The earlier you initiate communication on the individual arrangements you need before the relevant courses or examinations, the better. To obtain the right to individual arrangements, you need a certificate from a doctor or relevant specialist, such as a psychologist, speech therapist or physiotherapist. Certificates on difficulties in reading or writing can also be provided by special needs teachers.
Specialist certificates must indicate the following:
- Person to whom the certificate applies (your name and personal identity code)
- Grounds for individual arrangements: the illness, disability or impediment in question and its effect on your studies
- Specialist certificates should also indicate the concrete arrangements you could benefit from.
If you need individual arrangements for a specific course, you can agree on the matter directly with the teacher. Please reach out to the teacher well in advance before the beginning of the course. Teachers have the right to request a specialist certificate or a recommendation provided to you by the University, indicating the need for individual arrangements. Teachers cannot take copies of your specialist certificates. If you need individual arrangements on a recurring basis, please apply to the University for a recommendation in accordance with the instructions in the following section.
If you are unsure whether you are entitled to individual arrangements, or you do not wish to present specialist certificates to teachers, you can contact an accessibility contact person: specialneeds@helsinki.fi.s. If necessary, you can book an appointment with the accessibility contact person on site or online. In the meeting, you will explore together what arrangements would benefit you in your studies.
Please note that only the helsinki.fi address can be used to send a message to the address ending in s. You can read about other options for secure emails on the IT-Helpdesk website.
The accessibility contact person can also help you draw up a study plan that lays down a study pace as well as course completion methods and an order of completion appropriate to your circumstances. Individual arrangements do not allow course completion in an exceptional order if the learning outcomes of your degree require completion in a specific order.
Individual arrangements can also be made for examinations. In the case of examinations organised in connection with teaching, you can agree on any arrangements with the teacher. In such cases too, the need for individual arrangements must be demonstrated with a specialist certificate. In the case of examinations not organised by the teacher, support for individual arrangements is provided by the University’s Examination Services. For more details, read about individual arrangements for examinations.
If you need aids provided by the healthcare services, a personal assistant or a guide dog, you can use them in teaching situations without a separate recommendation or certificate. However, such a certificate is required if you need a small group space or a separate examination room and use the equipment or have a personal assistant or guide dog present. In such cases, please write to specialneeds@helsinki.fi.s.