Contact
International Office
Helmholtzstraße 22
89081 Ulm
For questions regarding your programme, contact your Course Advisor.
Navigating Hard Times During Your Studies / Support for Students in Crisis Situations
Global events, political unrest in your home country, natural disasters, or sudden personal emergencies can deeply impact your well-being and your ability to study. The University of Ulm stands in solidarity with students facing these extreme challenges.
On this page, you’ll find general information on study and examination regulations, along with guidance and support services covering financial matters, mental health, and residence law to assist students during challenging times.
Updates regarding specific crisis regions are added as situations evolve.
Current Notices
Following here are dedicated support services and resources specifically for students and researchers from Ukraine. These offers aim to provide guidance, financial assistance, and opportunities for integration during your time in Germany.
The City of Ulm provides practical local information for people from Ukraine in Ulm, including guidance on arrival and registration, social benefits, and further support services.
Information on situation Stadt Ulm
The DAAD offers advice and guidance on academic opportunities, mobility programs, and funding.
ILEU's Ukraine Aid provides humanitarian assistance through methodically reflected promotion of communication, encounter and integration.
Students from Ukraine can enrol for short-term research stays, provided that the requirements are met. Interested? Then send us an eMail!
Students who currently have very limited financial resources due to developments in Iran may submit a hardship application (Härtefallantrag).
If your academic progress is affected by a difficult situation, there are ways to adjust deadlines, exam requirements, or your study plan. The university offers several support options to help you continue your studies under challenging circumstances.
Leave of Absence (Beurlaubung)
You can apply for a leave of absence for an important reason (e.g. severe personal or family crisis). During a leave of absence you retain your student status but are not required to sit exams.
Applications must be submitted to the Studiensekretariat (Student Administration) before the semester deadline.
Exam & Thesis Extensions (Fristverlängerung / Nachteilausgleich)
If you cannot meet deadlines due to acute psychological distress or external circumstances, contact your Prüfungsausschuss (Examination Board) or Studienfachberatung as soon as possible.
Deadline extensions and hardship regulations (Nachteilsausgleich) exist precisely for situations like these.
Central Student Advisory Service - Uni Ulm
The Central Student Advisory Service offers support for all those seeking advice on site, by telephone, video conference (Zoom) or email. Our services are aimed at pupils, students and other people seeking advice, who can contact us at any time.
Academic Advisory Service - Uni Ulm
The academic advising service assists with subject-specific questions related to the field of study (structure and content) and is responsible for inquiries with a primarily discipline-related focus. It provides advice on the feasibility of the study program, the selection of elective modules, or the specific features of the degree program (internships, mobility modules abroad, etc.).
Please arrange an individual consultation appointment via email or telephone.
If you are experiencing emotional distress or are affected by a personal or global crisis, support is available. These situations can impact both your wellbeing and your studies, so it is important to seek help early.
Psychosocial Counseling Center (PBS) - Studierendenwerk Ulm
The PBS offers psychological counseling for students in difficult life situations.
Consultations are confidential and available in German and English. No referral needed.
If you are facing financial problems during your studies, there are the following support options available.
Tuition Fee Exemption (Härtefallantrag)
International students paying the €1,500 Baden-Württemberg tuition fee can apply for an exemption in cases of sudden, severe financial hardship (Erlass wegen besonderer Härte).
This is processed by Dezernat I (Central Administration).
Important
If your student status changes in any way, you are responsible for informing the local authorities. Please note that changing your study programme and/or study plans (for example, taking a leave of absence from the university) can have an adverse effect on your residence permit. Moreover, your residence permit for studying loses its validity as soon as you exmatriculate from the university.
Visa & Residence Permit Information
Full guidance on residence permit requirements for students, including what to do when circumstances change unexpectedly. The IO can provide supporting documentation.
Ausländerbehörde - City of Ulm
Registrations office / foreigners registration office - Universität Ulm
Living in Ulm
If you have trouble finding all the necessary information and documentation when arriving in Ulm, the Integreat App can help you get oriented. It provides clear, multilingual guidance on topics such as housing, administrative procedures, healthcare, and everyday life, making it easier to settle into your new environment.
Further Information
Menschlichkeit Ulm e.V. is a registered non-profit, charitable, and non-partisan association based in Ulm. The organization brings together motivated and proactive individuals from diverse backgrounds who are committed to putting humanity into practice in tangible ways.
Menschlichkeit Ulm e.V. provides various forms of support to refugees from Ukraine.
The regularily offered Welcome Café creates an environment for intercultural encounters and conversations with students, refugees and interested people from all over the world.
engagiert in ulm supports and further develops the diversity of civic engagement in Ulm. If you want to get involved in Ulm, whether as a private individual, a company or a group, you will find a place for your concerns, questions and suggestions at engagiert in ulm. engagiert in ulm also supports organisations and associations in their search for volunteers and advises on setting up new fields of activity.
The Flüchtlingsrat Ulm/Alb-Donau-Kreis brings together volunteers and supports refugees in Ulm and the Alb-Donau district in a variety of ways.
The StuVe works on a wide range of topics related to the university and studying. It organises itself in various committees (the student parliament and the student council), as well as the student executive as the executive body and representation of the student body. It is supported by several departments, such as the BAföG department or the bicycle repair shop.
Experienced adults - Senior Consultants - support international students during their stay in Germany at Ulm University.
Help with filling out forms
There are various contact points in Ulm for people, who need help filling out documents. Together with a team of volunteers, support is offered here:
Diakonie / Grüner Hof 5
Appointments: Tel. 0731 / 1538-500
Caritas Ulm / Olgastr.137
Appointments: Tel. 0731 / 2063-0
Biber -Treff / Biberacher Straße 35, Wiblingen
Without appointment: Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 am - 2 pm
Contact: Tel. 0176 / 407 269 75
Through early contact with companies, students gain insights into application-oriented problems and gain experience in the labour market.