Studying with a disability
What is a disability
A disability is a physical or mental disability or other long-term limitation. This could be for example:
- a visual, auditory or physical disability;
- a learning disability (for example dyslexia);
- a chronic or psychological illness.
Facilities and support
Leiden University offers a range of different facilities and support depending on your needs. Click on your disability below for more information.
The Fenestra Disability Centre
The Fenestra Disability Centre provides advice on all disability-related issues. As well as assisting students with requests for extra facilities, Fenestra can also offer financial advice and give general information on finding your way both within and outside the university.
Contact Fenestra as early as possible
We encourage you to contact Fenestra as early as possible if you would like to arrange study adaptations or use Fenestra’s services. You do not need to wait until you start your studies.
Your disability
AD(H)D
Autism spectrum disorder
Chronic illness
Dyslexia
Hearing disability
Speech disability
Visual disability
Other
Arranging exam facilities
The examination facilities coordinator (StuFu coordinator) organizes the examination facilities for students with disabilities after the facilities have been allocated by Fenestra and the Board of Examiners.
You have received a statement from Fenestra stating that you may use additional facilities during your studies due to a disability. If the Board of Examiners has given approval, the facility will be granted to you. The Board of Examiners will send this statement directly to your study advisor and to the StuFu coordinator. Exam facilities for exams in Leiden will be arranged by the StuFu coordinator at the Arsenaal; the administration office in The Hague will organize the facilities for the exams taking place in The Hague and Rijswijk.
Keep in mind: the earlier you register and confirm your exams in MyStudymap, the better the StuFu coordinator can arrange your exam. Always complete these two steps as soon as possible.
If you are entitled to 10 minutes per hour of extra time, you will take your exam in the regular room. If you are entitled to more than 10 minutes per hour extra time, you can take your exam in a StuFu room; you will be notified of this approximately 4 days before the exam.
The StuFu will inform your teacher about 3 days before your exam; you do not have to do this yourself.
Unless stated otherwise, you will take your exam on a StuFu laptop. This does not apply if you take your exam at the USC, at home or in a computer lab (Lipsius room 1.14/ 1.26/ 1.27) or for an online exam where all students take their exam on their own laptop.
One week before the start of the exam period, you will receive an email from the StuFu coordinator with information about where and when you can pick up the laptop. If you are allowed to use reading software, you must bring your own earphones that you can connect to the laptop.
If you take your exams in the regular room, we will inform your teachers that they must print your exams with an enlarged font. If you are in a StuFu room, the StuFu coordinator will take care of this. You don't have to do anything for this yourself.
If you have a Fenestra statement stating you can make your exam in a low-stimulus room, the StuFu coordinator will, as far as possible, place you in a StuFu room with a maximum of 15 students. You will receive an email with the exact location and times about 4 days before the exam.
If you have a statement for the use of ear protection or ear plugs to block out noise, please be aware that only non-electronical devices are allowed unless the exam committee has decided otherwise.
We always discuss information relating to other facilities from your statement with your teacher and/or the invigilator of the StuFu room. If in doubt, you can always consult the StuFu coordinator.
Deadlines and attendance requirements
If you have received a statement that - when desirable, reasonable and possible - the deadlines for papers or your attendance obligation should be handled flexibly, please contact your study advisor to discuss the options.
Additional guidance
If you need additional guidance, please contact your study advisor.
Points of attention
- Please note that it may take some time before your application is processed by Fenestra and the Board of Examiners, so request it as early as possible.
- If your approved statement arrives at StuFu less than 10 working days before the exam period, this will be too late to organize your facilities during the same exam block. You will then only be able to access the requested facilities from the next examination period onwards.
- If it appears during the course of your studies that you still need additional facilities after your declaration, please contact Fenestra again as soon as possible via this online form.
- If your main study is at a different faculty and you have a Fenestra statement, make sure to send it to osz-stufu@hum.leidenuniv.nl or ask your study advisor to do it for you. These statements are not automatically sent to all faculties due to the privacy law. In order to arrange your facilities in time, the StuFu coordinator needs to receive your Fenestra statement at the latest two weeks before the start of your exam period.
Contact
If you have any questions, you can always email:
StuFu coordinator: Saskia van Veen (Monday to Thursday from 9 to 5)