Services

Individual study arrangements

Each Aalto student has a right to receive reasonable individual study arrangements for medical reasons. A medical reason may be dyslexia, a sensory impairment, mental health condition or learning difficulty. Individual study arrangements should not be seen as a reason to stop aiming for the set learning outcomes. Instead, they are a way of supporting the student in attaining the learning outcomes.

Examples of individual study arrangements include additional time for examinations (1 hour at Aalto), a private space or computer for examinations, or adjusted schedules.

Applying for individual study arrangements

Instructions to students

If you need individual study arrangements, proceed as follows:

  1. Contact the person responsible for individual study arrangements at learning services for your programme or at your school and arrange a meeting.
  2. Bring to the meeting a statement of your condition signed by a doctor, psychologist or other expert.
  3. Before the meeting, please think about what kind of arrangements could help you in your studies or what kind of support has helped you in the past? The meeting will consider what arrangements you need and for which period of time. The arrangements granted will be recorded in a certificate for individual study arrangements, which will be valid in all the Aalto schools.  
  4. In order to get individual study arrangements you need to show the certificate for individual study arrangements to your teachers and examination organisers and agree with them on the arrangements needed. You should contact the teacher about your needs as soon as possible, either in the first meeting of a course or upon registering for the course examination at the latest.
  5. Should problems arise, contact the person who provided the recommendation.

Further information individual study arrangements

This toolkit will give you more information on the following:

Kirjoittava opiskelija luennolla

Dyslexia

Dyslexia is the most common learning difficulty, and 6% of Finnish higher education students have been diagnosed with it (FSHS, KOTT, 2021).Dyslexia is defined as an impairment involving both reading and writing. A key characteristic in dyslexia is difficulty identifying and processing connections in phonologic (i.e. sound-related) information.

Services
Opiskelija kirjoittaa

Visual-perceptual difficulties

Visual-perceptual difficulties refer to difficulties with processing or making sense of visual or spatial information in one’s mind and to create images that support action. In practice, students with visual-perceptual difficulties may find it hard to find their way in the studying environment and find teaching spaces or complete assignments that require them to identify or assemble objects or understand dimensions and patterns.

Services
Opiskelijoita Harald Herlin -oppimiskeskuksessa

Attention deficit and hyperactivity challenges

Attention deficit and hyperactivity challenges may present in tasks requiring concentration or independent study. When diagnosed, attention deficit and hyperactivity challenges are referred to as ADHD.

Services
Opiskelija Harald Herlin -oppimiskeskuksessa

Autism spectrum

Autism spectrum disorder refers to a range of neurobiological developmental disorders that affect how an individual communicates and interacts with others, and they sense and experience the surrounding world. The condition is life-long, stemming from anomalous development of the central nervous system.

Services
Opiskelijoita Harald Herlin -oppimiskeskuksessa

Mental disorders

Mental disorders here refer to particularly to depression, but also to bipolar disorder. Of mental disorders, particularly depression is common with young adults. Students should listen to themselves and remember to reserve sufficient time for recovering from the strain of studies.

Services
Ryhmä opiskelijoita

Anxiety and nervousness

Anxiety means a state where a person feels tense, restless and worried. Short-term anxiety and nervousness or stage fright are very common and natural phenomena among students.

Services
Kolmen opiskelijan ryhmä Harald Herlin -oppimiskeskuksessa

Panic attack and panic disorder

A panic disorder refers to recurrent panic attacks, meaning sudden, very strong experiences of anxiety. Panic attacks may be isolated events or related to general anxiety. Panic attacks are rather common: about 10 to 15 per cent of people experience one in their lifetime.

Services
People talking and working in the café in Harald Herlin Learning Center, white lamps hanging in front.

Aalto University pedagogical training for faculty

Do you want to develop yourself as a teacher? Start Aalto pedagogical training with A! Peda Intro and continue with other core courses, or check the available elective courses.

Services
diversity of aalto people

Accessibility

Welcome to Aalto! Accessibility and diversity are the guiding principles of equality at Aalto University. Accessibility refers to convenience of use and access to education, research and related support services regardless of the diverse qualities of individuals.

Aalto University

Feedback

Feedback, comments and questions on the individual study arrangements toolkit

Give feedback
MIDE_Aalto_Forum_15102013_photo_by_lasse_lecklin_10
This service is provided by:

Learning Services

Did you find what you were looking for? If not, please contact us.
  • Published:
  • Updated: