If you only need arrangements for a specific course, you can discuss this directly with the teacher. Please contact the teacher well in advance of the start of the course. The teacher has the right to request an expert statement confirming the need for individual arrangements. The teacher cannot take a copy of the expert statement.
If you need arrangements for a longer duration across multiple courses, you should apply for a recommendation from the university. When applying for a recommendation, please follow the instructions below. These instructions apply to degree students and exchange students. If you are an Open University student, please read the instructions in the following section.
- To apply for the recommendation, you need a statement from a doctor or an equivalent specialist, such as a psychologist, speech therapist, or physiotherapist. A special education teacher can also write a certificate for learning difficulties.
- Apply for the recommendation using your faculty's form and attach the expert statement to the application.
- If you need help completing the form or are unsure which arrangements would benefit you, you can contact the accessibility liaision at specialneeds@helsinki.fi.s. Please include the name of your faculty in the subject line of your message. If you do not have a helsinki.fi email address, you can send a secure message via the Securemail service.
Additional information about expert statements
The expert statement should include the following:
- To person to whom the expert statement is addressed (your name and personal identification number)
- The basis for the arrangements: the illness, disability, or other challenge involved and how it affects your studies
- It is also helpful if the expert statement specifies what concrete arrangements could support you in your studies
If your expert statements are not in Finnish, Swedish, or English, you must provide an official translations into one of these languages. Attach both the official translation and a copy of the original statement to your application. For exchange students, we accept a certificate of individual arrangements granted by your home university (in Finnish, English, or Swedish), together with the original expert statement in its original language. If the expert statement is in a language other than Finnish, Swedish, or English, you must also attach a brief explanation of why you need the arrangements.
Fill in your faculty’s form
The form may have some accessibility issues, particularly for screen reader users. If you are using a screen reader, we recommend sending an email to specialneeds@helsinki.fi.s. Please describe your situation and the arrangements you need in your message. Attach the expert statement to your email.
Please note that applications for individual arrangements are not processed during the summer and holiday periods. In urgent situations during the summer, please contact specialneeds@helsinki.fi.s directly or contact the teacher directly if it is a summer course.
The recommendation you receive only applies to studies organized by the University of Helsinki. If you are completing studies at another institution or a different educational organization, apply for individual arrangements from the study organizer. Recommendations written by other universities cannot be used to apply for individual arrangements at the University of Helsinki.
Do you need additional support?
For questions, you can contact the accessibility contact person at specialneeds@helsinki.fi.s. Please note that only addresses ending in helsinki.fi can send messages to addresses ending in .s. If you do not have a helsinki.fi email address, you can send a message via the Securemail.
The accessibility contact person can refer you to student advice. Student advice can help you create a study plan that considers an appropriate study pace and the order of courses. With individual arrangements, you cannot complete courses in a different order if the learning outcomes of the degree require that they be taken in a specific sequence.
Individual arrangements can also be made for exams. If the exam is organized by the teacher as part of the teaching, you can arrange accommodations directly with the teacher. To do this, you will need an expert statement. If the exam is not organized by the teacher, you will receive support from the university’s exam services. For more information about exams, see the page on Individual Arrangements for Exams.
If you need assistive devices from healthcare, a personal assistant, or a guide dog, you can use them in teaching situations without a separate recommendation or explanation. However, an expert statement is required if you need a small-group room or a separate exam room and intend to use assistive devices, a personal assistant, or a guide dog there. In this case, please contact specialneeds@helsinki.fi.s.
If the accessibility contact person cannot determine the need for individual arrangements in your situation, they may refer you to the study psychologist for a more detailed assessment. They may also suggest that you apply for a recommendation from the university’s expert group on individual arrangements.