    Furthermore, the Service Center for Students with Disabilities (SBS) provides student assistants for the individual support of students with disabilities. The support provided by these student assistants can be arranged flexibly with our department (see address below). In addition, they are available four days a week at set times in the university library.