For those of you who are outside the functional norm, exchange may seem difficult to achieve. Therefore, we want to show the opportunities that are available. Inclusion is one of the most important principles in the new Erasmus program (2021-2027). This means, among other things, that even more people will have the opportunity to participate. If you want to study abroad, you should start planning well in advance. This is especially true if you need to arrange the studies at your new educational institution. Remember we are here to help you! We want as many people as possible to experience traveling on exchange.
How/where to start?
Start by exploring the exchange opportunities for your study program at USN, and on the websites of our partners. USN has many agreements worldwide, and we also have Erasmus agreements in Europe. All educational institutions that participate in Erasmus+ undertake to facilitate for students with special needs or disabilities.
Guidance on exchange
Please contact us at international@usn.no early in your application process so that we (together) can find good solutions for your exchange abroad.
We can put you in touch with those responsible for facilitations and/or adaptions at the university where you wish to have an exchange stay.
You can find contact information for those responsible for facilitation at USN on our intranet: www.usn.no/english/academics/special-needs/
If you can, please describe your facilitation needs early in the process. Then those who help you will have time to find good solutions in collaboration with your exchange institution. We know it can be difficult to be open about your special needs/disability. The organization Association for Higher Education Access and Disability has created a guide on transparency that may be of help: Disclosure-guidelines/veileder.
Support schemes and financing
Erasmus+:
All educational institutions that participate in Erasmus+ must make arrangements for people who need it. Students from underrepresented groups within study mobility are hereby granted an additional scholarship during their Erasmus+ stay. The goal is for students from underrepresented groups to make greater use of the opportunities that Erasmus+ provides. You can receive an additional grant of €250 if you are a student from underrepresented groups:
- Additional scholarships for students with children under 18 years of age.
- Additional scholarships for students with disabilities or chronic illnesses. This applies to students who have chronic illnesses and need accommodations that may lead to extra expenses during mobility.
- Additional scholarships for students with refugee status.
- Students who are first-generation students, i.e., the first in their family to pursue higher education.
- Students who belong to indigenous peoples and national minorities.
More details:
- Students with children or other caregiving responsibilities
All students with children under 18 years of age, regardless of whether the child accompanies them on the mobility or not, can receive an additional scholarship. However, only one additional scholarship can be granted, so no more is given if one has multiple children.
Students with caregiving responsibilities for younger siblings, older family members, and/or family members with serious mental and/or physical illness, as well as substance dependence, can also receive an additional scholarship.
Documentation requirements: Students must sign a declaration of honor to confirm that they belong to the category of “students with fewer opportunities”.
- Students with permanent disabilities and chronic illnesses
All students who fall under the UN’s definition of persons with disabilities are considered “students with fewer opportunities”. This definition is broad and indicates that the disability and/or chronic illness must be long-term.
“Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may prevent them from fully and effectively participating in society on an equal basis with others” (taken from the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities – un.org).
Documentation requirements: Students must sign a declaration of honor to confirm that they belong to the category of “students with fewer opportunities”.
- Students with refugee status
All students with refugee status are considered to have fewer opportunities.
Documentation requirements: Students must sign a declaration of honor to confirm that they belong to the category of “students with fewer opportunities”. Currently being updated.
- First-generation students
All students who are the first in their family to pursue higher education, and who do not have parents or siblings who have previously completed higher education. By completed higher education, we mean a completed bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or doctoral degree.
Documentation requirements: Students must sign a declaration of honor to confirm that they belong to the category of “students with fewer opportunities”.
- Students belonging to indigenous peoples and national minorities
All students who have a connection to the indigenous people (the Sami) or the national minorities (Jews, Kvens/Norwegian Finns, Romani people/Tatars, Forest Finns, and Roma).
The affiliation can be linked to language and cultural anchoring by the student either
a) using the relevant language as a home language and/or b) having or having had a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent with the relevant language as a home language
Or (applies only to Sami students) c) being listed, or being the child of a person who is or has been listed, in the Sami census
Documentation requirements: Students must sign a declaration of honor to confirm that they belong to the category of “students with fewer opportunities”.
The information above is from the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills.
NAV:
If you receive benefits from NAV, you must contact NAV International to find out how studying abroad affects benefits.
Personal assistance:
It is the municipalities that offer and make decisions about personal assistance. The support for user-directed personal assistance during studies abroad is not the same in all municipalities. Therefore, contact your municipality for more information early in the planning process.
Various offers abroad
Services offered may vary from country to country, for example this may apply to:
- Adapted housing
- Travel assistance
- Availability/access
- Arrangement of exams/alternative exam forms
- Adapted teaching material (e.g. audio books)
- Possibility of assistance/companion
- Sign language interpreter
- Preparatory visit to the host institution
On the website "The European platform about inclusion and support services" you will find an overview of facilitation and what is offered at the various educational institutions in Europe.
Useful support during the exchange stay
ANSA:
When you are going to study abroad, it can be useful to be a member of ANSA. As a student abroad you may experience challenges, which means that you need someone to talk to.
With ANSA's social advisers, you can address practical, emotional, study-related or health-related challenges. They also organize social activities so that you can get to know each other quickly and become part of the student network at your new place of study.
Universell:
Universell is a national driving force in higher education for inclusive learning environments, learning environment committees and universal design. They have websites about international student mobility where information is collected that is useful in the planning process. On their website: https://hkdir.no/en they have several useful links that apply to both support schemes and student experiences.
Nordens velferdsenter has made a nice film about studying abroad with a functional impairment:
Questions about adaptions/facilitations? Contact international@usn.no