Disclosing and sharing personal circumstances

Whether you are a prospective student or a current student you can have a confidential discussion with a student counsellor of Student Affairs Coaching and Counselling or the study adviser of your educational programme. You can start the conversation before you enrol.

Regardless of what education or course you are undertaking this discussion may include:

• What support service is available and what documentation you may need to provide.
• Whether or not you are likely to need reasonable adjustments or support service.
• Whether or not you will need to disclose in order to have adjustments put in place.
• Referral to other services that will aid your studies e.g. assistive technology, mentoring, workshops/courses/training etc.

Always remember that the decision to disclose and share personal circumstances is private; it's yours to make. However, there are definitely some circumstances where disclosure is the best option. Disclosing and sharing might be better than being misunderstood.

• Pro: it can open up opportunities for you to receive the support and reasonable adjustments needed to succeed to the best of your ability.
• Con: there is the possibility of encountering lowered expectations and other prejudicial attitudes.

Privacy laws protect information about a person’s disability, (mental) health condition or other personal circumstances. The information you share cannot be shared with others within the institution without your consent, except in extreme circumstances.
Adjustments and support are arranged without details of your circumstances/health condition. The information you share will be registered in UT's information system and is treated with strictest confidentiality.

If you expect to encounter difficulties during your studies due to your personal circumstances, we encourage you to report and disclose your circumstances in advance.

By discussing your personal circumstances, we are able, within our abilities, to offer appropriate support, taking into account your specific wishes. An introductory meeting prior to your studies at the UT is one of the possibilities.

For more information on 'studying with personal circumstances', please contact the student counsellor.

Inform your study adviser

If studying or following courses is difficult due to personal circumstances, it is important to inform the study adviser of your programme.

The study adviser gives you advice and support with the application of (test) facilities, extra guidance and, if necessary and desirable, thinks with you about an adjustment in the study programme.

Application for a support scheme

Please note: Disclosing and sharing personal circumstances does not automatically lead to an application for a support scheme. A specific form has been designed for this purpose.

For more information and application of support schemes:

• Binding recommendation - request for assessment of personal circumstances (applicable to first year Bachelor students)
• FOBOS - financial support for special circumstances students.
• MoMi - If you failed or will fail to meet the MoMi requirements because of circumstances that delayed your study.