Disability Support

Please note that the procedures for requesting academic accommodations for international students in our short programmes differ from the procedure for full-time degree students. Please therefore always refer to the procedures described on this webpage. 

An overview of facilities and academic accommodations available at VU Amsterdam can be found on the following webpages: 

• Education facilities 
• Examination facilities 
• Campus facilities 
• Training courses, workshops and advice 

Please note that the procedures for requesting academic accommodations for international students in our short programmes differ from the procedure for full-time degree students. After reviewing the available facilities, please return to this webpage for the applicable procedure for you. 

Below you will find information and a step-by-step guide explaining the procedure to apply for academic accommodations for students part of the Incoming Exchange, Semester in Amsterdam and Summer School programmes. 

There are scholarship and funding opportunities available for students with disabilities. 

Erasmus top-up 

Students coming to VU via the Erasmus+ programme might be eligible for an Erasmus+ top-up scholarship. Please reach out to your home university to get information about availability and eligibility. Next to that, there is also inclusion support available for Erasmus+ for students with physical, mental or health-related conditions that are in need of adapted accommodation, travel assistance, medical attendance, supportive equipment, adaption of learning material and/or an accompanying person. More information can be found here: Students and staff with physical, mental or health-related conditions - Erasmus+ 

Semester in Amsterdam 

Students in the Semetser in Amsterdam might be eligible for the Equal Access Scholarship. Please read more about the eligibility criteria and how to apply for the scholarship on our Semester in Amsterdam Fees and Scholarships page. 

Summer School 

Students in the VU Amsterdam Summer School might be eligible for the Equal Access Scholarship. Please read more about the eligibility criteria and how to apply for the scholarship on our Summer School Fees and Scholarships page. 

VU Amsterdam offers a range of general (mental) health resources and support for our students such as a general practitioner, student psychologists, and support for studying and student wellbeing. You can find further information via the links below: 

• Healthcare for internationals  
• Student wellbeing and study support 

Accessibility Week

• Each year the Accessibility Week is organised at VU Amsterdam to raise awareness about what accessibility means. Read more and find last year’s programme of the Accessibility Week. 

Communities and useful resources 

• At VU, students with disabilities form their own community: Disability RendezVU. At Disability RendezVU, you can get in touch with other students with disabilities or chronic conditions, find support with each other at the monthly DejaVU meeting in 3D, and join a panel to make VU a more accessible university. There is plenty of room for asking questions, sharing tips and experiences. The meeting is low-threshold, easily accessible and informal. You can get involved via these platforms. 
• NDSA for neurodiversity. The Neurodiverse Student Association (NDSA) works towards an environment in which neurodiversity is recognized and welcomed. To learn more about NDSA, visit their LinkedIn page. 

Newsletter ‘Studying with a disability’ 

• Sign up to receive the ‘Studying with a disability’ newsletter 

Safety on campus 

• If you require assistance in case of an emergency or evacuation on campus, please save the VU emergency number on your phone: (+31) 020 598 22222. You can find further information about what to do in case of an emergency and the VU evacuation plan on our website. 

The city of Amsterdam 

Useful resources to learn more about accessibility in the city of Amsterdam: 

• Able Amsterdam  
• IAmsterdam guide to accessibility in Amsterdam 
• IAmsterdam guide to accessibility on public transportation in Amsterdam 

Student housing 

There is limited housing available for students with a physical disability. If you require any specific accommodations in your student housing, please reach out to us as early as possible to discuss the options.  

The student housing options differ per programme, please see what housing is available to you: 

• Housing for Incoming Exchange students 
• Housing for Semester in Amsterdam students
• Housing for Summer School students 

For students of all programmes we offer both private studios and rooms with shared accommodations such as bathroom and kitchen. Please note that the costs will differ, and so do the locations. 

Our student housing offer is in different locations in Amsterdam, so it can also be wise to review the public transportation options per location.  

We cannot guarantee to offer you your preferred housing location/type, but reaching out as early as possible will allow us to think along with you and find the most suitable option.  

During the application procedure, you will be given the opportunity to indicate whether you have a disability or chronic illness. You can also indicate which disability or chronic illness you have and which facilities, if any, could be granted. If you are not sure whether you want to provide this information (yet) you can choose to skip it. You can then register it in your file during your studies and request facilities in consultation with your academic advisor. You are never obliged to register your disability or chronic illness, however, you need this registration if you want to apply for facilities. Keep in mind that the process of applying for and being approved for academic accommodations can take a few weeks, so apply well in time before your studies start.  

When you apply to VU Amsterdam Summer school, we ask "Do have any disabilities or special needs that we should know of?". You can select yes and specify any support that you need during your stay at VU Amsterdam so that we can start preparing certain accommodations if needed. Closer to the start of the summer school, we will reach out to you again via email to make sure that you will get the help you need. If you want your course organiser to be aware of your situation, we encourage you to send them an email. 

Students at VU Amsterdam Summer School are only at VU for a short period of time, which affects how you can apply for disability support. Please ignore step 2-4 below if you come to VU as a summer school student and reach out to us directly via amsterdamsummerschool@vu.nl to arrange your support. 

Discuss your study abroad options with your home university. Review the information about disability support available for short-term international students at VU Amsterdam on this webpage before applying. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to the team from the programme you’re interested in applying for. 

We strongly encourage students to read the information provided about studying with a disability in our semester and summer programmes. The facilities available at VU Amsterdam could differ from those available at your home university. Consider how living in a different country, with its own unique culture and language, might affect your experience of studying with a disability. Being far from your established support network could present new challenges. Reflect on whether you might need additional support that you're not currently receiving and explore the resources available to you at VU Amsterdam. Our teams are available to answer questions, offer support and ensure you are informed about your opportunities. 

Preparatory visits to VU Amsterdam  

A preparatory visit can be organized to support you in your preparation for your studies at VU Amsterdam. Students going on exchange within the Erasmus+ programme and are eligible for inclusion support could also be eligible for funding for a preparatory visit to the VU. Erasmus+ students are advised to contact the local Erasmus office to inquire about this possibility.  

During your programme application you can register your disability and request facilities. If you did not register your disability during your application, please do so via the Disability service page. Indicate which facility you are requesting and make sure that you upload a recent medical statement. In case of autism, ADHD or dyslexia, the Examination Board needs a report in which the diagnosis has been made by an authorized care provider.  

We strongly recommend you to apply for academic accommodations before the start of the semester. However, the final date to apply for academic accommodations is 3 weeks before your first exam. 

Before your courses start we will review your application for academic accommodations. If you have applied for extra time during exams and meet the criteria, the Incoming Exchange/Semester in Amsterdam team will review and approve your application. Once approved, you can register you for the exam with extra time. 

Students are strongly advised to apply for academic accommodations before course registration starts so that your accommodations can be reviewed and approved before registering for courses and exams. 

If you have applied for other types of academic accommodations, you must additionally send a written request to the academic advisor from the faculty which you will be taking most of your courses from. Please submit this request to the academic advisor and include an explanation of why the facility is suitable and necessary. The academic advisor will assess your case and inform you about their decision. 

Make sure you submit your application before the semester starts (this applies to both steps).