Individual arrangements for examinations

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This instruction features information on individual arrangements for different types of examinations. You must have sufficient and documented reasons as well as a genuine need for these arrangements. Individual arrangements should be requested for examinations separately, following the instructions on this page.

From here you can return to the general instructions on individual arrangements.

What individual arrangements can be made in examinations?

Individual arrangements for examinations based on sufficient and documented reasons as well as a genuine need for them can include the following: 

  • Additional time to complete an examination 
    • The individual arrangements expert panel recommends 30 minutes of additional time for examinations whose duration is less than three hours, and 60 minutes of additional time for examinations whose duration is three hours or more. For well-grounded reasons, exceptions to this recommendation can be made.
    • The organiser of the examination decides whether the additional time  is offered at the end of the examination session or before it.
    • On the basis of a difficulty related to reading or writing, additional time is only granted for examinations that require reading and writing; not, for example, for oral examinations.
  • Using a computer or other aids in an examination
  • A smaller or separate examination room
  • Alternative completion methods 

Many individual arrangements for examinations, such as additional time or accessible seats, can be implemented in general examination rooms. You can use your own earplugs or earmuffs in general examination rooms.

The University of Helsinki has individual examination facilities for students who e.g. require separate examination rooms. Many types of examinations can be taken at the individual examination facilities. You will be received by either Examination Services staff or an exam invigilator. The examination facilities have a CCTV recording system, as well as call buttons, which can be used to contact the invigilator. At the City Centre Campus, the individual examination facilities are located on the 4th floor of the Kaisa House. Similar facilities are available on the other campuses as well. There are also Examinarium exam computers in the individual examination facilities at the City Centre and Viikki campuses. Reasons for using the individual examination facilities in Examinarium exams can be needing to bring medication or snacks to the examination, a medical reason to use a toilet during the examination, the need for a separate examination facility or the use of aids for answering, for example.

How do I request individual arrangements for examinations?

Individual arrangements for examinations must be requested well in advance from the person responsible for organising the examination, either the teacher or the accessibility liaison at Examination Services. For more detailed instructions, depending on the type of exam, see the following subsections.

To receive individual arrangements for examinations, you must have a certificate from a doctor or an equivalent expert, such as a psychologist, speech therapist or physical therapist. A certificate of dyslexia can also be written by a special education teacher. Alternatively, you can submit a corresponding decision by the Finnish matriculation examination board. If you need individual arrangements only for a single course or examination, you can arrange them directly with the teacher or the Examination Services and send the certificate to them. The teacher is entitled to see an expert certification or a recommendation by the university indicating the need for individual arrangements. The teacher is not entitled to take a copy of the certification. On request, the accessibility liaisons at Examination Services or your local services can confirm your right to the individual arrangements you request to the teacher. If your illness, disability or challenges have a wider impact on your studies, or if you do not want to show your health certificate to the teacher, you can apply for the university's recommendation for individual arrangements by contacting the accessibility liaison of your local service through the service address for individual arrangements.

For more information on how to apply for a recommendation and needed certifications, see page Individual arrangements support studies.

Individual arrangements in general examinations

Agree on individual arrangements for examinations held at general examinations with the accessibility liaison at Examination Services by writing to service address for individual arrangements well in advance, no later than 10 days before the examination. Requests made later than this cannot necessarily be accommodated. You can include all requests for individual examination arrangements for a period extending to the end of the following calendar month in the same message. Please also remember to register for the general examination in Sisu no later than 10 days before the examination (for summer examinations no later than May 31st).

Your message must contain at least the following details: 

  • Unit responsible for/organising the examination (faculty or the Open University)
  • Individual arrangements needed 
  • Name, identifier and time of the examination
  • Name and email address of the examiner
  • Your name and student number

If you have requested individual arrangements for an examination session that you cannot attend, please cancel your arrangements by contacting the service address for individual examination arrangements!

Individual arrangements in course examinations (on-site examinations held in conjunction with teaching)

Agree as early as possible, before the course begins or in the beginning of the course, with the course teacher or a party indicated in the course description on individual arrangements needed for course examinations (on-site examinations held in conjunction with teaching). The teacher can suggest an alternative method of completion, if the learning outcomes of the course allow it.

If you need a separate examination room for an examination, please write to the service address for individual arrangements well in advance but no later than 10 days before the examination to book a room from the individual examination facilities. Include in your message what individual arrangements you need, what examination are you taking and when is it and the contact information of the course teacher. Please note that only additional time to complete an examination does not constitute grounds for using an individual examination facility!

Individual arrangements in remote examinations (e.g., Moodle and MOOCs)

Agree as early as possible, before the course begins or in the beginning of the course, with the course teacher or a party indicated in the course description on individual arrangements needed for remote online examinations held in conjunction with teaching. The teacher and degree programme are responsible for extending the duration of remote examinations.

Individual arrangements in Examinarium examinations

Additional time to complete an examination

Please contact the examiner or the degree programme before making the exam reservation. The examiner can create a personal exam with additional time. If the duration of the exam with additional time exceeds three hours, the alternatives are to either divide the exam into two separate exam events with additional time or to use alternative completion methods. Additional time can be offered in general Examinarium facilities; individual examination facilities are not intended for students who only require additional time to complete an examination. 

Accessible examination facilities

Select  "Accessibility type" and "Pääsy pyörätuolilla" (Accessible with wheelchair) when making the exam reservation.

Separate exam room, use of snacks or medicine etc., use of toilet during the exam etc.

If you need individual arrangements other than additional time or an accessible examination facility, please contact the accessibility liaison at Examination Services at the service address for individual arrangements before making the exam reservation and no later than 10 days before the examination to book a place from the individual examination facilities. Before making your exam reservation, ensure that you can book the exam time you want. The rooms are also used for other exams than Examinarium exams, so even if you can book a time in the Examinarium system, the room may not be available. Please remember to cancel your booking to Exam Services via email if you won't be attending the examination.

Service address for individual arrangements

The accessibility liaisons of Examination Services and your local Student Services can be reached at the service address specialneeds@helsinki.fi. Please remember to use an explicit subject so your message will be forwarded to the right accessibility liaison. If your message contains sensitive information, we recommend the use of encrypted email. Detailed instructions for encrypted email are available on the website of the University of Helsinki Helpdesk.