You may then need practical guidance and extra support to make the most of your study time. To make education accessible to everyone, VU Amsterdam offers specific guidance for students with autism.
During individual guidance sessions, there is room for your specific needs. Together with the peer coach, you explore your situation and discuss the support you need. This may include things like finding a suitable study to study, reviewing a drafted email to a lecturer, helping with creating and following a schedule, discussing your thesis process, or whatsoever. The individual guidance we offer can address a wide range of questions and is therefore tailored to each person’s needs. The peer coach provides a listening ear, and if needed, you will work together to find possible solutions.
Individual guidance is provided by student-assistants with a background in psychology who are well acquainted with the VU. The sessions take place once every two weeks and last half an hour. The sessions can be held either online or in person on campus.
We ask for a small personal contribution for the individual guidance of €25 per semester. The first semester runs from September through January, and the second from February through June. After the intake you will receive an email with additional information about the start of the autism guidance and a link to pay the required contribution.
To sign up for individual ASD guidance, you first schedule an intake with the autism coordinator to discuss your needs. This can be done via the ‘schedule an intake’ button at the top of this page.
In principle, you sign up for guidance for an entire semester, but it is also possible to join or leave during the semester.
Do you feel that your way of studying or dealing with stimuli differs from that of most fellow students? In this neurodiversity group, we offer an inclusive space to explore this.
The Brainpower group is designed for VU-students with AD(H)D, autism, giftedness, high sensitivity, or other forms of neurodivergence - with or without a formal diagnosis.
By sharing experiences and exploring practical tools, you will learn how to better balance your studies and student life.
What does this group offer?
• A safe environment for reflection, recognition and exchange;
• Insight into your own sensory processing and building a toolkit to cope with it;
• Learning to consciously manage your energy and find balance;
• Greater insight into social interactions and self-acceptance;
• Social support and connection with other (neurodivergent) students.
Please note: this training does not focus on specific study skills such as planning. Instead, it focuses on personal development and learning to work with your neurotype.
If you struggle with discipline, creating structure, or need accountability, you may want to consider the Back on Track study group offered by the student psychological counsellors.
The Brainpower group is led by a student counsellor and consists of 6 sessions of 1,5 hours. The group takes place on campus and will have a maximum capacity of 8–10 participants.
For now, the group is only offered in Dutch, but when enough students apply an international group will follow. So please register yourself regardless!
Costs: €15,00, workbook included.
You can register for the Brainpower group via this registration form. Before the group starts, you will receive an email with additional information and a link to complete your payment.
If you are still unsure whether the Brainpower group is right for you or when you have any questions, you can contact us via the contact form or schedule a non-binding intake using the ‘schedule an intake’ button.
'The recognition that I'm not the only one running into certain problems'
'That my schedule becomes so clear and less busy by discussing the week with someone who understands how a neurodiverse brain works'
'The social contact, advice and sharing experiences'
'Tips and tricks, helping to build a schedule, good thinking and lots of understanding'
If you incur study delay due to special circumstances, you may be eligible for financial support. In case of long-term delay due to chronic illness, disability, dyslexia or other special circumstances, the student counsellor can inform you about DUO schemes.
Under certain conditions, you can also appeal to the Student Support Regulation. If you are experiencing any special circumstances, please report them to your academic advisor as soon as possible. You might be eligible for financial compensation.
The Academic advisor can help you with study-related questions, such as developing a realistic study plan amongst others. In addition, the academic advisor is your first point of contact if you are experiencing personal circumstances that may affect your study progress. They can also help you apply for specific support facilities that can help you in your studies, such as extra time during exams.
The student psychological counsellors offer short-term and solution-oriented support for students who experience study-related and/or personal problems.
During a first short consultation session (start session) you discuss the help you might need. Signing up for a training or personal counselling sessions could be the next step.
The student counsellors can help you with questions or problems that are not related to the content of your studies. You can contact the student counsellors for advice on DUO facilities, urgent housing questions and other (financial) regulations.
The Student Wellbeing Point is an informal and relaxed space in which trained VU students offer fellow students a listening ear, a safe place to catch their breath, or advice on where to find VU support services. You can find the Student Wellbeing Point right next to the student desk in the Main Building.
For more general information about studying with a disability, you can contact the Info Point Studying with a disability (SMF). Via this website you can also register your disability, so you will receive the right support.
Do you have any questions, or do you want more information on autism counselling or the Brainpower group? You can reach us via the contact form or you can make an appointment right away using the blue button on the top right of this page. An appointment takes about half an hour and is non-binding. Parent(s) and/or supervisor(s) are welcome at this meeting.
Do contact the student counsellors!
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