For best experience please turn on javascript and use a modern browser!
UvA Students UvA Students

Facilities

for students with a disability or dyslexia

If you have a disability or dyslexia, you may qualify for an examination facility. An important condition is that the examination provisions are necessary and that these provisions do not conflict with the learning outcome of the programme.

Start your request in time

In case you need specific arrangements during your education, please notify your programme in good time before the start of your studies. Request a facility at least 6 weeks before you have a test or exam. If you do not request this in time, the faculty or programme may not be able to realise the facility.

  • Requests for special examination arrangements: extra (open office) consultation hours (16 Aug. to 15 Oct. 2021)

    From 16 August to 15 October 2021, there are extra (open office) consultation hours to discuss your desired request for a special examination arrangement with a student counsellor.

    (N.B. If you have dyslexia, you don’t need to make an appointment for the arrangement of extra exam time, as uploading your dyslexia report is sufficient. Go to the web page about dyslexia and check out the video.)

    How does a request work?

    • The student counsellor will ask you such questions as: On what grounds do you want to request a special arrangement? Is the special arrangement necessary for you? What are your difficulties or why are you requesting the special arrangement? Why do you need this special arrangement? Did you also have special arrangements at your secondary school, and how did that work for you?
    • You will always be asked to provide a statement/report to substantiate your request. Once the statement/report has been received, a decision will be made on whether or not to grant you a temporary special arrangement.
    • The student counsellor will then advise the Examinations Board on whether to offer you a special arrangement or not, or on a temporary basis. The final decision is in the hands of the Examinations Board.

     

    The extra (open office) consultation hours take place via Zoom or on location:

    a.) via Zoom (Monday to Friday 9:00-10:00)

    • Once you have logged in (see below), you will enter an online waiting room. The student counsellor will collect you from there.
    • As the time is limited (9:00-10:00, 4 - 5 students per consultation hour), it may not be possible to speak to you during busy periods. If this is the case, please try again on another day. No more students will be admitted after 10:00.
    • Are you trying to log in before 10:00 and get the message that it doesn't work? Then the waiting room is full. Please try again another day.
    • Are you logged in and waiting a while in the waiting area? The student counsellor will let you know before 10:00 whether you will get a consultation or if you should try another day.
    Use this link to log in (Monday to Friday 09:00-10:00)

    b.) via an on-location appointment (Fridays only)

    You can make an on-location appointment (Roeterseiland Campus, Building J/K) on Fridays. Appointments are for a maximum of 15 minutes. If the appointment has to be cancelled due to circumstances (coronavirus), you will receive a telephone call or be invited for a Zoom meeting.

    Make an appointment with the student counsellor via the online appointment system Choose ‘Examination provisions'

    c.) via a regular appointment

    If you have a complex request, please make a regular appointment (via Zoom or on location) with the student counsellor. This will enable you to have a longer appointment.

  • When do you qualify for an arrangement?

    In order to request an arrangement, you will need proof of your disability or dyslexia. The following proof is required:

    • For mobile or sensory disability: in consultation with the student a statement by a General Practitioner or a specialist stating how your disability affects your studies or a print of your medical record
    • For psychiatric disorders, for example, ADD/ADHD, ASD: a diagnostic report by a psychiatrist or a clinical psychologist
    • For dyslexia and dyscalculia: a report of a health care psychologist, a child and youth psychologist or a general remedial educationalist

    Please note: facilities at the UvA may deviate from advice for facilities by experts or other educational institutions.

  • How to apply for an arrangement

    Please make a timely appointment with a student counsellor to start the application for an exam or other arrangement. After the appointment, the student counsellor will advice your study programme, on the the basis of your dyslexia report or other supplied statement, about the type of arrangement(s) you need and the duration of the arrangement period.

    If you have dyslexia, you don’t need to make an appointment for the arrangement of extra exam time, as uploading your dyslexia report is sufficient. Go to the web page about dyslexia and check out the video.

  • Arrangements

    Examples of exam arrangements

    • Extra time during exams
    • Laptop (only with motoric disabilities and after consultation with the study adviser)
    • Other facilities, depending on the disability and necessity (after consultation with the study advisor)

    Examples of financial assistance

    • Compensation in study delay 
    • Compensation in study allowance - in some cases, you can apply for a study allowance in the town or city you live in. (For Amsterdam, you can find information in Dutch on the I Amsterdam website. This study allowance is meant for students with a disability who are not able to work (at all or full-time)).

    Examples of other arrangements

    • Arrangements of the University Library, for example:
      • conversion of books to a pdf file
      • text-to-speech software
      • voice recognition software
      • extra large screens
      • adjustments for rheumatism, RSI
    • (Lecture) rooms within the UvA that are accessible to students with restricted mobility (Please note: this list is not up to date. If you have any questions about this, please contact a student counsellor.)
    Overview of (lecture) rooms (pdf, 5 p.)