Accessibility, Studying and Working with a Disability / Chronic Illness

On this page you will find information on the following topics:

• Low-barrier Infrastructure: St. Pölten Campus
• Studying with a Disability / Chronic Illness
• Working with a Disability / Chronic Illness
• Helpful Contacts & Events

Low-barrier Infrastructure: St. Pölten Campus

The entire Campus of the University of Applied Sciences is barrier-free; there are three lifts to access all floors. The doors of the main entrance and the Northern entrance may be opened automatically by pushing a button.

• Barrier-free toilets: Each building has a barrier-free toilet on every floor. Download Navigation Guide (PDF).
• Tactile guidance system: A tactile guidance system facilitates orientation from the main entrance to the CSC and the lift on the ground floor.
• Barrier-free studying: The library has technologies for barrier-free studying installed (e.g. OCR scanner).
• Place of retreat: If needed, the Parent-Child Room in building A can be used as a place of retreat. To have access to this room activated on your Campus Card, please contact the CSC either in person or via email. Here you can find the current opening hours of the CSC.
• Free Accessible Parking: The St. Pölten UAS’ parking area has eight accessible parking spots right next to the parking entrance which are free of charge for students with disabilities. You can register to receive access at the CSC. There is a public parking area for people with disabilities near the main entrance to building A at Campus-Platz.

Do you notice any structural, digital, or other barriers?

Feel free to contact the Accessibility Officers, Anna Steinberger and Kerstin Blumenstein, or share your feedback anonymously through our accessibility survey at FH St. Pölten.

	Anna Steinberger , BSc, BSc, MA Contact: asteinberger@fhstp.ac.at
	FH-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Kerstin Blumenstein , BSc Contact: kerstin.blumenstein@fhstp.ac.at

Assistance Dogs on Campus

You are welcome to bring your assistance dog to campus. We also consider potential phobias of other persons and, if necessary, come up with a solution that suits everyone.

Note for all dog lovers: If you see an assistance dog, please keep your distance, do not speak to or call the dog, and under no circumstances touch it. The animal is working and may be essential for the person's well-being.

Studying with a Disability / Chronic Illness

Adaptation to Individual Needs

To allow for accessible studying for students with special needs, lecturers and staff members of the UAS are informed and involved and necessary modifications are made, e.g. measures to counterbalance disadvantages during admission procedures and exams. Please make sure to contact us in good time to allow us to take your needs into account.

Waiver/Reimbursement of Fees

Under certain circumstances, students may file an application for a tuition fee waiver / the return of tuition fees and participation fees. These circumstances include a certified degree of disability of at least 50 percent (in the case of a degree programme) or prolonged (severe) illness that prevents the student from continuing their studies.

Procedure: Please submit the relevant documents as well as the duly completed form to csc@fhstp.ac.at no later than by 31/03 (for the summer semester) or 31/10 (for the winter semester), so we can consider your application.

• Download PDF "Application for a tuition fee waiver / the return of tuition fees and participation fees"

For deaf and hearing-impaired persons

• Students with hearing impairments can make use of interpreting services in Austrian Sign Language (ÖGS). We help with the organisation and financing where possible.
• In Lecture Hall 2 (Building A), we have an audio induction loop that can be used by persons with hearing impairments. The lecturer’s audio is transferred directly to the hearing aids of the listeners.
• A mobile microphone set for hearing-impaired persons can be borrowed from the Campus and Study Center.
• For deaf prospective students there is the possibility of a counselling interview with ÖGS interpreter.
• Students can choose ÖGS (beginners and advanced) as an optional subject.
• Further measures will follow, for example the translation of videos into ÖGS.

Working with a Disability / Chronic Illness

• The St. Pölten UAS aims to make working at the UAS as accessible as possible.
• We offer support in organizing professional assistance, technical adaptations, raising awareness among team members on request, and much more.
• Special leave for employees with a disability: Employees of the St. Pölten UAS with an officially recognised degree of disability of at least 50 percent are entitled to 2 days of special leave per year of service according to the employment regulations.
• Contact for questions about barrier-free recruiting: Mag. Walter Hackl, MA

Helpful Contacts & Events

Contacts

• For important information on studying with disabilities and in case of further questions, consult the Department for Inclusive Education of the Austrian Students' Union (ÖH).
• Psychological Counselling for Students
• Further external points of contact:
  
  • Club 81 – Club für behinderte und nichtbehinderte Menschen, ÖZIV NÖ
  • Blinden und Sehbehindertenverband Österreichs
  • Gehörlosenverband NÖ
  • Erster Österreichischer Dachverband Legasthenie
  • Dachverband Österreichische Autistenhilfe
  • Dachverband Selbsthilfe NÖ

Aktionswoche Inklusion

Experience and shape a St. Pölten campus that is as inclusive as possible? To this end, we organise the annual Aktionswoche Inklusion (Inclusion Action Week) in May. Various topics and dimensions of inclusion, disabilities, working and studying are highlighted in a wide range of workshops and lectures.

The video of the Aktionswoche 2023 is without sound. As a hearing person, you can empathise a little with deaf people.

Read the programme of past Aktionswoche Inklusion (in German).

Would you like to receive information about the Aktionswoche Inklusion in the future? Write a message to gender_diversity@fhstp.ac.at and receive an invitation to the Aktionswoche Inklusion 2025.