Stockholm university

Studying with a disability

Stockholm University offers different kinds of disability study support to students with long-term disabilities. The aim is to give all students the opportunity to study on equal terms.

The purpose of the support provided is to facilitate your studies and it should be reasonable with regard to the disability, course requirements, and intended learning outcomes. Your application for disability study support is administered by staff at Disability Services.

 

You can apply for disability study support if you have a medically documented long-term disability. A disability is considered long-term if it has been ongoing for at least 6 months and is expected to last. Long-term disabilities may include:

  • specific reading disorder/dyslexia
  • ADHD, ADD and autism spectrum disorders
  • mental health conditions
  • vision and hearing impairments
  • mobility impairments
  • long-term medical conditions

Temporary injury or illness

Temporary injury or illness is not covered by disability study support. Please contact a study counsellor at your department.

 

How you apply for disability study support differs depending on whether you are attending Stockholm university as a Swedish citizen, as an exchange student or as an international student organizing your studies in Sweden independently. Please see the links below to find information relevant to your situation.

Apply for support as a Swedish citizen

Apply for support as an exchange student

Apply for support as a free moving international student

 

You receive a certificate

When the coordinator has approved your application for support, you will receive a certificate describing recommended adjustments. Your certificate is time-limited and valid for the duration of the specific course or programme you have been accepted to. The certificate may also be time-limited due to your medical documentation.

Please note that the certificate issued by the coordinator consists of recommendations regarding adjustments. It is the department, teacher or examiner who decide which adjustments can be granted based on the current syllabus and course requirements.

Contact your department

After receiving your certificate it is recommended that you introduce yourself and show the certificate to the contact person at your department, which is usually the study counsellor. The study counsellor can help you in your studies and answer questions about the department’s courses. You can also discuss your choice of study with the counsellor.

At the start of a course

When you start a new course or course unit, please introduce yourself to the teacher and tell them what your needs are. The teacher may then want to see the certificate you received from the coordinator in order to be able to take it into consideration when planning the teaching and examinations. Please do not hesitate to ask for help when you need it. If something does not work, you are welcome to contact your coordinator.

 

Some of the more common types of support and adjustments we provide at Stockholm University are presented alphabetically below.

Please note that individual aids such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, and voice recorders are acquired independently or via the county. The university can also not help you with personal assistance or transportation services.

If you due to a visual impairment need support to learn frequent routes, please contact Syncentralen as soon as possible. To receive this support, you must be listed at Syncentralen in Stockholm. 

Course literature in alternative formats

If you have a disability that makes it difficult to read printed text you can get access to course literature in alternative formats through a talking books account in Legimus. Talking books that you borrow through Legimus can be read on a computer, smartphone or tablet. You can also borrow e-textbooks as well as search for and order Braille books through Legimus.

The University Library can help you register a talking books account and instruct you on how to use Legimus. Contact the University Library at talbok@su.se to make an appointment to register a talking books account or if you have questions about course literature in alternative formats. 

More information about talking books at the University Library

Examination adjustments

Extended time, assistive software, or alternative forms of assessment are examples of examination adjustments that may be recommended for you depending on your needs. It is the examiner who decides which adjustments are possible for each examination. At Stockholm University, Examination Services offer centrally administered rooms for taking exams with adjustments.

More information about Examination Services

Mentor

If you have a documented executive function deficit, you may be granted mentor support for a period of time. You will meet with your mentor once a week for three months for support regarding planning and organising your studies. The aim is to provide you with tools to help you conduct your studies independently. 

Note-taking support

If you are unable to take notes on your own during lectures and classes, you may receive lecture notes from a fellow student. Note-taking support is not a replacement for attendance, meaning that you will only receive notes from lectures and classes which you attend.

Resource rooms

There are four resource rooms at the Frescati Library and five resource rooms at Albano that may be booked for individual study sessions. These rooms cannot be used for examinations. The resource rooms have computers equipped with text-to-speech and spell-checking software. You may reserve the rooms for a maximum of 4 hours per week, and for at least 2 hours each time.

You will need an access card to open the resource rooms. If you do not have a valid access card, please contact your coordinator.

Book a resource room via TimeEdit

Sign language interpretation

As a registered student you can get a sign language interpreter for every situation that is related to your studies. 

More information about studying with an interpreter

Interpretation between students

Text-to-speech software

As a student at Stockholm University, you have access to the text-to-speech computer software ClaroRead Plus. The software reads digital text aloud and can be used to listen to text in articles, documents, e-mails, and on websites. You can install the software on your computer (PC or Mac) for free via the University website. Please note that the software must be reinstalled once a year.  If you have installed the software and would like a demonstration of how it works and can be used, you may email cecilia.widlund@su.se to make an appointment.

Information on how to install the text-to-speech software

Students in Studenthuset
Photo: Viktor Gårdsäter
 

Housing

The Housing Office provides accommodation to certain categories of international students at Stockholm University. Not all international students are eligible for housing and there is no housing guarantee for those who apply. A majority of students need to find housing on the private rental market.

More information about housing for international students

Support outside the university setting

Stockholm University cannot assist you with transport service, technical equipment, medical assistance or other support outside the university setting. This support is the responsibility of the Social Welfare System in the municipality of your residence. Please contact the municipality before you apply to the University.

Bringing medicines to Sweden

You can bring your medicines with you when coming to Sweden, as long as you need them for medical reasons. However, the amount of medicine you can take with you is regulated and may vary depending on where you're travelling from. Please visit the Swedish Medical Products Agency webpage linked below to read about the rules that apply when bringing medicines to Sweden:

Information about travelling with medicines from the Swedish MPA

 

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 servicecenter@su.se.

Accessible toilets

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

Please contact your department's study counsellor for information on accessible toilets located close to your department.

Accessible entrances and lifts

Please contact your department’s study counsellor for information on accessible entrances or lifts at your department. 

Accessible parking

Please contact the department’s study counsellor for information on accessible parking spaces close to your department. A parking permit issued by the municipality is required to be able to use parking spaces reserved for people with disabilities.

Relaxation rooms

Relaxation rooms can be found in Studenthuset, Södra huset and Albano. 

Please contact Infocenter if you need access to a relaxation room in Studenthuset.

Opening hours and contact details to Infocenter

Please contact Service Center Frescati Södra if you need access to a relaxation room in Södra huset and Service Center Albano if you need access to a relaxation room in Albano.

Opening hours and contact details to Service Centers

Aerial virew over the Frescati campus
Photo: Clément Morin
 

If you are working as a note-taker, exam invigilator, etc., to support students with disabilities, you can find useful information about your job and wages on the page linked below. You will also find the forms that you need to submit to receive your wages.

Information and forms for note-takers, exam invigilators, etc.

 

Contact

Questions about support

Email: disability@su.se

Telephone hours

Wednesdays 1 - 2pm
Phone number: +46 8–16 17 80

Where to find us

If you have a physical meeting booked with someone at Disability Services, you will find us in Studenthuset on campus Frescati. Directions to Studenthuset (Google Maps).

Our offices are on floor 1 in the Beta section of Studenthuset. From Infocenter on floor 2, take the stairs or lift one floor down. At this point, you are by the Student Union. Continue down the corridor, past the vending machines and pass through two sets of glass doors. There you will find the waiting room for Disability Services. 

Staff at Disability Services

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