At the University of Tartu, making adaptations is governed by theStudy Regulations. According to that, students with special educational needs are entitled to request adaptations to be made in studies within a reasonable time from the start of the semester. To request adaptations, the student contacts the adviser of the Office of Academic Affairs and presents proof of special needs.

The teaching staff member makes reasonable adaptations in the course for the student ifthe special needs adviser has prepared a list of adaptations recommended for the student and the teaching staff member is informed of it within a reasonable time from the beginning of the semester;without the adaptations, it would be difficult for the student to achieve the learning outcomes in the course due to special needs.

Please note!

• The university reserves the right not to process requests made in the current semester that are submitted to the adviser of the Office of Academic Affairs after 70 calendar days from the start of the semester.
• Adaptations remain valid until theend of the academic year.
  • If you do not wish to make any changes to the recommended adaptations, you may forward the same document to your lecturers and the academic affairs specialist at the beginning of the spring semester, without needing to contact the adviser again. However, if you would like to discuss anything regarding the recommended adjustments or require advice, you are always welcome to get in touch with the adviser.
  • At thebeginning of the new academic year, please contact the advisor again to review the adaptations.

What is the process of making adaptations?

1. Make an appointment with the special needs adviser via thebooking system of the Counselling Centre.
2. During the appointment:
   • Discuss with the adviser the difficulties you are experiencing in your studies and what supportive measures might help you.
   • Submit documentation that verifies your special need, such as doctor's certificate, disability certificate, disability assessment decision, etc.
3. The adviser prepares a draft letter of recommended adaptations and sends it to you for review. If you agree with the content of the letter, confirm your agreement by replying to the adviser’s email.
4. The adviser sends you a digitally signed document outlining the recommended adaptations.
5. Please forward this document to the teaching staff (including the lecturer in charge) of all the courses in which you require adaptations, as well as to the academic affairs specialist.
6. The teaching staff member considers the recommendations and decides which adaptations can be implemented in their course.
7. You and the teaching staff agree on the specific details of the adaptations.
8. The adaptations are implemented.
9. At the beginning of the spring semester, send thesame document with the recommended adaptations to the teaching staff of that semester’s courses.
10. At the beginning of the new academic year, please contact your adviser again.

The purpose of the scholarship is to support students with special needs in acquiring higher education. More information can be found on the webpage of theEstonian Education and Youth Board.

Full-time students (excluding doctoral students) whose economic situation has deteriorated or whose capacity to work has diminished are eligible to apply for a need-based special allowance, amounting to 135 euros per month. More information on how to apply for the allowance can be foundhere.

A student who has a moderate, severe or profound disability or decreased work capability or is a parent or guardian of a disabled child of up to and including 15 years of age will be released from tuition fees on the basis of the student’s application in either full-time or part-time studies, provided the student commences studies full-time in an Estonian-taught curriculum.

Students can apply to be released from tuition fees until15 September (autumn semester) and15 February (spring semester).

The application and the document proving the entitlement to the discount must be submitted to thedean's office or theinstitute of your field.

When applying for release from tuition fees, a document certifying entitlement must be submitted in addition to a duly completed application:

• a student with special needs must submit a disability certificate (issued by theSocial Insurance Board) regarding the severity of his/her disability; or, from the 2021/2022 autumn semester, a certificate of decreased working ability (issued byEesti Töötukassa) can also submitted
• a parent of a disabled child must submit the child’s birth certificate and a decision made by a medical expert regarding the severity of the child’s disability.

More information can be foundhere.

• You can explore all the buildings of the University of Tartu, including academic buildings and dormitories, through theUniversity of Tartu virtual tour.
• In the main building of the university and the library of the University of Tartu, it is possible to borrow a rollator and a wheelchair for moving around the building. Both students and other visitors can borrow these assistive devices from the cloakroom in the main building and the lending desk in the library. The assistive devices were donated to the university by the Schleswig-Holstein society of the German Red Cross.

Support services at the University of Tartu:

• You can find information about the services offered by the University of Tartu Library for readers with special needshere.
• Students with hearing impairments can borrow a speech recognition device that can be used to convert speech to text. To borrow the device, please contact the special needs advisers.
• Adapted rooms for students with mobility impairments are available in inthe student village dormitory at Raatuse st 22.
• Support students are volunteer students who are willing to support students with special needs. If you want to become a support student please contact the Special Needs Adviser.

Support services outside the university:

• Social services, including transport, finding a support person and a personal assistant, etc., are organised by the local government of the person's registered place of residence.
• Students with hearing impairments who have been identified as having reduced work capability can receive free speech-to-text translation services. More information can be foundhere.
• Paid sign language interpretation services can be orderedhere.
• If you need an assistive device, please contact your doctor or theSocial Insurance Board.