On this page, you will find all the key information on gender equality that is relevant to students – such as details of our seminars, the Women’s Forum on Moodle, balancing study and family life, and our mentoring programme.
Please feel free to get in touch!
Among other things, we advise you on
To ensure that students with disabilities or chronic illnesses are not disadvantaged during their studies, Ulm University of Applied Sciences has appointed a representative for students with disabilities. One of their tasks is to assert claims for compensation for disability-related disadvantages. The person who holds this office is elected by the Senate for a four-year term.
Prof. Dr. Felix Capanni is currently the representative for students with disabilities. He can be contacted at Felix.Capanni(at)thu.de or 0731 96537-371. Felix Capanni is Vice Dean of Faculty T.
Ulm University of Applied Sciences has been awarded the title of "family-conscious company". The following offers are currently available for families:
There are family rooms at both THU campuses. These are spaces where students with children can go if, for example, they haven’t been able to find childcare for the day. All rooms are equipped with desks and child-friendly amenities. There is also a computer available at the Prittwitzstraße location.
You can find the family rooms
You can borrow keys for these rooms at the respective libraries during their opening hours. The terms of use for the “Library of Things” apply. The rules for using the family rooms (internal document) are available on the intranet.
We also have keys that we can lend out on a long-term basis if needed. Please feel free to contact gleichstellungsteam(at)thu.de for more information.
The legal provisions of the Maternity Protection Act also apply to female students. To take advantage of these provisions, you must officially notify Ulm University of Applied Sciences of your pregnancy. You can find more information on the intranet under “Maternity Protection and Parental Leave” (internal document).
Students who are parents may, upon request, study part-time; this means that the deadlines specified in the Study and Examination Regulations may be extended as needed (SPO Part A, Sections 5, 7 et seq.). This also applies, of course, to students with responsibilities related to caring for family members and to those with limitations due to a disability. Our goal is to provide students with family responsibilities with the greatest possible flexibility. A reasonable study plan should be developed in consultation with the respective dean of studies and approved by the examination board. The required practical components of the program can also be completed on a part-time basis in consultation with the relevant internship office.
Students may withdraw from exams due to a child’s illness. The same applies to individuals with caregiving responsibilities and to people with disabilities.
Information for student parents on parental leave is provided in the following guide ( the document is available only via the THU intranet).
The Equal Opportunities Office will be happy to advise you on part-time study, parental leave and the compatibility of studying and family life. Just get in touch with us - here are the contact details.
The University of Ulm is once again offering a summer program this year for school-age children, for which THU employees and students can register their children for the Pentecost and summer breaks. You can find all the details on this page of the University of Ulm’s website. For children of THU students, a portion of the costs will be covered; the number of spots is limited. If you’re interested, please contact the Equality Team.
If you're a student at THU and have had a baby or become a parent, you can receive what we call a "baby package" from us. To get one, simply contact the Equality Team.
The Studierendenwerk Ulm offers a range of counseling services and courses that are open to all students at Ulm University of Applied Sciences. The Psychosocial Counseling Center for Students (PBS) provides individual counseling for learning difficulties and exam anxiety, as well as for personal problems and difficulties in studies and everyday life. Counseling is free of charge and the contents are subject to confidentiality.
The Advice Center for Pregnancy and Family Planning offers support in finding a place in a daycare center, finding accommodation, dealing with the authorities and also social and economic assistance in connection with pregnancy.
To help balance work and family life, we would like to support all university members with practical tips and a guide that directs you to the relevant support services and the institutions responsible for them.
If you have any questions regarding caregiving, care navigator Eva Zuchold is also available to assist you.
Women's Network@THU
The Women's Network@THU is a network for female students at THU that was founded by the Equal Opportunity Officer. Through this network, female students receive information about equal opportunity events as well as other exciting (usually free) events in the area, and they can also network with one another.
If you’d like to join, you can sign up for the Moodle course with the same name. The enrollment key is: Studentin.
Events for Female Students
The Gender Equality Team regularly offers the following events:
You can find all the information about our offerings in the Women’s Network on Moodle.
The Student Council at Ulm University of Technology, with the support of the Office of Equal Opportunity, has ensured that free menstrual products are available in the restrooms at both campuses. Ulm University of Technology has been providing pads and tampons free of charge ever since. All students, staff, and faculty can help themselves discreetly to promote equal access.
No supplies available? Please let us know if the dispensers are empty: gleichstellungsteam(at)thu.de
Student Mentoring Program for Female First-Year Students at THU
Inthis program, female students who have been at the university for some time support female first-year students as they get started at THU.
If you’re interested, contact the Equal Opportunity Team, and we’ll match you with a mentor. The mentor and first-year student meet for an introductory coffee and then decide for themselves how they’d like to stay in touch.
If you’d like to become a mentor or are a first-year student looking for a mentor, simply send an email to gleichstellungsteam(at)thu.de.
proTHU - Network of alumni and supporters of Ulm University of Applied Sciences
The proTHU network consists of alumni and people who want to support Ulm University of Applied Sciences. It also offers a mentoring program.
HAWKarriere mentoring programThe HAWKarriere mentoring program of the Universities of Applied Sciences (HAW) is a cross-university mentoring program for young academics and newly appointed professors (mentees).
BayernMentoringFemale students at THU have the opportunity to take part in the Bayern Mentoring program at Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences. The mentors there are women who work in industry. There is also an accompanying program of training, workshops and lectures. If you would like to take part, please send an e-mail to gleichstellungsteam(at)thu.de.
Ulm University of Applied Sciences does not tolerate sexual harassment or violence in any form. To this end, the university has adopted a policy (internal document) on this matter, which is available on the intranet.
Anyone who has experienced sexual discrimination, harassment, or even violence at our university, or who wishes to report related issues or risks, may contact the following representatives:
Every conversation is treated as strictly confidential, and further steps are taken only at the request of the person concerned. You can find additional counseling centers and contact persons (regional and nationwide) under the “Counseling Services” tab.
The THU is also developing a safety plan to address this issue. A safety plan, for example, defines measures designed to better protect people from sexual harassment, establishes prevention programs, and outlines procedures.
You can update your records at THU via SELMA. To do so, you’ll need documentation from the registry office (e.g., your new birth certificate).
Here’s how to proceed:
After a name or gender change, you can also have previously issued certificates reissued. Fees apply for this, as these are officially considered duplicate copies.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to contact the Equality Office team: gleichstellungsteam(at)thu.de. We’re happy to help!
"How do I actually gender correctly?" We are asked this question from time to time. The THU recommends using either gender-neutral forms or the gender asterisk. You can find examples of use and more information on this in the Manual for gender-neutral language.
Why is gender-inclusive language important?
Language has the potential to discriminate and exclude. At the same time, however, it also offers the opportunity to create visibility and change reality in the long term.
Example: People should choose a course of study based on their interests. However, if we only ever talk about engineers or technicians, it seems as if only men can pursue these professions. Of course, this is not the case - but for female students, for example, this can subconsciously have a major influence on whether they can imagine themselves in such professions or exclude them from the outset.
How do I gender correctly?
THU recommends:
the gender asterisk as a placeholder to make all other genders visible in addition to female and male.
You can find an overview of gender-neutral alternatives in the dictionary "Clever gendering".
Important for your academic work: Please ensure that you use consistent forms throughout the document.