Studying with a disability
If you have a long-term disability, you can apply for disability study support during your studies. The aim is to give you the opportunity to study on equal terms.
The support offered is study-related and should be reasonable in relation to the disability and course requirements. Here you will find information about how to apply for support and what types of support are available at Stockholm University. Your application for support is processed by staff at Disability Services.
Opening hours during Easter
Disability Services are closed for Easter from Thursday April 17 to Monday April 21.
Who can apply for support?
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 or is expected to be present for at least 6 months. 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
Disability study support does not cover temporary injuries, short-term illnesses, or full-time sick leave.
How to apply for support
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
After you have submitted your application
After you have submitted your application, it will be reviewed by a coordinator at Disability Services. If your application is complete and does not require a meeting, your certificate will be issued in Nais. If you are in need of support that requires a meeting, you will be contacted by a coordinator before your certificate is issued.
If something is missing from your application, you will be asked to provide additional information or documentation. If you do not meet the criteria for disability support, your application will be denied.
Share the certificate with your department
When you have received your certificate, share it with the contact person at your department to learn more about how the support will work in practice.
If your needs change
If your needs change and you wish to discuss your adjustments again, please contact disability@su.se.
Renew or extend your certificate
Your certificate will state how long it is valid for. If you need to extend or renew your certificate during your studies, please make a new application in Nais.
Types of support and adjustments
The different types of study-related support and adjustments provided at Stockholm University are presented below.
Please note that disability study support covers support related to teaching and examinations. Disability Services are therefore unable to assist you with transport services, technical equipment, medical or personal assistance or other support outside the university setting. If you have questions or concerns about the facilities at the university, please contact a Service Centre.
Contact information for the Service Centres
Examination adjustments
Extended time, taking exams in a separate room or smaller group, or using a computer with assistive software are examples of examination adjustments that may be recommended for you. Written examinations with adjustments can either take place at your department or at facilities provided by Examination services.
More information about Examination services
Note-taking support
If you are recommended note-taking support, you will receive notes from lectures and seminars from a fellow student. Note-taking support is not a replacement for attendance, meaning that you will only receive notes from lectures and seminars which you attend.
Note-taking support is dependent on there being a fellow student on your course who takes on the job as note-taker. An alternative to note-taking support is a recommendation to be allowed to record lectures in sound format for personal use.
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. Alternative formats include talking books, e-textbooks and Braille books.
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 or if you have questions about course literature in alternative formats.
More information about talking books at the University Library
Mentor
If you have a documented executive function deficit, you may be granted mentor support. You meet with your mentor once a week for a limited time period for support regarding planning and organising your studies. The aim is to provide you with tools to help you conduct your studies independently.
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. The resource rooms have computers equipped with text-to-speech and spell-checking software.
You can book the resource rooms for a maximum of 10 hours in a 2-week period, at least 2 hours at a 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
Transcription by a writing assistant
If you have a disability that makes it difficult to write by hand or on a computer you may be recommended transcription performed by a writing assistant during written examinations. Transcription means that the writing assistant will write down what you say.
Assistance for students with visual impairment
If you have a severe visual impairment, you may be recommended assistance from a fellow student during elements of teaching where assistive software fails to compensate for the impairment.
Accompanying person
If you have a severe visual impairment, you may be recommended an accompanying person during a limited time. The accompanying person will escort you to unfamiliar teaching premises. If you need help learning frequent routes ahead of your studies, please contact Syncentralen in Stockholm.
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 private computer (PC or Mac) for free via the University website. 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.
Things to consider before arriving
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.
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
Information for note-takers, exam invigilators, etc.
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 1:30 - 2:30 pm
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.
Last updated: April 14, 2025
Source: Student Services
