Do you need Special Education Support?

Students with disabilities who are enrolled at the University of Copenhagen and suffer from a documented disability that requires special support in order to undertake their studies can apply for Special Education Support (SPS). 

Please contact us as soon as possible whether you want to be enrolled in a master's degree program, as a guest student or as an exchange student. Find out if you are eligible to receive Special Education Support below and see what kinds of support are available

Already a student at UCPH?

If you are already a student at UCPH and wants to know more about SPS, please log on KUnet to find more information.

Who can apply for SPS?

  • Danish citizens enrolled in a full degree programme at UCPH
  • EU citizens enrolled in a full degree programme at UCPH

In order to get SPS support as a non-EU citizen you will need to apply for equal right status according to either Danish rules or EU law (please contact the Agency (SU) if you have any questions).

However, as a non-EU student interested in a full degree programme at UCPH, you should contact the faculty where you would like to be enrolled. Then they inform you of your options.

Exchange students, guest students at UCPH

As an exchange or guest student at UCPH you are not covered on the same terms as a full degree student. But you can still apply for special conditions in your classes and at exams. See information regarding SPS for exchange students and guest students (studying at UCPH for one - two semesters). The rest of the information on this page is for students who are enrolled in a full- degree programme at UCPH.

See how to apply for special education support?

Meet students who receive support

How to apply for SPS?

The support is known as SPS. It stands for Special Education Support (specialpædagogisk støtte, SPS in Danish) and can be anything from physical aids to personal support, however, not financial support or academic support for a subject you are struggling with. 

To obtain SPS, you must have a diagnosed functional impairment. You can apply for SPS throughout the duration of your studies. 

Contact us to get SPS

Please book an interview with one of our SPS-counsellors. ​At the interview, we will help you get an overview of your needs and opportunities for support.

The meeting will be the same everywhere. The most important thing is that you book the earliest time available. You are also welcome to send us an email or drop by the South Campus.

Besides, we recommend that you also contact the faculty of your programme before applying in order to discuss your situation as a student with a disability. You can ask about what kind of special conditions the faculty can offer you in classes and at exams.

Please contact us if you have any questions. We are here to help.

SPS-counsellors, UCPH

SPS på KU

SPS support

What kind of support is available?

The target group for Special Education Support is broad and the kinds of support available depend on your type of disability. Find out more below. 

However, to apply for SPS, you must meet the following requirements:

  • ​​Your impairment must be diagnosed. 
  • You must have formal documentation (for example from a medical specialist or psychiatrist).
  • You must be enrolled and actively studying
  • You must be a Danish citizen, be covered by an international agreement or be comparable to a Danish citizen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advice and assistance for students with disabilities the university.

What is the process?

How do I get my study aids and my support?

We will contact you as soon as we have received the aids you need. Then you can make an appointment to pick up you aids. You will get the details when we contact you when you are already enrolled in UCPH.

See what happens from booking an interview to receiving Special Education Support (SPS) in the timeline below:

1

SPS interview at UCPH

Start by booking an interview with a SPS-counsellor at the University of Copenhagen.

You can do this as soon you are offered admission to UCPH. Then we will help you get started with support.

3

The suppliers will contact you

If needed the suppliers will contact you within 10 days to make sure that you get the right support. 

5

UCPH applies for the recommended support for you

The SPS-counsellor at UCPH applies for the recommended support.​
7

Your aids are ready

You will be notified by your SPS counsellor when you can pick up your aids at UCPH's reception at Krystalgade 25, 1172 Copenhagen K.

2

Apply for support

Your SPS-counsellor at UCPH applies for the support and/or aids that you have discussed during the interview. You will often recieve some forms that you have to fill out and send back to your SPS-counsellor.

The SPS-counsellor at UCPH sends the application to the suppliers.

4

If you have been given an assessment

The suppliers prepare a report with descriptions of the recommended aids and support. The report can be used as documentation for dispensation applications and application for additional support.​

6

Notification in your e-Boks

When your application has been processed, you will receive a message in your e-Boks. It often takes 3-6 weeks from you start the process until you are notified.
Please note that it may take a few months before your support is fully up and running.
1

SPS interview at UCPH

Start by booking an interview with a SPS-counsellor at the University of Copenhagen. You can do this as soon you are offered admission to UCPH. We will help you get started with support.

Remember to prepare for the interview by reading everything on this page. Then we will talk about what is important for you and your needs.​

2

Message in your e-Boks after 3-6 weeks

Your SPS-counsellor at UCPH applies for the support and/or aids that you have discussed during the interview. 3-6 weeks later, you will be notified via e-Boks when your application has been processed. The SPS-counsellor at UCPH sends the application to the suppliers.

