Support for students
with disabilities
Studying with a disability or a specific learning need works differently from country to country, and it is not always obvious who to ask for help when you arrive somewhere new. In Belgium, institutions are required to support you, and most have a dedicated team for exactly this.
This page explains your right to support, what kind of help is available, and how to get in touch with the right people.
Overview
What support looks like for you depends on your specific needs and how early you get in touch with your institution. Most accommodations take some lead time to set up, so knowing who to contact and when to reach out matters as much as knowing what is available.
Your right to reasonable accommodations
Belgian higher education institutions are legally required to provide reasonable accommodations (redelijke aanpassingen) for students with a disability or a specific learning need, such as dyslexia, ADHD or a chronic illness. This applies across universities, university colleges and adult education centres, though exactly how it is arranged can vary between institutions.
Types of support available
Depending on your needs, support can include:
- Extra time or a separate room for exams
- Adapted study materials, such as digital formats or alternative layouts
- Note-taking or interpreting support during lectures
- Adjustments to your timetable or exam scheduling
- Physical accessibility adjustments on campus, such as accessible classrooms or facilities
Not every type of support applies to every situation, so it is worth discussing your specific needs directly rather than assuming what is or is not possible.
Getting in touch with your institution
Every institution has a team or contact person responsible for arranging accommodations, sometimes called student facilities, a diversity office, or a disability support contact, depending on the school. Since the exact name and process differ per institution, the most reliable approach is to contact your student services or international office and ask specifically who handles support for students with a disability or learning need.
Reach out as early as possible, ideally before or shortly after you enrol, since arranging accommodations such as adapted exam formats can take time.
Financial support
The Flemish study grant scheme (studietoelage) takes additional needs related to a disability into account as part of its eligibility criteria. Since the exact conditions and amounts can change, check your eligibility directly through the official study grants website rather than relying on figures from a previous year.
Good to know: contact your institution's support team before problems come up, not after. Accommodations such as adapted exams or extended deadlines are far easier to arrange in advance than once you are already behind or under pressure.
Sources
- Education in Flanders
- Study grants (studietoelagen)
