Hardship Application Guide
If circumstances like burnout, a chronic health condition, or unexpected personal challenges are making it harder to keep up with your studies, you might be worried about falling behind on your credit requirements. You’re not alone, and there’s a structured way to get support.
The most important thing to know: contact academic advising early. Don’t wait until the deadline of your exams.
What Is a Hardship Application?
A hardship application allows you to request either a suspension or prolongation of your study progress monitoring requirements when circumstances beyond your control are affecting your studies.
What This Means in Practice
- Suspension: Your credit requirements are paused for one semester, but your semester count continues. Next semester, you’re back to normal requirements.
- Prolongation: Your credit monitoring is deferred by one semester under examination law, giving you more flexibility overall.
- Suspension with Optional Prolongation: A combination approach where you complete specific modules in a personal study plan, and can then apply for prolongation.
For Bachelor students specifically: You may also apply for prolongation to retake fundamental exams (Grundlagenprüfungen) after the third semester.
What Qualifies as Valid Hardship?
According to TUM policy, a hardship application is approved only if your study delay is caused by reasons beyond your control that were unforeseeable. Valid reasons include:
- Serious, prolonged illness
- Accidents
- Caring for unexpectedly ill close relatives
- Other serious, unexpected family emergencies
Important note: A single exam day missed due to acute illness alone doesn’t justify prolongation (that’s what retake exams are for). However, chronic conditions, ongoing mental health struggles, and recurring disabilities absolutely count.
How to Apply: Step by Step
1. Gather Your Documents
You’ll need:
- Examination report from TUMonline
- Enrollment record from TUMonline (download under “Documents”)
- Medical certificate (if applicable), NOT a certificate of incapacity (“Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung”)
- Individual study course plan (use TUM’s template, see below)
- Application form (choose the correct one for your degree level)
2. Medical Certificates: What You Need
If you’re applying based on health reasons, your medical certificate must include:
- Date of issue, doctor’s contact details, and signature
- When the illness/condition started
- How it affects your ability to study
- Prognosis: How much you can realistically work next semester (in ECTS or hours per week)
You can obtain this from your doctor, psychologist, or a counseling center. Keep certificates throughout your studies in case you need them again.
3. Submit Your Application
Email your completed documents to the academic advising (see below) from your TUM email address for data security.
4. Attend Consultation
Come to one of the open consultation hours with your documents (either in person or online). The advising team will discuss your situation, write a brief statement, and forward your application to the examination board.
The examination board makes the final decision.
Why Apply Early?
- More time for effective measures to be put in place
- Less stress about deadlines and paperwork
- Better planning for your next semester
- Prevents automatic failure notifications
If you’re struggling now, contact advising now, don’t wait for grades to be published or until the last week before the deadline.
A Note for Students with Autism, ADHD, and Other Neurodivergence
If you have a diagnosed autism spectrum condition, ADHD, or other neurodevelopmental condition affecting your studies, this counts as valid grounds for hardship. You don’t need to frame it as “illness” or “temporary”, chronic, ongoing conditions are recognized.
The advising team is there to listen. They’ve helped many students navigate this. If you’re struggling with exams, coursework, or study scheduling due to your neurodivergence, please reach out.
Hardship ≠ Compensation for Disadvantages
Important: A hardship application is not the same as applying for compensation for disadvantages (Nachteilsausgleich), which can include exam accommodations, extended time, separate rooms, etc.
If you need exam accommodations, check out TUM’s separate resources for students with disabilities or special needs.
Need More Details?
Complete official information: TUM Hardship Application Guide
Download forms and templates from the link above.
List of contact person at your school: Advice and Information
Guide for Accessibility Accomodation: Study Organisation and Exams
The Bottom Line
If you’re struggling,whether due to autism, mental health challenges, chronic illness, burnout, or personal circumstances, hardship applications exist to support you.
What matters most:
- Contact academic advising early (not in the last week)
- Be honest about how you’re struggling
- Gather your documentation (especially medical certificates)
You deserve support. Use these resources.
If you have questions specific to your situation, reach out to academic advising. They’re there to help.