The 16th survey about the social and economic conditions of student life in the Federal Republic of Germany carried out by the Deutsches Studentenwerk in which over 20.000 students from 270 universities took part showed that 27% of all students have the feeling that their psychological problems handicap their studies, 13% have expressed the need to consult their problems with a psychologist and 7% make use of the offered professional counselling service.

Begin of studies, exam periods, or the approaching end of studies are so called threshold situations in which students develop psychological problems more often than usually. These problems include: concentration problems, learning disorders, enormous fear of exams, insecurity about the choice of the field of study and future job opportunities, problems with self-esteem, conflicts with parents or partners, addiction, sexual problems.

Students are entitled to 10 confidential counselling sessions free of charge. Together with the psychologist, they can analyze their problems and look for possible ways of solving them.