Exchange studies with special needs - Kunnskapsbasen
Exchange studies with special needs
If you are a student at NTNU with special needs with regards to disabilities accommodation, you can find relevant information on studying abroad as an exchange student here.
Back to the Main page on exhange studies
General information
If you are planning to study abroad as an exchange student from NTNU, you should start planning well ahead. Especially this applies to students requiring disability accommodation at your desired institution of education. The Unit for International Relations can together with NTNU Special Needs Accommodation give you individual advice. If you require help communicating your needs to the educational institution of your choice, one of the international office advisors or NTNU special needs accommodation can provide assistance.
Describe your needs for accommodation early in the process. This enables the people helping you with the accommodation to best be able to find the most suitable solutions for your needs, in cooperation with your desired institution of education. We know it can be difficult to be completely open about a disability. The organisation Association for Higher Education Access and Disability has made a helpful guide on openness which can be of great use.
If you are a recipient of benefits from NAV you have to get in touch with NAV International in order to find out how studies abroad affect your benefits. You can find more information on NAVs website.
The different municipalities in Norway make decisions regarding personal assistance and benefits. The support for personal assistance during studies abroad are not exactly the same in all municipalities, and as such you should get in touch with your respective municipality early in the planning process to find out what applies to your specific situation.
Choosing a country and institution
NTNU has cooperation agreements with institutions of education all over the world. In Europe we have Erasmus Agreements with many institutions as well. Early in the planning process you need to inform yourself on which agreements NTNU has with the different institutions. This makes the application process easier, gives you more scholarship and stipend possibilities and better advice and counsel from NTNU.
NTNU is part of the ENHANCE alliance. ENHANCE works tirelessly to ensure good opportunities for exchange for everyone, regardless of challenges or barriers. The ENHANCE universities have an outspoken goal to be particularly good at facilitiation for students with special needs. Read more about ENHANCE and Mobility for All.
Spend some time researching cultural differences, attitudes and accommodation possibilities for people with a disability and the language situation in your desired country. Please also read experience reports from other students having already been to the place you want to go.
Financing accommodation
The Norwegian State Education Loan Fund (Lånekassen) gives extra grants to students who cannot work while studying because of a disability. This kind of extra stipend can usually be maintained during an exchange study abroad, regardless of place of study (also applies to dyslexia). Get in touch with Lånekassen for information on how you can keep your extra stipend while studying abroad.
Facilitation stipend - Erasmus
You apply for faciltation stipend while applying for exchange in Mobility-Online.
The Facilitation stipend is 250 euros per month in addition to your ordinary Erasmus+ stipend. This is only available if you exchange through the Erasmus+ program. You can apply in Mobility-Online after receiving your offer for exchange, at the same time as receiving your offer of Erasmus+ stipend.
The facilitation stipend is awarded to the following groups:
- Students with children or other care responsibilities
- Students with chronically reduced functionality and chronic illness
- Students with a refugee status
- Students belonging to national minorities and indigenous peoples
Grants and foundations
Several grants and foundations give stipends to students for different reasons. Often it is not specified that a disability is required to receive a grant or endowment. In an application for a grant you should still describe what kinds of expenses are to be expected in relation to your disability and subsequent needs for accommodation.
The foundation Stiftelsen Sofies Minde, for instance, gives a stipend to students with a disability that are studying a bachelor's or master's degree in Norway or abroad.
Forsikring
It is important that you have an insurance policy that covers longers stays abroad. Check with your insurance company before you leave.
Støtte og kontaktpersoner
Når du skal studere i utlandet, kan det være nyttig å være medlem i ANSA. Som student med nedsatt funksjonsevne kan du oppleve utfordringer under oppholdet i utlandet som gjør at du trenger noen å snakke med. Med ANSAs sosialrådgivere kan du ta opp praktiske, følelsesmessige, studierelaterte eller helsemessige utfordringer. De arrangerer også sosiale aktiviteter for at studentene raskt skal bli kjent med hverandre og bli del av studentnettverket på sitt nye studiested.
Support and contact information
When studying abroad it can be useful to be a member of ANSA. As a student abroad with a disability you can experience situations and challenges where it could be helpful to speak to someone. With ANSA's social advisors you can discuss practical, emotional, student related or health topics. They also arrange social activities to help students get to know each other quicker and become a part of the student network at the place they are studying.
You can also get in touch with the Unit for International Relations and NTNU special needs accommodation service if you require assistance while abroad.