Once you have applied and been granted support, there are some things you need to do to access the support. Here are the most common kinds of support.
Please note that you shall inform the contact person for students with disabilities at your department about the notice and obtain information about the procedures that apply to you. This applies regardless of the support and adjustments involved.
Adaptations during written on-campus exams
An invigilated on-campus exam can either refer to a so-called paper exam or a digital exam in Inspera.
Adaptations may for example include:
- Extended writing time
- Sitting in a smaller group, or individually
- Using a computer with speech synthesis and spell-checking software
- Noise-cancelling headphones or ear defenders
- Height-adjustable desk
- Adjustable chair
Do as follows to notify the need for adaptations during a written on-campus exam that takes place until 3 September:
- Contact your contact person for disability support at the beginning of the course to find out how to register your need for adjustments for invigilated exams. This applies regardless of the types of support you have documentation for.
- Preferably register your need for adaptions at the beginning of the course, but no later than 10 working days before the exam.
For exam dates from 4 September and onwards
From the autumn semester 2025, a new way of notifying the need for adaptations during written on-campus exams is introduced.
Do as follows:
- Always contact the programme or department contact person for disability support at the beginning of the course, to present your NAIS certificate. This applies regardless of the types of support you have documentation for.
- Log in to Ladok for students and apply to use your support on your written on-campus exam. Do this when you sign up for the exam, preferably when the registration period for the exam opens in Ladok, but no later than 10 working days before the exam. Read more about how to apply in the Manual (link to the Manual will be available here in August).
- No later than two days before the exam, you will receive a notification of the outcome of your application, via email and in Ladok for students. If you have questions about the status of your application, you can contact the contact person for the programme or department.
If you need access to audiobooks during an exam where course literature is allowed, you also need to do the following:
- First, contact Support for reading and writing at the University Library to obtain documentation confirming that you are an active user in Legimus.
- Then, contact your coordinator at Disability Support to include the adaption in your NAIS certificate.
If you need a computer - what applies to digital exams versus paper exams?
- For a digital invigilated on-campus exam, you can use your own computer or a loaned computer. If you want to borrow a computer, you must book it yourself. More information on how to book a computer can be found in this manual.
- For a paper exam where you have permission to use a computer, the department will book a computer for you.
Your examiner will decide whether you will receive adapted examination arrangements.
Adaptations for oral examinations
Adaptations may include:
- Examination in a smaller group, or
- Individually with a teacher.
Here's what you need to do:
- Contact your contact person for disability support well in advance to find out what you need to do.
- Register your need for adaption according to the contact person's instructions, preferably at the beginning of the course or module, but no later than 10 working days before the examination.
Your examiner will decide whether you will receive adapted examination arrangements.
Adaptation of course materials
This means that the material is made available in the format you need. It may include braille, tactile images or large print. The material can also be made available by editing the text for reading out loud using speech synthesis.
If the material you need in adapted format is of a kind that is distributed during the course or programme, contact your contact person for disability support.
If you need to get course literature in adapted format, turn to the Support for reading and writing at the University Library. Support for reading and writing
Adaptation of premises
This may, for example, involve signage, permanent hearing loops, the need for renovations of premises or provision of door openers.
Adaptation of premises can take time to prepare. If you need this support, it is important that you submit your application for support for disability already when you apply for education.
Once you have been given a decision on adaptation of premises, contact your contact person for disability support to find out how to proceed.
Additional support from supervisor
For example, you may receive additional support from your supervisor regarding internship or thesis-related work. Support is offered provided that you participate in the regular supervision that is offered.
The person responsible at the department decides to what extent the recommendation can be provided.
Talk to your current teacher or supervisor if you need this support.
You can also contact your contact person for disability support to find out how to proceed.
Additional teaching support
For example, you may receive additional teaching support for clarifications regarding study assignments. To receive this support, you must attend the regular lectures and seminars scheduled.
The person responsible at the department decides to what extent the recommendation can be provided.
Talk to your current teacher or supervisor if you need this support.
You can also contact your contact person for disability support to find out how to proceed.
Assistance with writing (skrivassistans)
This means that someone writes down what you say when you are unable to write yourself. Assistance with writing is usually used in connection with written assignments and examinations.
The coordinator at Student Services Office will inform you on how to proceed if you have been granted assistance with writing.
Digital recording device (Smartpen)
Note: The smartpens are no longer available as note-taking support. If you have not already borrowed a smartpen from Infocenter, we instead refer you to the software and tools in Microsoft 365. (Read more under ‘sound recording for your own use’).
A smartpen is a small digital recording device.
If you want to use a smartpen, contact Infocenter through the web form or by phone. State your contact details and enter "Book equipment" in the subject field to get the support in teaching.
If you want to make a sound recording of lectures and seminars, make sure this has been approved in your decision. Otherwise, contact the coordinator at Student Services Office who can approve sound recordings.
If, due to your disability, you cannot use these tools, the coordinator can look into other alternatives.
If you already have a smartpen and need technical support, please contact the supplier (Svensk talteknologi).
Educational interpreting
This means that sign language interpreting, writing interpreting or deaf-blind interpreting is provided in study-related contexts.
