Students Tilburg University

Rights & duties of students with a disability

The rights and duties of Tilburg University students are set out in the Student Charter. On this page, you can read what you are entitled to and what you need to do to use facilities when you have a disability or chronic illness.

Obligation to report circumstances

If you have dyslexia, a disability, or a (chronic) illness that may cause you to fall behind academically, you must report this to the dean of students (the obligation to report) as soon as possible and submit relevant supporting documentation.

This obligation to report is especially important for first-year students, because the dean of students gives advice to the Examination Board on the Binding Study Advice (BSA). The dean of students can have the BSA postponed if, as a result of your condition, you pass less than 70% (42 credits) of your first-year courses. Agreements on this have to be made first. Make sure you have reported to the dean of students before July 1 if you want your personal circumstances to be taken into account.

In the event of substantial study delay because of illness, disability or other special circumstances, the dean of students can help you with the arrangements of DUO study finance  or financial support from other funds. Therefor you need to have reported these circumstances in time as well (see study delay).

For more information, see Financial assistance.

If you want to stop or temporarily suspend your studies or enroll later, you can discuss this with the dean of students. The dean of students can also give you advice on relevant procedures within the university, for instance, on a request to the Examination Board.

Take the agreements you make with the education coordinator and/or the dean of students seriously: failure to comply with a obligation to report and/or to follow advice can jeopardize your rights to financial support and/or special facilities.

Equal Treatment Act

The Dutch Equal Treatment of Disabled and Chronically Ill People Act (Wet gelijke behandeling op grond van handicap of chronische ziekte (Wgbh/cz)) came into effect in 2003. This Act states that discrimination based on a handicap or chronic illness is prohibited. Under this Act, you can request Tilburg University to make effective arrangements that make it easier for you to study here. The university can only refuse such a request if it can show that the proposed solution does not work, a cheaper effective solution is available, or if the requested facilities constitute a disproportionate burden on the institution.

Links to relevant laws and regulations

  • Education and Examination Regulations (EERs)
  • Student charter

  • The Dutch Higher Education and Research Act (Wet op het Hoger Onderwijs en wetenschappelijk onderzoek (WHW)) contains provisions relating to students with a disability and chronically ill students. More information on the website of ECIO.