Studying with a disability

Stockholm University provides various forms of special pedagogical support to students with long-term disabilities. The support is based on your individual needs and aims to facilitate your studies. The goal is to give all students the opportunity to study under equal conditions. The support measures should be reasonable with regard to the disability, the course requirements, and the intended learning outcomes.

Before you make an application, we advise you to read the information on the following two links:

Before you arrive at Stockholm University

What is a disability?

To make an application, please contact us at disability@su.se as soon as you have been accepted to Stockholm University.

If you have been accepted to Stockholm University and have a Stockholm University students account you can apply for special pedagogical support by making a digital application online, via the system Nais. 

Log into Nais via the link below and fill in the web form. To complete the application, you must attach a document verifying that you have a long-term disability. All documentation is kept confidential. 

Link to the application system in NAIS

Nais is a system where students with long-term disabilities are able to apply for special pedagogical support at Swedish higher education institutions.

Nais is a national system, used by most higher education institutions in Sweden. Please note that your information is only accessible to the coordinators for special pedagogical support, at the higher education institution to which you applied. 

In case of any questions, you are welcome to send us an e-mail: disability@su.se.

Once the application has been received, a coordinator will contact you to arrange a personal meeting. After speaking to the coordinator, you will receive a certificate describing your types of support. You should then contact a study counsellor at your department and show your certificate. Read more in the following PDF document:

Contact person at the department (371 Kb)

If you have applied for and been granted special pedagogical support during your studies at Stockholm University, it is important that you understand what is required of you, so that your studies go as smoothly as possible. 

The idea behind special pedagogical support is that students with disabilities should be able to pursue their studies on the same conditions as other students.

To a certain extent, the support should compensate for the difficulties the disability presents. However, you are always responsible for your own learning.

You should be able to acquire the required knowledge and skills and to present this. Your knowledge of the subject is assessed based on the same requirements as for all students.

The course goals must be achieved in order for you to pass your examination.

The coordinator for special pedagogical support can provide recommendations, such as alternative forms of assessment, but it is always the teacher responsible for the course, or the examiner, who decides which form of assessment is to be used.

In other words, you should learn and present the same knowledge as all students, but the way you do it can differ. Here is an example: one student reads a course book and takes an exam in a large classroom with other students, whereas another student listens to the book, takes the exam in a separate room and is granted additional time.

The contact person at your department is usually the study counsellor. Please contact the study counsellor as soon as possible, preferably before the course begins, to discuss your individual pedagogical support.

The following is required of you:

• Please contact the coordinator for special pedagogical support as soon as you have been accepted to Stockholm University in order to discuss your individual needs and apply for special pedagogical support.
• Well in advance of the examination – a minimum of 3 weeks – please inform the study counsellor/examiner if you need an alternative/accommodated form of examination.

Read about some of the types of special pedagogical support we provide at Stockholm University.

Note-taking support

If you are unable to take notes on your own during lectures and similar, you may receive lecture notes from a fellow student. Ask the study counsellor if there is a note-taker on the course. Otherwise, you can ask a fellow student yourself. The note-taker will be compensated for his/her work. Note-taking support is not a replacement for attendance. Thus, you will only receive notes from lectures/classes which you attended in person.
If you have participated in the teaching sessions on a course and re-register to the same course in order to complete an examination, you do not normally receive note-taking support again.

Examination

Some students have the need to write examinations separately, in which case they may be able to sit alone or with a small group of fellow students. Such separate examinations are often taken in one of the resource rooms at Student Services. If needed, you may be offered an adapted examination upon consulting with the examiner, who decides on such matters. Extended examination time, examinations using digital aids, or alternative forms of examination are examples of adaptations that may be provided.

Individual aids

Individual aids such as wheelchairs, walkers, hearing aids, and voice recorders are acquired by the students themselves or via the county council.

Course literature in the form of audiobooks, e-textbooks, or Braille books

If you need your course literature in the form of an audiobook, e-textbook or Braille books contact the University Library. The library can help you apply for a download account at the Swedish Agency for Accessible Media (MTM). Once you have your login details, you can download and use audiobooks in the way that suits you best: on a computer, mobile phone, or tablet.

For more information, and to see the opening hours for audiobook registration, visit:

Information regarding audiobooks at SU

If you have any questions or need to book a meeting, email: lasstod.sub@su.se.

Mentor

If you have a diagnosed and documented executive function deficit and need help planning your studies, you may be provided with a mentor, who will act as a coach. The mentor can, for a period of time, provide an introduction to good study habits and demonstrate tools that can facilitate the planning and organisation of studies.

Educational interpreter

If you need a sign-language interpreter, you must contact Educational interpreting unit already when you apply for a course, programme, or exchange studies.

Studying with an interpreter

Interpretation between students

Text-to-speech

As a student at Stockholm University, you can download and install the text-to-speech software ClaroRead Plus. The software reads aloud digital text, such as websites, articles, e-mails, and your own written text. Install the program for free via the University website. The program must be reinstalled after a year.

Read more about how to install the text-to-speech software

Thesis supervision

Sometimes, it is possible to receive additional thesis supervision by a teacher. This is decided locally at the relevant department.

At Stockholm University, we aim to make our facilities and environment fully accessible.

Adaptations of facilities

If the facilities need to be adapted, or if you encounter obstacles in the University’s facilities, you are welcome to contact the Property Management Office, e-mail: fastighet@su.se.

Accessible toilets / RWC

You can find information about accessible toilets at the following link:  Map of Frescati (1306 Kb) .

Toilets with ceiling lifts are available in Södra huset, building C, floor 3. Arrhenius, building P, floor 2, northern part. The closest entrance is at Svante Arrhenius väg 20 F.

Accessible entrances and lifts

Contact your department’s study counsellor for information on accessible entrances or lifts. 

Accessible parking

You will find information on parking spaces at the following link:  Map of Frescati (1306 Kb) .

You can also contact the department’s study counsellor for information on accessible parking spaces close to your department.

Relaxation rooms

Relaxation rooms can be found in Södra huset and Studenthuset.
If you need access to a relaxation room in Studenthuset, please contact Infocenter on the ground floor of Studenthuset. For opening hours and contact details to Infocenter, visit: Info center, Student Services. 

If you need access to a relaxation room in Södra huset, please contact Servicecenter, Södra huset, house D, floor 4, next to Stockholm University library (telephone 08-16 24 00).

Bookings and questions

Email: disability@su.se

Telephone hours

Wednesday 13.00–14.00
Tel: +46 8–16 17 80

Where to find us

Anna Zällh Vahlquist

Mentor
Room 238, house Beta, floor 2, Studenthuset

Camilla Högkvist

Coordinator for special pedagogical support 
Room 242, house Beta, floor 2, Studenthuset

Emelie Ferm

Mentor
Room 237, house Beta, floor 2, Studenthuset

Erika Lempke

ICT pedagogue
Room 235, house Beta, floor 2, Studenthuset

Lena Forslund

Administrator
Room 236, house Beta, floor 2, Studenthuset

Marie Archenholtz

Coordinator for special pedagogical support
Room 239, house Beta, floor 2, Studenthuset

Åsa Ferm

Coordinator for special pedagogical support
Room 234, house Beta, floor 2, Studenthuset