Information for parents

Experience shows that it can be helpful to consider possible support needs before starting your studies.

Possible topics:

• Is the impairment/disability/illness relevant to your studies?
  • Update medical or therapeutic records if necessary.
• What organisational issues could become important?
• How much lead time is reasonable?
• Take advantage of counselling options, e.g.:
  • Advisory Service for Inclusive Studying
  • General Student Counselling at Bremen University of Applied Sciences

Not everything has to be clarified in advance – many things only develop during the course of your studies.
 

The Advisory Service for Inclusive Studying supports students with, among other things:

• Questions about organising their studies
• Information on compensation for disadvantages
• Individual solutions for everyday student life
• Orientation within the university

Psychological Counselling Centre

Studying can be an interesting time with many new experiences. And there can be stresses during this phase that you may not always feel able to cope with on your own. The Psychological Counselling Centre helps with study-related and personal problems.

Use of the services is voluntary and needs-based.
 

• University studies mean more personal responsibility and fewer fixed structures.
• Dealing with time management, pressure to perform and self-organisation can be challenging in different ways.
• Issues such as housing, mobility and medical care can also play a role.
• Developments often take place gradually and are not always linear.

Finding suitable accommodation can have a significant impact on everyday student life, for example whether a hall of residence, a flat of one's own or commuting is best suited to the individual situation. It can also be useful to consider medical and therapeutic care at the place of study at an early stage. The transition from the relatively clear structures of school to greater personal responsibility at university is not always easy. However, there are many support services available at the university to help students cope with this challenge. Encourage your adult child to make use of these services and trust in their independence.

Who is the Inclusive Studying Advice Centre aimed at?
It is aimed at students at Bremen University of Applied Sciences with a disability/impairment or chronic illness, as well as prospective students.

Can parents receive counselling?
The counselling is primarily aimed at students. However, parents can receive general information for orientation purposes.

Does the need for support have to be determined before the start of studies?
No. Support needs may only become apparent during the course of study.

Do teachers have to be informed?
That is up to the students themselves to decide. There is no obligation to disclose.

What happens if the course of study is delayed or changed?
Courses of study are individual and do not always run smoothly. Delays, interruptions or adjustments can be part of a course of study and do not necessarily mean that a study goal is fundamentally at risk.

Is compensation for disadvantages linked to specific diagnoses?
Compensation for disadvantages is not based solely on a diagnosis, but on the specific effects of an impairment on the course of study. The focus is on the individual situation of the student.

What role can parents play during the course of study?
Parents can provide support by listening, offering guidance and, if necessary, pointing out existing counselling services, while the responsibility for decisions increasingly lies with the students themselves.