Studying with a disability
If you’re a student at Maastricht University (UM) and have a physical, psychological or sensory disability, a chronic illness or another condition such as dyslexia, ADHD, autism or Crohn's disease, we offer a variety of services to support you in your studies.
Disability Support
To access our services, such as extra exam time, smaller exam rooms and assistive technology, please contact Disability Support. A Disability Support officer will assess your needs and explore the best solutions for you.
Learn how to apply for disability support
The services available differ per faculty or educational unit. Some of these services are listed below.
Watch our video to find out more!
Contact Disability Support
We are available Monday to Friday, 11.00 to 13.00 CET:
disability@maastrichtuniversity.nl
+31 43 388 5272
Privacy statement UM Student Guidance
Information for UM employees on supporting students with a disability
Assistive technology
We offer the following text-to-speech software for students who qualify:
- ReadSpeaker TextAid: This online text-to-speech program helps you with reading and understanding text by providing an audible version of your documents as well as features such as text highlighting and a reading ruler for additional auditory and visual support.
- ReadSpeaker for TestVision This add-on assists in reading aloud exam questions and documents during digital exams.
Financial support
If your studies are delayed due to your disability and you are receiving Dutch study financing, you might be eligible for financial support from the UM 'Profileringsfonds' to help cover the extra costs.
Additional support may also be available from DUO or the Dutch municipality where you reside. See the ECIO factsheet (in Dutch) for more information.
Priority status for housing
Students with a disability or chronic disease may be eligible for priority status with Maastricht Housing (not for students with dyslexia). If special modifications are needed, such as wheelchair accessibility, please indicate this well in advance. Contact Disability Support to apply for priority status based on medical indications. Disability Support will submit your request to Maastricht Housing.
Students with autism (ASS) may be eligible for a student room at a Jados facility in the city centre (link only in Dutch).
Inclusive internships & work experience
Through our Career Services office, UM offers a variety of programmes, workshops and lectures to help you prepare for your career. They can also help you find inclusive internships and voluntary work. ECIO, the Dutch expertise centre for inclusive education can also help you gain social work experience and learn tips for finding inclusive internships (in Dutch).
UnliMited Network
UnliMited is a network for and by students and employees with disabilities or chronic conditions, under the umbrella of the Taskforce Obstacle-free studying and working at UM.
Join us and become a part of our active community that aims to create an inclusive and accessible environment for everyone at UM.
Continuous improvement of inclusive education
Since Rianne Letschert signed the ‘Declaration of intent of Dutch institutions for higher education’ regarding the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2020, UM has actively been improving the inclusivity of our education. Learn more in the video below.
You can also read about conversations between Rector Magnificus Pamela Habibovic, Disability Officer Sigrid Péters and students Carolina, John and Sjoerd regarding the progress made and what opportunities still exist (in Dutch).
Help promote empathy in healthcare
The Patient as a Person Foundation invites students with disabilities or chronic experiences to share their stories with future healthcare professionals, promoting empathy in patient care. If you want to contribute, email info@mensachterdepatient.nl.