Tallinn University accessibility has been evaluated by EUni4ALL-NETWORK and is part of the Inclusive Mobility network. University has a Disability Counsellor, whose goal is to support students with special needs to ensure equal conditions in higher education with fellow students. They will help to arrange adjustments for participating in courses, adjusting the physical study environment and provide information about available scholarships and support services. Everything discussed with them is confidential, and the learner's autonomy is taken into account at every step. University defines students with special needs as learners who depending on their long-term health condition, may need to change the learning environment to ensure equal access to higher education based on the specifics of their  needs.  

At Tallinn University, special needs can be proven with:

  • a disability certificate from the Social Insurance Board;  
  • or the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund's reduced working capacity certificate;
  • or a specialist doctor's certificate
  • or with your home university disability assessment  certificate. 

Disability Counsellor can be contacted for the following topics:

  • Support in getting adjusted in Estonia. Help with finding scholarships for students with special needs, applying for disabilities and/or reduced work capacity in the Estonian system and finding necessary services. 
  • Adjustments to entrance exams. Candidates can ask for adaptations in the entrance exams to take into account the obstacles arising from the specifics of special needs and the environment. For the adjustment, the disability certificate must be submitted to the special needs student counsellor until SAIS and Dream Apply applications can be submitted.
  • Exemption from reimbursement study fines. Is not required from students with at least moderate disabilities or reduced work ability(certificates in the Estonian system) who are studying in the free Estonian language curriculum during the validity of the certificate. This also means an exemption from the reimbursement of study costs in an additional year or when falling into part-time studying.
  • Reasonable adjustments in the duration of your studies. To put the adjustments in place, the special needs counsellor must be presented with a certificate of the basis of the special needs and recommendations to take into account. This will be evaluated with the counsellor to take into account as much as the Study Regulations and university resources allow. Faculty members have one month from being informed to implement the changes that are possible with still achieving all the course learning outcomes.

Support in higher education outside Tallinn University

Estonian Higher Education law does not regulate support or equal access to higher education for students with special needs. This means the university does not have its own designated support services. The services students need are provided by different government levels for people who have established their disability in the Estonian system. 

  • Rehabilitation services are  through Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund or Social Insurance Board.Services for people with disabilities or reduced working capacity to teach and develop everyday skills, enhance their opportunities to participate in society, support them in fulfilling the prerequisites to work or study. Read more about applying for the determination of the degree of disability or/and assessment of work ability
  • The Estonian Chamber of Disabled People  is to improve the livelihood, the quality of life and the social inclusion of disabled people. 

  • Students who have a living registration in Tallinn and have a certain degree of disability severity can  apply for services the city offers HERE
  • The national scholarship for students with special needs depends on the type and severity of the student's disability and ranges from 60 to 510 euros per month.  Read more here. You can apply beginning of autumn semester or spring semester.  Apply here.
  • To get technical aids read more HERE.

 

special needs adviser

Kai Rannastu

Counsellor for Students with Special Needs
kai.rannastu@tlu.ee

 

Support at Tallinn University

Special needs or chronic illnesses that may affect academic success and the need to adapt to the physical environment at the university, it is necessary to inform the Disability Counsellor. Student medical condition is confidential, only with the consent of the student their obstacles in learning and recommended adjustments are shared with lecturers to improve the quality of learning.

Support at Tallinn Univesity during studies:

  • Personal campus tour to familiarize yourself with the new learning environment and your own door card to navigate around the campus more easily.
  • The university library's special services ordering books to the Learning Center on campus and digitising study materials.
  • Support seminars and support groups to develop academic study skills and take care of your mental health.
  • Student Support Centre you will find different specialists who help with study and career planning and maintaining mental balance. 
  • Peer Support students are specially trained students who support students during their studies. You can turn to them with both academic and personal concerns. 
  • Tallinn Univesity scholarship for students with a disability. Students who have a severe degree of disability can apply for the scholarship meant to ease the obstacles of studying in higher education. The maximum amount of the scholarship is 640 EUR. 
  • International Club  helps to offer international students a fun and enjoyable school life, help the newcomers, and introduce them to the Estonian culture.

 

Physical accessibility of campus

To get familiarised with our campus, it is recommended that you make an appointment with the Disability Counsellor for a personalised campus tour. 

To see the accessibility of Tallinn take a look at Tallinn Accessibility Information System and check out how to get to campus HERE. Please familiarize yourself with the campus HERE and virtual tour HERE.

  • Coming by tram to the "Tallinn University" stop, the tram stops in the middle of the road. The platform stop is the next stop "Koidula". Please be careful when crossing the crosswalk.
  • If you come by car, there are two disabled parking spaces next to Mare building at Uus-Sadam 5.

You can access  independently with a wheelchair:

Terra building (Narva Road 25) – First floor and through Astra building third floor disability lift the third and fourth floor (marked with the prefix ‘T’). The second floor is accessible by Terra/Vita connecting gallery through Vita building.

 Astra building (Narva Road 29) – All floors (marked with the prefix ‘A’). The building has toilet facilities designed for people with special needs on the 0, second and third floors. 

Silva building (Narva Road 29) – All floors (marked with the prefix ‘S’) are accessible through the Astra building. All floors are connected to Astra building. The second floor is accessible from the second floor of the Mare building through Silva/Mare gallery. 

Mare building (Uus-Sadama Street 5) – All floors (marked with the prefix ‘M’). The building has toilet facilities designed for people with special needs on the first and second floors.

Nova building (Narva Road 27) – First floor through Vita building, in the building all floors (marked with the prefix ‘N’). From Mare building, second floors are connected with Mare/Nova gallery and a disability stairlift. The building has toilet facilities designed for people with special needs on the 0 floor.

Vita Building (Narva Road 27) - All floors (marked with the prefix 'V') are accessible. The building has toilet facilities designed for people with special needs on the 0 floor.

TU Academic Library (Rävala Avenue 10) and Study Centre (Astra building, second floor)  – some of the reading halls are accessible by wheelchair. It is recommended to use the Study Centre. In the Study Centre to go to the third and fourth floor personalized door card is needed to use the lift.

Tallinn University student dormitory (17 Karu Street) provides accommodations specially designed for students with mobility impairment.  The apartment consists of two single rooms and one double room. The double room is designed to accommodate an additional person who is accompanying a student with special needs. The apartment is located on the first floor - the entrance is located beside the parking spaces and opens with a magnetic card. The stairs are equipped with a platform lift. 

It is not possible to access independently with a wheelchair:

Rooms A-046 and A-018 of the Astra building, computer class A-406 (a special solution is for the student to enter through the door on the side of the Study Center), Tallinn University Museum and room A-002 has access only upstairs by the door.

In Mare's building, there is no access to room M-134, the room goes straight down the slope and a wheelchair cannot fit there.

There is no access to the fifth floor of the Terra , and you can get through the Vita building on the second floor of Terra ONLY if the disabled lift in the building is in working order. 

It is only possible to enter Nova building through Vita building. The wheelchair lift between Nova and Mare is not available for students using electric wheelchairs. The lift key can be obtained from the Nova and Mare information desk.

Haapsalu College is not accessible to wheelchair users.

Students can request a door card for access to all floors of the Study Center, the student recreation area, the Student Support Center and Vita building.