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.
You can receive an additional grant of €250 if you fall under one of these categories:
- student with minor child(ren).
- student with disabilities and chronic illnesses
- student with refugee status
Here you can read more about the various requirements:
- Students with minor children:
All students with children, regardless of whether the child participates in the mobility or not, can receive an additional grant. You can only get one additional grant, so you will not get anything more if you have more children, or fall under more categories. The student must sign a declaration on honor to confirm that they belong to the category.
- Students with disabilities and chronic diseases:
All students who fall under the UN's definition: "Students who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others" (United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNCRPD) falls under this category. This definition is broad, but indicates that the impairment and/or chronic illness must be permanent.
Students who fall under this category will hav to submit a confirmation from the doctor that they fall under the above definition. Students who have already submitted documentation of functional impairment for their studies, do not need to submit new documentation to receive an additional grant.
- Students with refugee status:
All students with refugee status fall under this category. The student must sign a declaration on honor to confirm that they belong to the category.
Erasmus+ also has an extra grant that you can apply for if you need accommodation. The funds must cover documented extra expenses for:
- functional impairments
- chronic diseases
- other accommodation needs, for example dyslexia
NAV:
If you receive benefits from NAV, you must contact NAV International to find out how studying abroad affects benefits. You can find more information on NAV's website student abroad.
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: www.universell.no/english 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