Educational interpretation can take time to prepare. If you need this support, it is important that you submit your application for disability support already when you apply for your education. The coordinator at Student Services Office informs you how to get the support.
Extended time for take-home examinations and hand-in assignments
Take-home exams and assignments refer to all written examinations that are not conducted on-campus in an exam hall, regardless of format.
Here's what to do:
- Contact your contact person for disability support, preferably at the beginning of the course, to find out what you need to do. The contact person will inform you about the department's procedures and who you need to contact.
- Notify your request for adaptions no later than ten working days before the examination date, preferably at the beginning of the course.
Your examiner will decide whether you will receive adjusted examination arrangements.
Group room priority
This means that you are given priority when it comes to booking group rooms.
Contact Infocenter by telephone or through the web form and state your contact details and enter "Group room priority" in the subject field. You will then be contacted by one of their staff and receive information on how to proceed to get the support.
You must book your group study room at least six days before the date you wish to use the room. You can book up to two weeks in advance.
Infocenter decides what rooms students can get priority to, but let Infocenter know if you have any requests.
Individual study plans
This means that the course layout can be adjusted according to your disability, such as adaptation of timetable, part-time studies and more.
You can contact your contact person for disability support to find out how to proceed.
Mentoring support
If you have been approved mentor support, you will meet with a mentor who can support you in improving your study technique and for planning and structuring your studies.
Read more about mentoring support
Provision of lecture material in advance
To give you the opportunity to acquaint yourself with the material used by the teacher in the classroom, teachers can make sure that you get access to the lecture material in advance.
Talk to your current teacher to get this support.
Sound recording for your own use
If you have been granted disability support, you have the right to make audio recordings of lectures. Image recordings only apply to photographs of teaching material presented during the lecture.
Transfer your recording to notes
Umeå University provides access to Microsoft 365 to all students, which for example includes speech to text transcription in Word and Copilot (AI-powered chatbot). To create notes from a lecture you can for example:
- Transcribe your sound recordning in Word (see under "Dictate" in Word);
- Attach the transcription in Copilot and ask it to summarise the text into more easy to grasp notes;
- Make sure to critically review the notes, since AI-generetad text can contain inaccuracies (this responsibility is on you as a student).
The Umeå University rules on sound recording, photography and filming during lectures is only available in Swedish. If you cannot read Swedish, ask someone who does to translate the rules found in Regler för ljudupptagning, fotografering och filmning mm i samband med undervisningssituationer, found in the Legal Framework at Umeå University.
Special equipment
Special equipment available in connection with teaching situations are:
- table microphones
- portable hearing loops
- dictaphone
- adjustable desk
- smartpen
- adjustable chair
- backrest and seat cushion
- ergonomic mat.
Contact Infocenter through the web form or by phone. State your contact details and enter "Book equipment" in the subject field to get the support in teaching.
Equipment available during on-campus written examinations:
- noise-cancelling headphones
- adjustable desk
- adjustable chair
- dictaphone
- ergonomic mat.
You must report your needs no later than ten days before the exam date to your contact person for disability support.
Support from another student or personnel
This may, for example, involve providing visual support by escorting you, providing support for orientation or navigating virtual learning environments. This person may also provide support when equipment needs to be moved between lecture halls.
Support can be provided either by a student or by an employee. This will be stated in your decision.
If a fellow student will perform the practical support, you should first and foremost ask another student taking your course. Your contact person for disability support can also help you find a student.
If an employee will accompany you, contact Infocenter through the web form or by phone and state your contact information. You will then be contacted by one of their staff to receive information on how to proceed to get the support.
Please note! Such support needs to be booked at least five days ahead of the date when you need assistance.
Transcription
This involves converting recorded teaching into text.
Transcription can take time to prepare. If you need this support, it is important that you contact the course or programme well in advance. You can do this either by contacting Infocenter through the web form or by phone or through the contact person stated for the course or programme.
You do not need a decision from your coordinator at the Student Services Office to get this support.
Your NAIS certificate
Your NAIS certificate is the document stating your decided and recommended support measures that your coordinator at the Student Services Office provides you with. This document also states the validity period of your decision and other important information.
The following sections describe the difference between decision and recommendation.
Decision for support
Decision for support is the support that your coordinator at the Student Services Office has decided that you should be granted. This could be mentoring support, sound recording of lectures or educational interpreting.
Your coordinator writes your decision document. Turn to your coordinator to request changes to your need for support or if you have questions about the decision. The name of your coordinator can be found in your decision document.
Recommendation for support
Recommendation for support is the support the Student Services Office recommends your department to give you.
Staff at the department decide if you should get the support, for instance an examiner or teacher. This could be adaptations during written examinations such as on-campus written examinations or written assignments.
Remember to show your recommendations from the Student Services Office to the contact person for disability support.
If you do not receive the support to which you feel you are entitled
If you do not receive the support you need for your studies, you can appeal any such decision. The appeal is to be in writing and be sent to the Registry and Archives at Umeå University within three weeks of receiving the decision.
Find out more about how to appeal
