Counseling and support
Have you experienced discrimination, harassment, or violence?
You are not alone. There are resources that can help you confidentially. On this page, you’ll find a concise overview of counseling and support services. Don’t hesitate to seek help and support.
In case of emergencies or immediate danger: Dial 110 (police) or 112 (emergency medical services and fire department)!
Find counseling
Equal Opportunity Office The Equal Opportunity Office provides counseling to anyone who has experienced gender-based or sexual discrimination or violence. People who have witnessed such situations or who would like to support others are also welcome to contact the Equal Opportunity Office. For students, staff, faculty, and visitors at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences | Mail: gleichstellung@hs-osnabrueck.de | Phone: +49 0541-969 2955 You can also contact the Team of the Equal Opportunity Office and the Equal Opportunity Officer directly. The Equal Opportunity Office collaborates with the Osnabrück Women's Counseling Center (Frauenberatungsstelle) to provide counseling services. You can reach them by calling 0173 961 9298 or by emailing hilfe-bei-belaestigung@hs-osnabrueck.de. |
Anti-Discrimination Office The Anti-Discrimination Office provides counseling to anyone who has experienced discrimination or has witnessed discrimination at the university. For students, staff, faculty, and visitors at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences | Contact: Katia Yashchuk | Email: ad@hs-osnabrueck.de | Tel.: 0541 969-3055 or 0160 / 2716023 | Online Appointment Scheduling (University Log-in) |
AStA The AStA (General Student Committee) advocates for students’ interests. The “BAföG and Social Affairs” department offers advice on various topics. For students | Further Information |
Studentische Beratung – Studis für Studis Die Studentische Beratung – Studis für Studis ist eine erste Anlaufstelle für Probleme und Herausforderungen rund um das Studium und den Studienalltag für alle Studierenden der Hochschule Osnabrück. Für Studierende | Link zur Webseite: Studentische Beratung Mail-Adresse: studentischeberatung@hs-osnabrueck.de |
Psychosocial Counselling at Osnabrück Student Services (Studierendenwerk) The Osnabrück Student Services offer psychological counseling and social counseling. For students | Further Information |
Personalrat Der Personalrat vertritt die Interessen der Beschäftigten der Hochschule (ohne die Professorenschaft). Für Beschäftigte der Hochschule Osnabrück | Website des Personalrats - Weitere Informationen |
Vertrauensperson für Studierende mit Behinderung und/oder chronischer Erkrankung Für Studierende | Kontakt: Svenja Kuhlmann | E-Mail: s.kuhlmann@hs-osnabrueck.de | Tel.: 0541 969-3000 | Sprechzeiten: Montag bis Donnerstag von 09:00 bis 13:00 Uhr und nach Vereinbarung |
Schwerbehindertenvertretung Für Beschäftigte | Website der Schwerbehindertenvertretung |
Consultation for students and prospective students | Consultation Services at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences |
Here you will find counseling services and resources outside the university, organized by topic.
Gender-based and sexualised violence
- Helpline “Violence against women” (available 24/7, anonymous, multilingual, online counseling available)
- Phone: 116 016
- Further Information: https://www.hilfetelefon.de/en/
- Frauenberatungsstelle Osnabrück
- Phone: 0541 803405
- Frauennotruf: 0541 8601626 (Mo.-Fr. 9-12 Uhr)
- Further Information: https://frauenberatung-os.de/
- Help hotline for violence against men (Mon.–Thu. 8 a.m.–8 p.m., Fri. 8 a.m.–3 p.m., online consultations available)
- Phone: 0800 123 9900
- Further Information: https://maennerhilfetelefon.de/
- ProBeweis - Professional evidence collection for victims of sexual and domestic violence at the partner clinics of the ProBeweis network
Right-wing, racist, and/or anti-Semitic violence
Betroffenenberatung Nordwest-Niedersachsen bei Exil e. V.
Further Information: https://exilverein.de/angebote/beratung-begleitung/Mobile Counseling Lower Saxony
Further Information: https://mbt-niedersachsen.de/en/OFEK e.V. Counseling in cases of anti-Semitic violence (Mon., Tue., Wed., and Fri., 12:00–2:00 p.m.; Thu., 4:00–6:00 p.m.)
Phone: 0800 664 52 68 oder 0176 45 87 55 32
Further Information: https://ofek-beratung.de/
Queer Counseling Services
Queere Beratungsstelle Osnabrück (Appointments by request)
Tel.: +49 175 4249670, Mail: mail@queerberatung-os.de
Further Information (PDF)Trans*Beratung Weser-Ems
Further Information: https://transberatung-weser-ems.de/
Help for victims of crime
Weisser Ring
Phone: 116 006
Further InformationVictim Support in Lower Saxony
Opferhilfebüro Osnabrück & Zweigstelle des Opferhilfebüros in Lingen
Further Information in English
Difficult Life Situations and Crises
- International Helplines: https://www.telefonseelsorge.de/internationale-hilfe/
- Pregnancy Emergency Hotline (24/7, available in 19 languages)
- Phone: 0800 40 40 020
- Further Information: https://www.hilfetelefon-schwangere.de/en/
Digital violence
Hate Aid: https://hateaid.org/en/consultation/
Attacks in science communication
Scicomm Support: Support and advice for scientists, science communicators and research institutions
Phone: 0157 923 448 04
Further Information: https://scicomm-support.de/en/
More (A to Z):
AG Rassismus at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences Initiative for students and staff | AG Rassismus |
| Betroffenenberatung Niedersachsen - Report an incident | Betroffenenberatung Niedersachsen |
Equity of Chances at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences Department of the vice president for equity of chances and sustainability | Equity of Chances at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences |
Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency Information and counseling | Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency |
| Getting home safely and staying safe while out at night | Women's NightTaxi in Osnabrück Osnabrück against violence: Staying safe in nightlife (information collection) |
| I Report - Reporting portal for anti-Muslim attacks and discrimination | I Report |
| RIAS - Reporting portal for antisemitism | RIAS |
| MaWi - Network against Abuse of Power in Science | https://www.netzwerk-mawi.de/en/ |
| MIQ - Reporting and Information Project on Anti-Queer Hostility in Lower Saxony | https://miq-nds.de/en |
| Osnabrück: Equal Opportunity and Participation | Informations of the City of Osnabrück |
Safe on Campus: "Safe Points"
![[Translate to English:] Logo Safe Point](/fileadmin/HSOS/Homepages/Gleichstellungsbuero/Logos/safe_points_Vertical_colors.svg)
A safe place when a situation becomes threatening or unsafe: At the start of the winter semester 2026/27, new Safe Points were set up.
This joint cooperation project between the University and University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück creates places to turn to in cases of acute harassment or threatening situations on campus. The Safe Points offer quick and easily accessible help: Staff at the Safe Points provide those seeking help with a place of refuge and enable them to safely remove themselves from the situation. In addition, people who visit the Safe Points receive information about counseling services.
You can find all Safe Point locations on the project’s website. There you’ll also find an overview of counseling services, as well as the option to report discrimination, harassment, and violence—either anonymously or by requesting that someone contact you.