Study assistance

Contents: Basic information, areas of application, recommendations for action.

Study assistants support students with impairments, chronic or mental illnesses in their day-to-day university life, assisting them doing their studies without barriers. Depending on individual needs, both fellow students and trained professionals may be considered as study assistants. 

How do study assistants support students?

The duties of a study assistant are tailored to the individual needs of the student receiving support and may include, for example:

• Taking notes during lectures, e.g. for students with a motor impairment or dyslexia;
• providing interpreting services for students with hearing impairments;
• support with organising their studies, e.g. for neurodivergent students;
• providing physical assistance with using the library, e.g. for students with motor or sensory impairments;
• accompanying students to courses, e.g. for students with physical or mental health impairments;
• recording literature onto audio tape, e.g. for students with visual impairments or dyslexia;
• support with personal care, e.g. for students with motor impairments;
• reading out exam questions and literature during examinations, e.g. for students with visual impairments.

Students with a study assistant complete all their coursework independently. Study assistants ensure an accessible study environment. They expressly do not undertake any study-related tasks relating to course content or examinations.

Good to know

A study assistant does not actively take part in your classes, but works on behalf of the student. This may also include practical support such as operating equipment or carrying out manual tasks as instructed by the student. Provided that the independent manual operation of the equipment is not relevant to the examination, as specified in the module handbook [Modulhandbuch].

Legal information

Students with disabilities who are eligible under Sozialgesetzbuch Section 99(1) (SGB IX) may apply for an assistant as part of the support for participation in education provided for under Sozialgesetzbuch Section 112 (SGB IX). 

Good to know

Usually students can only apply for funding for a study assistant once they have enrolled. They often have to wait a long time for a decision, or the necessary support is only granted following an appeal or, in some cases, legal action. Until the procedure is concluded, students receive no support and may therefore face significant obstacles to their participation in their studies. 

The study assistant is insured under the terms of their employment contract. If necessary, they will undertake relevant safety training provided by the university. 

​For teaching staff at Bielefeld University: Bielefeld University itself is unable to provide a study assistant.

Recommendations for you as teaching staff

Always communicate directly with the student and not with the study assistant. This is not considered rude to the support staff.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the representative for students with disabilities or chronic illnesses.