Students with long-term disabilities can receive support and adjustments throughout their studies. This page provides information on how to apply for support, details of the support available and contact details for Learning Support Services.

How to apply for support

If you are admitted to Malmö University and have a long-term disability that is documented, you can apply for learning support at any time via Nais (National Administration and Information System).

Examples of long-term disabilities include reading and writing difficulties/dyslexia, mental health issues, and neuropsychiatric disabilities such as autism and ADD/ADHD. Other examples include mobility impairment, visual or hearing impairment, and chronic illnesses. A disability is classified as long-term if it lasts at least six months. Temporary injuries or illnesses are not covered by learning support.

If you have a severe visual impairment, require a sign language interpreter or transcription assistance, or if you need adjustments to the premises, please contact Learning Support Services when applying for the programme or course.

Even if you are unsure whether you need support, we recommend applying directly when you are admitted to Malmö University. You don't need to use the support unless you require it.

Please apply as early as possible. We have a large number of applications at the beginning of the term, so it may take a little longer than usual to receive a reply.  

Apply via the Nais website

You need to submit documentation

In order to apply for learning support, you will need to provide documentation proving your disability. This must be issued by a licensed healthcare professional, such as a doctor, psychologist, audiologist, or certified dyslexia examiner.

If you do not have this documentation, you can contact 1177 for advice on where to go for help.

The document must contain the following information:

  • your name and social security number (person number)
  • the name and place of employment of the certifier
  • the date of the assessment or medical care
  • how long you have had the impairment or medical care
  • how long the impairment is expected to last
  • how the impairment affects you

What happens after I submit my application?

When your application is received, it will be reviewed by a coordinator at the Department for Learning Support. If everything is correct, you will be granted a Nais certificate with decisions and recommendations for support.

When you receive your Nais certificate, you will also receive an email from one of our coordinators. The email contains a link to our booking calendar. If you have questions, want to talk about your learning support or if you need other support, you should make an appointment with a Learning Support Coordinator. You choose whether you want to have the meeting on campus, over the phone or via video. If you have shorter questions about your support, you can also write to pedstod@mau.se

The email also contains an attachment with important information on how to access support. Read this information carefully and follow the instructions in it. Save the attachment so that you can access it later.

Support with your studies

Learning Support Services can recommend and arrange various types of support and adjustments for students with permanent disabilities. You and your coordinator will decide together which support would best meet your needs and help you with your studies.

Note-taking support

First, ask a fellow student if they want to be your note-taker. Otherwise, you can look in Canvas for the note-taking module. In the module, students who want to be a note-taker sign up and you can then contact one of them. If you cannot find the module, you can ask the course coordinator to download it.

You must attend the lectures yourself to receive the notes from your note-taker. If you have any questions, please contact Petter Rasmusson, petter.rasmusson@mau.se. When you have found a note-taker, ask them to register as a note-taker in the form below.

Registration for note-taking support assignments

Mentoring

In some cases, you may be granted mentoring support for a limited time, for example to help you plan and structure your studies.

Assistive programmes, talking books and speech synthesis

Studies can be made easier by having text read out by speech synthesis programmes. There are also spelling programmes in both Swedish and English. All students can download these support programmes to their computer free of charge.

Students with reading disabilities can contact the University Library to get access to talking books.

Assistive programmes that you can download to your computer

Support through talking books and speech synthesis

Support during sit-in exams

Coordinators can recommend learning support in connection with sit-in exams. Examples of support include sitting in a smaller group, using a computer with assistive programmes or extended writing time. However, it is always the examiner who decides whether the recommendations are feasible. It is your responsibility to register your need for support every time you take an exam.

Register the need for learning support at a sit-in exam

Technical aids

Learning Support Services lends dictaphones, reading pens and Smart Pens if available.

International opportunities

Students with disabilities have the right to have the same access to international opportunities as other students. You can get help from the International Office to write your application. At the partner university, students can receive equivalent learning support and in some exchange programmes it is possible to apply for additional scholarship funds.

If you want more information or have questions about learning support and international opportunities, please contact pedstod@mau.se or the International Office.

Exchange semester, internship or thesis abroad

Contact persons for international opportunities

Drop in-mentor

The drop-in mentoring service is designed for students who are waiting to receive a mentor, have previously had a mentor, or only require occasional support.

You can attend a drop-in session if you need help with structuring your studies, planning, prioritising or discussing ideas. You can also find out about the other support services available at the university.

You can visit us at the Student Centre or meet us online via Zoom.

Drop-in mentor at the Student Centre

Tuesdays 10.00–12.00 in Nereus, Neptuniplan 7, room 1046.

Drop-in mentor online via Zoom

Thursdays 12.00–13.00 (cancelled 17 September)

Connect to Zoom meeting (Thursdays)

Students' rights

Rights and responsibilities

Become a support person

As a support person for a student with a disability you have a very important role. You can act as a note-taker, mentor, companion or writing assistant. You help students to succeed in their studies.

Apply to become a support person

We'd like to hear your views

If you have any comments about the Learning Support Service, please send them to Malin Alfredsson.