Studying with a disability or need for support

A disability is a collective term for chronic illnesses and psychological and physical conditions. Examples include diabetes, rheumatism, visual impairment, depression, AD(H)D and autism. Dyslexia and dyscalculia are not illnesses, but they usually also lead to a disability. Disabilities do not always cause study barriers. When they do, special arrangements and facilities ensure that you are hindered as little as possible in your studies by your disability.

Studying with special circumstances

Special circumstances can also cause study delay or create a need for support. Examples include being ill for an extended period, becoming pregnant, being a carer, or facing special family circumstances such as bereavement.

Guidance during your studies

During your programme, you receive guidance from VHL with the aim of developing your talents and preventing study delay as much as possible. The guidance is provided by your study career counsellor and sometimes additionally by the student counsellor. In some cases, it may also be necessary for you to receive extra specialist support outside VHL.

Examples of adjustments during your studies

• If you have dyslexia, you are given extra time to complete an assessment, you can work with enlarged font, make use of Kurzweil, and you have adjusted rules for the plant assessment.
• If you have a chronic illness, your attendance requirements are reduced. You then make arrangements with fellow students about sharing notes or with the lecturer about the material covered. You can also complete certain components of a study year at a later time.
• If you have AD(H)D or autism, you can receive more guidance from your study career counsellor.
• Unable to complete your placement hours due to illness? In consultation with your placement coordinator and dean, you can work fewer hours. In most cases, this is compensated with an extended placement period.
• Do you need to visit the hospital frequently for tests or attend therapy one day a week? Depending on the number of hours you will miss, adjustments will be made. Examples include attending classes in another group or a reduction of attendance requirements.

What financial contributions are available?

There are several financial arrangements available for students with a disability.

• The individual study allowance from the municipality where you study.
• If you receive Dutch student finance from DUO, there are various arrangements for students with a performance-related grant and, to a limited extent, for students who first received student finance from September 2015 onwards.
• Erasmus grant: additional budget for an internship abroad.

How do I report my disability or special study circumstance?

When registering for your programme, you can indicate in Studielink that you will be studying with a disability or a need for support.

Before you start your programme, or as soon as possible after the start, you should request an appointment with the student dean. In this meeting, for which you may of course bring a parent, care coordinator or another support person, you discuss the barriers you expect during your studies and what you will need. The student dean will consider which support VHL can offer you. This meeting is confidential and has no impact on your admission.

If you develop a disability or a need for support during your studies, or if special circumstances arise, you can of course also make such an appointment with the student dean.

What is a facilities agreement?

The arrangements regarding facilities and appropriate support in your studies are recorded in a facilities agreement. This document also states who is responsible for what and what you, as a student, need to do yourself.

Has anything changed in your situation? Make sure to report this in time so that the agreement can be adjusted.

More information and contact

Do you want to study with us and do you have a disability or a need for support? Then it is advisable to contact the student counsellor in good time (before or at the start of your programme).

• The Service Point can provide you with more information via +3158 284 61 00 (Leeuwarden) or +3126 369 57 95 (Velp).

Student counsellor Leeuwarden page

Student counsellor Velp page