Arrangements for courses and/or exams for students with disabilities

EPFL provides specific arrangements for lectures and/or exams for students and PhD students who must handle:

  • a physical disability (reduced mobility, impaired vision or hearing, etc.)
  • a chronic and/or autoimmune disease
  • mental disorder/illness (depression, bipolarity, schizophrenia, etc.)
  • learning disabilities / language and/or movement disorders (dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysorthographia, dyspraxia, etc.)
  • autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
  • attention-deficit and/or hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  • other disorders  (case by case study)

Standard arrangement request

To let the Commission make a decision, arrangement applications must be submitted as following:

..

Deadline for autumn semester 2023

Level/deadline17.09.202319.11.2023
Bachelor MasterFor midterms and exam sessionFor exam session only
Preparatory year (CMS)For the CMS exams*
EPFL admissionFor EPFL admission exams
*Since there is no exam session at the Preparatory year (CMS), CMS students must apply by the deadline of 17.09.2023

Deadline for spring semester 2024

Level/deadline22.02.202402.05.2024
Bachelor MasterFor midterms and exam sessionFor exam session only
Preparatory year (CMS)For the CMS exams*
*Since there is no exam session at the Preparatory year (CMS), CMS students must apply by the deadline of 22.02.2024

Only complete requests will be processed by the Commission. The following documents will be needed:

  • An application form (student or PhD) filled in and signed.
  • A report* and/or recent assessments (less than 2 years) of a specialist
  • Decisions from educational institutions previously attended (if provided)

*The report of a specialist (doctor, neuropsychologist, psychotherapist or DYS specialist) must be recent (less than 2 years), written in one of the official Swiss languages (French, German, Italian) or in English and provide the following informations:

  1. Diagnosis (according to ICF or DSM) and its foreseeable evolution (permanence, progression or decrease).
  2. Functional limitations and their impact on exams and/or courses.
  3. Effectiveness of care and/or measures taken.
  4. The requested arrangements (e.g. 20% or 33% additional time, being in a quiet place in the exams room, use of a tablet with keyboard, etc.).

The request (form and documents) should be sent to  [email protected]

Collecting all the necessary documents can take some time, students should create their application request well in advance.

Twice a semester, an EPFL Commission examines the arrangement requests and sends its decisions to students about fifteen days after the submission deadline.

Students needs to confirm they accept the arrangement decided by the Commission. 

Once confirmed, the arrangement: 

  • is communicated to the teaching staff
  • is valid for the entire current curriculum (except in special cases or for temporary arrangements for which a semestrial or annual reassessment is necessary)

Emergency arrangement request further an accident

In the case of

  • an accident
  • sudden chronic illness
  • sudden incapacity

reducing the ability to take the exams, temporary arrangement can be arranged where possible. For organizational reasons, the EPFL cannot guarantee the implementation of these emergency arrangements.

Only complete requests will be processed by the Commission. The following documents will be needed:

  • An application form (student or PhD) filled in and signed.
  • A report* of a specialist

*The report of a specialist must be very recent, written in one of the official Swiss languages (French, German, Italian) or in English and provide the following informations:

  1. Diagnosis (according to ICF or DSM) and its foreseeable evolution (permanence, progression or decrease).
  2. Functional limitations and their impact on exams and/or courses.
  3. Effectiveness of care and/or measures taken.
  4. The requested arrangements (e.g. 20% or 33% additional time, being in a quiet place in the exams room, use of a tablet with keyboard, etc.).
  5. The date until which the recommended accommodation is valid.

The request (form and documents) should be sent to  [email protected]

Other information

In the event that the exam commission authorizes the use of computers to take exams, please note that EPFL only uses its secure tablets.

  • These are equipped with Notability software, a pen and a keyboard. No other software or functionality can be added.
  • The use of a secure device adapted to the visually impaired or blind people is also possible.

Students who can benefit from a tablet must confirm this need by email to each teacher for each exam at least 6 working days before the exam if they require one.

An arrangement request can also be submitted by candidates enrolled in the Euler course or for an admission exam.

Support measures involving costs may be charged to the students.

Students should present their claim for reimbursement to the invalidity insurance (for Swiss students) or other relevant authorities (for international students).

Contact

The social consultation answers questions about arrangements and/or evaluates specific needs: [email protected]