Accessibility and individual study arrangements for student

The term “accessibility” refers to an environment that affords everyone an equal opportunity to work or study regardless of their personal characteristics. The obligation to promote accessibility is based, among others, on the Non-Discrimination Act (1325/2014).

Tampere Universities are committed to taking accessibility into consideration in all our activities. For example, our Facilities Management staff develop the accessibility of physical facilities and our IT Services staff develop the accessibility of web content and electronic services. 

If you need individualised support because of a learning difficulty, an illness or disability, you are eligible for individual study arrangements (former special arrangements). Tampere Universities started using the term 'individual study arrangements' as of 1.8.2022, instead of the term 'special arrangements'. The proposals for special arrangements that have been issued before that will remain in force as such according to the validity period mentioned in the proposal.

Individual study arrangements may not undermine academic standards or the integrity of assessments. They are provided to help students, who would otherwise be put at a substantial disadvantage by their condition, achieve the expected learning outcomes. The policy promotes equality of opportunity by enabling reasonable adjustments to be made to help all our students undertake and demonstrate learning.

Here you can find information on the support available for Tampere university students regarding accessibility.

• Flexibility and diversity in the curriculum
• Individual study arrangements (former special arrangements)
• Accessibility services offered by the library
• Support for Sisu users
• Support for Harri users
• Campus accesibility

Flexibility and diversity in the curriculum

Tampere University promotes accessibility in learning by embedding diversity in the curriculum and offering flexible opportunities for students to complete their studies. For example, we offer all our students alternative options for undertaking and demonstrating learning. These options are described in more detail in our study guides. They are offered to promote the effective academic progress of all our students.

Individual study arrangements (former special arrangements)

You are eligible for individual study arrangements, when

• you are a neurodivergent student (ADHD/ADD/autism)
• you have been diagnosed with a learning difficulty
• you have been diagnosed with an illness
• you have been diagnosed with mental health issues
• you have been diagnosed with a disablity or other medical condition that affects your ability to demonstrate and undertake learning

Depending on your situation, the need for arrangements may be permanent or temporary.

If you need individual study arrangements, book an appointment

• from our online calendar: on-campus appointment or online appointment
• or by emailing studentcounselling.tau [at] tuni.fi

Please note that the online calendar only shows available time slots in the next three weeks. If you can't see any available time slots, try again the next day.

You will need to bring a medical certificate or other expert statement with you to the appointment. It could be a statement from a doctor, psychologist, special needs teacher, therapist or other health professional, or a note or statement from OmaKanta. The statement does not have to be written specifically for individual arrangements.

The appointment will be conducted confidentially to discuss your studies, needs, plans for the future and possible individual study arrangements. You will receive a written Proposal for Individual Study Arrangements.

Read more about obtaining individual study arrangements.

Teachers may also grant adjustments on a case-by-case basis to students who do not have a University-issued proposal for individual study arrangements. This can be done, for example, in a case of a shotr-time injury or illness. Also students who use a wheelchair or other mobility aid and don’t need other individual arrangements except a barrier-free access to teaching facilities, don’t need a proposal for individual arrangements. In these cases you don't have to provide an expert statement.

Individual study arrangements in cross-institutional studies

Students of Tampere University may be provided with individual study arrangements while pursuing studies at TAMK, and vice versa.

Tampere University student who completes courses at TAMK:

If you have a university-issued proposal for individual arrangements (a proposal for special arrangements), please book an appointment with TAMK's special needs teacher to get TAMK instructions (email: erityinentuki.tamk [at] tuni.fi).

The scope of support that may be available to you at TAMK depends on the number of credits that you will complete at TAMK (typically 2 hours of personal arrangements / 5 credits).

TAMK student who completes courses at Tampere University:

If you have been granted TAMK’s proposal for individual arrangements, you can use it at the university as such.

Individual arrangements in exams

To get individual study arrangements for exams, you should have a Proposal for Individual Study Arrangements (Proposal for Special arrangements).

Practices for requesting individual arrangements for exams vary depending on whether it is a general paper-based exam, an electronic exam or another type of exam. Arrangements must always be agreed well in advance.

You can find more detailed instructions here: Individual arrangements in exams.

Individual arrangements for entrance examinations

About individual arrangements for entrance examinations, please contact the Admissions office: admissions.tau [at] tuni.fi

Accessibility services offered by the library

If you have difficulty reading, you can borrow course books with an extended loan period, 4 weeks. You can also borrow textbooks free of charge from Celia, the national centre for accessible literature and publishing in Finland. These forms of support will be included in the Proposal for Individual Study Arrangements.

Please read more about our Library’s accessibility services and Celia audio books.

Support for Sisu users

On the Sisu study information system, students draft their personal study plan (PSP), sign up for courses and monitor the progress of their studies.

Severe accessibility issues have been found in Sisu. They are recorded in a university-specific accessibility statement. Until the issues in Sisu are resolved, students will be given individual support to overcome Sisu’s accessibility barriers.

Students who need accessibility support are kindly asked to contact the guidance and counselling services of their own faculty for assistance in making a personal study plan (PSP) and registering for courses and examinations.

Support for Harri users (MAB)

Severe accessibility issues have been found in Harri. They are recorded in a university-specific accessibility statement. Until the issues in Harri are resolved, students will be given individual support to overcome Harri’s accessibility barriers.

Students who need accessibility support are kindly asked to contact the guidance and counselling services of their own faculty for assistance.

Campus accessibility

Read about campus accessibility (intranet).

More information

studentcounselling.tau [at] tuni.fi

Accessibility contact person Elisa Sinikallio, elisa.sinikallio [at] tuni.fi

Guidance and counselling services