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Support services available

Here you will get an overview of the support services we offer for students with special needs at UiB.

Students with individual arrangements at UiB

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UiB Studieavdelingen

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In many cases, you can get answers to your questions about academic adaptations that you need by contacting a student counsellor or the course teacher in your study programme.

Please check our study programme web pages to find the student counsellor at your study programme

It would be helpful if you could bring documentation of your disability to your first conversation with us, if you have not already sent this in. It is important that the documentation (doctor's statement) states which disability you have, and what type of measures that might be the right ones for you.

Services available

Mentor 

This service is primarily offered to students who have educational support through the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV). You can also talk about this with your contact person at NAV. 

Having a mentor involves follow-up from a fellow student. A mentor can be a person to discuss your subjects with and do exercises with, but also a supporter who can contribute to the planning and structure of student life. If needed, a mentor may also be able to take notes in lectures. 

Accessible study spaces

Accessible study spaces allow you to sit in rooms with fewer students. Some of the study spaces have height-adjustable sit-stand desks. Accessible study spaces can be useful if you need special equipment and aids, if you need greater predictability, or if you have concentration problems and anxiety.

Please note that we have a limited number of study spaces. Allocated space is valid for one academic year at a time (approx. 15 September - 15 June). We also recommend that you consult with your faculty and your department to find out if there are any opportunities for a place in the reading rooms that they have at their disposal.

Syllabus in audio format

Having the syllabus available in audio or e-book format can be of great help if you have reading or writing problems, visual impairments or concentration challenges that affect your studies.

You can apply for borrowing or production rights at the Norwegian Library of Talking Books and Braille (NLB).

Please check our study programme web pages to find the student counsellor at your study programme  

Aids and assistive technology

If you have a long-term need for aids and assistive technology (more than 2 years), you can contact the NAV Hjelpemiddelsentral (Nav Assistive Technology and Adaptations) in the county where you are registered in Skatteetaten (the National Registry). For short-term needs, please contact your faculty to see if they have some equipment you can borrow. 

If you have a hearing loss, hearing loops (audio induction loops) and infrared (IR) hearing systems can make it easier for you to hear your lecturer. Some auditoriums and group rooms have IR hearing systems. You can borrow a receiver from Audiovisual (AV) Services for one semester at a time. Please report any problems with the receiver device or the audio system. 

Lingdys and Lingpilot (Mac)

If you have documented dyslexia and need the Lingdys software for reading and writing support (info in Norwegian), you can fill in the form on NAV’s website. If you open the form in its own tab, you can keep this guide available at the same time.

  1. Choose if you need help to choose documentation or not.
  2. Fill in the relevant fields, and click «neste» (next).
  3. Download «første side til saken din» (the cover page for your case) and «søknad om hjelpemidler mv.»
  4. Print the forms.
  5. Fill in your personal details. 
  6. Under Section 5, you can write that you have dyslexia and that Lingdys or Lingpilot (Mac) is a necessary tool for you to complete your education. 
  7. Under Section 6, fill in Lingdys and/or Lingdys English or Lingpilot (Mac).
  8. Under Section 8 you can write the name of your faculty/department, and the email address for your study counsellor. Under «ansvar for» (responsibility for), write «Hire of person to hold a course in LingIT».   
  9. Under Section 9, write your own address under «leveringsadresse» (delivery address), as well as your name under «kontaktperson» (contact person), plus your telephone number.
  10. Obtain a confirmation that you have been admitted to a study programme at UiB. This is sent together with the application to NAV. The student counsellor can arrange such a confirmation for you.

Send your completed form to NAV together with documentation of reading and writing problems (report after assessment).

Video showing completion of the application form to NAV (.mp4) - in Norwegian, and goes through the same steps as those mentioned in the bullet list from Section 5 onward. 

Rest facilities

All faculties have rest / breastfeeding rooms. The student counsellor can provide more information about the rest / breastfeeding room's location.

Please check our study programme web pages to find the student counsellor at your study programme

Assessment of dyslexia and dyscalculia

Do you wonder whether you have difficulties in reading, writing or maths that are so great that they may indicate dyslexia or dyscalculia? Please contact your student counsellor, and we can consider whether an assessment of the problem is needed. 

Please check our study programme web pages to find the student counsellor at your study programme

Housing, parking and transport

Sammen (The student welfare organisation) have specially adapted student housing for the disabled students.

For more information about Sammens housing services and other offers, please visit Sammen's website

Study abroad

International competence and experience should be available to everyone. Adaptations to the study situation can also be arranged for Norwegian students abroad.