3

The suppliers will contact you

The suppliers will contact you within 10 days to arrange for aids/an interview or assessment, if relevant. It may be that we recommend more assessments.​

4

If you have been given an assessment

The suppliers prepare a report with descriptions of the recommended aids and support. The report can be used as documentation for dispensation applications and application for additional support.​

5

UCPH applies for the recommended support for you

The SPS-counsellor at UCPH applies for the recommended support.​
6

Notification in your e-Boks

Three to six weeks later, you will be notified in your e-Boks when your application has been processed.​
7

Any aids and materials are ready

You must make an appointment to pick up your aids from the UCPH Student Centre. ​

What will we do?

At UCPH, we do not have our own team of psychologists, support teachers, mentors etc. In fact, the only support that we have on campus is the local student counselling services, who can help you to apply for special conditions on your education (e.g. extra time for exams).

Our process

The SPS-counsellors apply for a grant for you from the state of Denmark (the Agency of Education and Quality).

If they approve your grant, UCPH will ask external suppliers (like the Student Counselling Service, in Danish: Studenterrådgivningen) to help you.

Waiting time

 You must be prepared to wait for up to two to three months upon your arrival in Denmark before the support is fully established. This is because we can only apply for a grant for you once you have a Danish CPR number. You must arrive in Denmark and find a place to live before you can file an application for a CPR number.

So, as an international student with disabilities, you must be prepared for some waiting before the support is established due to waiting time with case processing at the Agency and at the suppliers.

Education, exams and study environment

Contact the right faculty or institure

Contact persons at the faculties can help and guide you regarding specific facilities and academic matters such as:

  • Classrooms and accessibility
  • Specific limitations that may restrict your possibility for completing a specific educational programme
  • Dispensations relating to exams, study activity requirements, completion time, choice of study and alternative study plans academic supportive persons once you have been granted SPS.

Faculty of Humanities

Please contact the institute, which your educational programme belongs under. There is a list (in Danish) of student counselling at each institute.

Faculty of Science

SCIENCE Student Services.

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

SUND Study Information.

Forest and Landscape College

studievejledning_administration@ign.ku.dk 

Faculty of Law

Student and Careers counselling, studiekontakt@jur.ku.dk.

Faculty of Social Sciences

sps@samf.ku.dk.

Faculty of Theology

Student counselling, +45 35 32 39 61 / studentcounsellor@teol.ku.dk.

School of Oral Health Care

skt@sund.ku.dk

Housing for students with disabilities

Housing Foundation Copenhagen offers special attention to people with disabilities. Students with special needs applying for housing through Housing Foundation Copenhagen will be asked to provide information in regard to their disability in the online booking system and to provide documentation. For further information please contact Housing Foundation Copenhagen at: contact@housingfoundation.ku.dk.

Advice and assistance for students with disabilities outside the university

At the University of Copenhagen we will do all we can to help and assist you, but there are some situations for which we cannot provide solutions at this time. If you need a helper/assistant, the University can help connect you with a relevant entity. However, the University cannot cover the costs of the support. As a rule, prepayment is required. 

Female student from UCPH standing in front of building - looking for housing for students with disabilities

Special education support for exchange and guest students

As an exchange or guest student at UCPH, you can apply for special conditions in class and/or exams, apply for permission to use aids from home, or you can receive guidance regarding purchasing relevant aids through private companies in Denmark.

Usually, students can apply for financial support through their home university. Please contact your home university coordinator about financial funding.

How to apply for special conditions in class or permission to use aids

  1. Contact International Education at UCPH at int-admission@adm.ku.dk as soon as possible (preferably before you apply and before you have been accepted).
  2. Make sure that you can document your impairment or illness.
  3. International Education will help you get in touch with the right people at the relevant faculty/faculties so that you can receive the support you need.

How to receive guidance regarding purchasing relevant aids through private companies in Denmark

Please contact the Special Education Support Office at sps@ku.dk and let them know what type of aid you will need to purchase.

Want to know more?

You will be able to get more information about deadlines and documentation after you have been accepted to UCPH.

Read more about student support, student counselling and well-being.

The rest of the information on this page is for students who are enrolled in a full degree programme at UCPH.

Write to us


Feel free to send us an e-mail if you have any questions.

Email:  
sps@adm.ku.dk

Visit us (drop by) - Tuesdays at 9 - 12

You do not need to book an appointment, you can just come by to meet us. Find us next to the IT Support Centre at Karen Blixens Plads 8, ground floor on the main square, room 13A. 0.53.


However, we recommend that you contact the faculty of the programme you are applying to.