Studying with a disability

Here you can read more about the most common forms of study support available for students with disabilities. If you need other forms of support, such as a home aids or personal assistance, it is the municipality and/or county that you should contact.

Examples of study support measures

• Adapted/alternative examination. A customized/alternative examination may be, for example, to get longer time during the exam, the opportunity to write the answers on a computer or to take an exam individually. The examiner decides on  support for examinations, based on the coordinator's recommendations. 

• Note-taking support. You can get help from a classmate who notes for you at lectures/seminars/other educational elements and then email the notes to you (without them being edited). The person providing the note-taking help is appointed by you and receives a salary from the Office of Student Affairs. Note-taking support does not replace your presence during lectures.

• Mentor. Mentor support is given to students with neuropsychiatric and mental impairments. The mentors provide support in planning, structuring and organizing the studies. The mentors are recruited by our mentor coordinator and receive a salary from the Office of Student Affairs.

• Interpreter. If you need sign language or writing interpreters during your studies, you can get this. However, this is a long process, so please contact a coordinator as soon as possible, preferably already when you apply at Linnaeus University.

If you have a disability, you can receive support during your studies at the university. These may include reading and writing difficulties/dyslexia, mental illness, neuropsychiatric disabilities, hearing loss, visual impairment, movement impairment or chronic diseases. You should be able to prove your disability with certificates from, for example, a doctor, psychologist or speech therapist. 

Disability is according to the Discrimination Act (SFS 2008:567):

'permanent physical, mental or endowmental limitations on a person's ability to function which, as a result of an injury or illness, existed from birth, have arisen thereafter or are likely to arise.'

What support you need depends on what limitations you experience and how you handle the different study situations. The pedagogical support is planned and designed in consultation with you as a student.

If you have a temporary injury or illness, you are not covered by this support because it is not permanent. If you need temporary support, you should instead contact the course coordinator or study counsellor at your department.