Obstacles faced by students with a chronic illness

As a student with a chronic illness, you may find yourself facing a variety of obstacles.

• Concentration problems. You have a hard time staying focused on a task and are easily distracted. You would like to receive tips and support to help you focus on your classes and successfully complete your assignments.
• Planning and organising. You are not sure where to start and have a hard time planning ahead. You are unsure what you should do when and would like help in this area.
• Difficulty communicating. You might find it hard to talk to other people about the limitations you experience because of your illness. This can make it extra difficult for you to cooperate within a group.
• Problems with an internship or a job. When you have a chronic illness, it can be difficult to find – or keep – an internship or job. Effective communication and solid agreements are important to make this process go smoothly.
• Problems with tests/exams or in class. Your symptoms may make it difficult for you to sit still for long periods of time. As a result, you may have difficulty taking tests or exams or attending classes.
• Problems with reading/writing/maths. Many of the tasks you will be asked to do during your degree programme or internship have to do with reading, writing or solving mathematical equations.
• Problems with the attendance requirement/fixed class schedule. When you have a chronic illness, you might not always be able to attend class or go to your internship.
• Too much or too little energy. You might find yourself feeling tired often or sometimes having too much energy. It's possible that you will encounter obstacles in your studies or internship as a result.
• Anxiety or stress. Maybe you are scared to present in front of a group, or you find school or your internship stressful. There are possibilities to help you deal with this more effectively.
• Money problems. Not everyone can have a part-time job in addition to their studies. You might also have debts.
• Transportation problems. Accessible/modified transport and being able to park your car close to your school or internship can be vital when dealing with a chronic illness.
• Housing-related problems. If you plan to live in student housing, you might – due to your chronic illness – need specially modified housing.
• Problems using a computer. Because of your chronic illness, you may need certain aids in order to use a computer effectively.
• Problems with getting places/physical accessibility. Is your school not designed in an accessible way, for instance because there is no lift? In that case, it is important that you are well informed of the possibilities for adjustments.

Support and facilities for students with chronic illness(es)

A variety of adjustments and/or facilities are available and may be helpful to you during your degree programme at a research university or university of applied sciences. While there are national schemes, your school will offer its own forms of additional support, too.

As a student with a chronic illness, you might have a need for the following:

• Extra time to complete your studies. As soon as possible, you should let your educational institute know that you will need extra time to complete your studies. In many cases, it is possible to obtain financial support when you have a study delay.
• More lenient attendance requirement. You should meet with your study adviser to discuss your options as soon as possible.

Have a look at the other facilities that might be helpful for you, too.