New Regulation: Illness During Exams (Important BAföG Information)
Starting in the summer semester 2025, TU Berlin will no longer accept standard sick notes (“Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung” or AU) to excuse absence from exams due to illness. Instead, a detailed medical certificate is required, describing specific symptoms and how they impact your ability to take the exam.
As the BAföG and Social Advisory Service, we strongly criticize this new regulation. It makes it harder to provide proof of illness and puts students in stressful situations at a disadvantage. We call on TU Berlin to ensure fair and supportive conditions for students who fall ill during exam periods.
More and more often, we hear that students are being advised to “avoid the hassle” and simply deregister from exams in advance—without obtaining a medical certificate. Warning: This can have serious consequences for your BAföG support! Without an official medical certificate, it may not be possible to provide valid proof to the BAföG office later. In the worst case, this could result in the loss of your financial support – and ultimately, the end of your studies.
Why the medical certificate is important:
BAföG regulations recognize certain valid reasons (see overview [here] and [here]), such as illness. These can be used to:
- Postpone the academic performance record (Leistungsnachweis) after the 4th semester in a Bachelor’s program, and
- Extend BAföG support beyond the standard period of study.
A properly submitted medical certificate to TU Berlin is the best way to later prove exam-related illness to the BAföG office.
Our advice:
If you’re sick, always get a detailed medical certificate and submit it on time to the university. Do not simply deregister from the exam without a certificate!
Even if you don’t need the certificate for BAföG purposes right now—you might in a few semesters. So make sure to keep all relevant documentation from the start. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to visit our BAföG and Social Advising early on!