Accessibility statement of the Studies service

The service meets most of the A and AA level accessibility requirements of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1. The accessibility deficiencies identified are described in detail below.

As the content of the pages is regularly updated, some of the content may contain the accessibility issues listed below:

• Perceivability deficiencies: 
  • The use of headings is occasionally illogical (WCAG 1.3.1). 
  • Some files created with office software and available for download from the website are not fully accessible (WCAG 1.1.1, 1.3.1 and 1.4.3). 
  • The website may include images with text (WCAG 1.4.5).
  • Some tables on the website may not be fully accessible. (WCAG 1.3.1)
• Operability deficiencies: 
  • The descriptions of some internal links within the website as well as links to downloadable content or external services are inadequate (WCAG 2.4.4).
• Understandability deficiencies: 
  • The website content may include parts that differ from the language defined for the website (WCAG 3.1.2). 

We strive to address the above-mentioned issues when maintaining the content.

If you notice accessibility issues on the website, please give us feedback:

By email: studentinfo@helsinki.fi

You can also give us feedback in person at the Student Services customer service desk in Kaisa House (Fabianinkatu 30, main lobby, 3rd floor).

It may take up to 14 days to receive an answer. If you are not satisfied with the answer or do not receive an answer within two weeks, you may file a complaint with the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom Digital Accessibility Supervision Unit. Traficom’s accessibility requirements website (saavutettavuusvaatimukset.fi) has detailed instructions on how to file a complaint and how the issue will be handled. 

Contact information of the supervisory authority 

Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom
Digital Accessibility Supervision Unit
www.webaccessibility.fi
saavutettavuus@traficom.fi
telephone switchboard 029 534 5000

For the time being, certain content and features do not meet all relevant requirements. 

Perceivability issues: 

• Use of headings
  At times, the service deviates from the heading hierarchy so that the meaning of content is unclear. For example, heading levels are not used in the content under the Courses tab or the Degree structure pages, or in accordance with the hierarchy (WCAG 1.3.1).
• Structure of the Choose degree programme element
  The Choose degree programme button is named with the selected value only. In other words, no visible label has been linked to the element (WCAG 1.3.1).
• Structure of elements on the Calendar page
  Due to programmatic deficiencies in the overall structure, the week–month–time design of the Calendar element is difficult to read using a screen reader. In addition, each calendar event contains a button and a link within it: nested interactive elements do not function reliably with a screen reader. The tasks completed in the task list on the Calendar page have a misleading programmatic structure. On the same page, the contents of the list in the My courses and exams section are difficult to distinguish from each other programmatically. In the calendar, the current date is highlighted visually only (WCAG 1.3.1).
• Structure of the Lunch Menus element
  Screen reader users cannot read the name of the cafeteria chosen in the Lunch Menus element, nor is it available elsewhere (WCAG 1.3.1).
• Programmatic structure of search results
  It is difficult to distinguish between search results, as no programmatic groupings or, for example, headings, are used for them (WCAG 1.3.1).
• Use of colour
  Without underscoring, the blue links in the text do not stand out sufficiently from the black body text (WCAG 1.4.1).
• Text contrast
  The contrast ratio of certain text content is insufficient to distinguish it from its background (WCAG 1.4.3).
• Reflow
  The chat window of the website does not fit a magnified viewport, making it difficult or impossible to use (WCAG 1.4.10).
• Contrast of non-text content
  The contrast ratio of the website’s own focus frame is insufficient, for example, in orange notifications and the elements in the blue section of the Services and tools menu. The Degree structure pages of the service include orange info icons whose contrast ratio with white background is insufficient. In the instructions section, the Choose degree programme element contains star icons whose contrast ratio with their background is insufficient (WCAG 1.4.11).

Operability issues: 

• Non-functional elements receiving focus
  The service contains non-functional elements that, however, receive tab focus (WCAG 2.4.3).
• Focus order
  The service contains sections where keyboard focus is not managed optimally, requiring additional navigation from users (WCAG 2.4.3).
• Links without understandable name
  The service contains long URL links that lack an understandable name and also cause responsiveness issues (WCAG 2.4.4).
• Button labels
  In the week view on the Calendar page, the button names do not indicate their purpose. The labels or context of the Moodle buttons in the My courses and exams section do not indicate their purpose (WCAG 2.4.6).
• Visible name not included in accessible name
  In the Choose study track element, the Choose study track option is overwritten with the aria-label "No choice" (WCAG 2.5.3)

Understandability issues: 

• Language of parts
  The service contains content that differs from the language of the page without indicating its language (WCAG 3.1.2).
• Change of context from the form element
  The service contains radio button groups where the selected option immediately closes the viewport (WCAG 3.2.2).
• Consistent identification
  Not all links opening in new tabs are consistently labelled (WCAG 3.2.4).

Robustness issues:

• Status of elements on the Calendar page
  The Add to calendar element of the Calendar page and the Actions button of the mobile version lack programmatic information on when they are closed or expanded (WCAG 4.1.2).
• Internal link in the accordion button
  The name is also the link element for some accordion buttons in the service. This results in the presence of another focusable element within the focusable element, which makes it impossible to activate one of them using a screen reader (WCAG 4.1.2).
• Choose degree programme element
  The button attribute ariahaspopup="menu” does not match the content to be opened (WCAG 4.1.2).
• Screen reader feedback
  When browsing the calendar, no screen reader feedback is provided on viewport changes. In the Add to calendar menu, no screen reader feedback is provided when copying links to the clipboard. In the search field of the Choose degree programme element, there is insufficient time to hear feedback while writing the search term. Selection in the frontpage Lunch Menus element provides no feedback, as the focus moves elsewhere when making the selection. When adding some course search filters, no screen reader feedback is provided (WCAG 4.1.3).

• Under the relevant legislation, video and sound recordings published before 23 September 2020 need not be rendered accessible or be removed. The Studies service may include videos published before 23 September 2020 which do not have subtitles and/or audio descriptions.
• Content not meeting the requirements may be used in teaching on a temporary basis and for a restricted group. A period of one term, for example, is considered temporary use. Temporary use cannot continue for several years.
• Accessibility requirements do not apply to content archived before 23 September 2019. Such content may include files, blogs and news items.
• Old files (i.e., files published online before 23 September 2018) need not be made retroactively compliant with the accessibility requirements, unless they are necessary for addressing an incomplete issue or essential for performing a task.

Student Services in Kaisa House supports users unable to access the service described herein. You can contact Student Services by email or visit the customer service desk.

Contact details:

studentinfo@helsinki.fi

Helsinki University Main Library, Kaisa House, main lobby, 3rd floor, Fabianinkatu 30

PO Box 53, 00014 University of Helsinki

Opening hours on the Student Services website.

If necessary, individual arrangements can also be made to support individual students’ learning. Further information on individual arrangements on the Instructions for Students website

• Accessibility guidelines for members of the University of Helsinki community (Helsinki.fi)
• Accessibility of the University’s digital services (on Flamma, requires login)
• Website on accessibility requirements  
• Act on the Provision of Digital Services (in Finnish and Swedish) 
• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1