Characteristics of studying with informal care responsibilities
You are caring for an immediate family member because that person is ill or needs assistance. As a result, maybe you are frequently absent from lectures or are not able to go to your internship as often as is required.
This is what I deal with
Obstacles faced by students with informal care responsibilities
As a student with informal care responsibilities, you may find yourself facing a variety of obstacles:
- Concentration problems. You have a hard time staying focused on the task at hand. You would like to receive tips and support to help you focus on your classes and successfully complete your assignments.
- Trouble with planning and organising. It might sometimes be hard for you to plan your studies because of your informal care responsibilities. You know what you need to do, but your situation tends to change quite often.
- Anxiety or stress. Maybe you find your degree programme or internship stressful. There are possibilities to help you deal with this more effectively.
- Lack of energy. Perhaps you find yourself feeling tired often or sometimes having too much energy. You may encounter obstacles in your studies or internship as a result.
Even though these obstacles may cause difficulties, you can rest assured that more than enough tools and solutions are available that can help you successfully complete your degree programme. In the preceding section, click on the obstacle you are facing with which you could use some help. You can then read a lot more about that topic and find additional tips and tools. If your specific obstacle is not mentioned above, please refer to the comprehensive list of obstacles.
This is what I might need
Support and facilities for students dealing with special circumstances
A variety of adjustments and/or facilities are available that may be helpful to you during your degree programme. While there are national schemes, your educational institution will offer its own forms of additional support, too.
As a student dealing with special circumstances during your studies, you might have a need for the following:
- Guidance and advice. Information on guidance and advice. There are a number of people who could help you with this. It is therefore always a good idea to seek out these individuals within your degree programme whenever you run into obstacles during your studies.
- Adjusted study schedule. In many cases, lectures and exams are scheduled far in advance. Many educational institutions offer possibilities for adjusting lesson programmes and schedules or changing the dates of exams if these are a problem for you. Talk to your study adviser to explore the possibilities available to you.
Have a look at the other facilities that might be helpful for you, too.
Tips
Do not wait to ask for help
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Every student is different, and every individual needs a different type of help. It is important to explore the options and find what works for you. Do not be afraid to ask for help at the first signs of trouble. Asking for help is actually a sign of strength, because it lets others know how much you want to succeed in your degree programme. Talk to a coordinator or confidential adviser for your programme and ask them about the possibilities available to you. It is a good idea to take a moment first to write down what you need and what kind of support you think would be helpful to you.
What to do if your situation changes during your degree programme
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Be sure to keep your adviser up to date about what you need in terms of support, including when there are changes in your situation. That way, you can stay in touch and keep discussing how to help you study as effectively as possible. It will also give your degree programme the chance to offer – or keep offering – the help you need.
Young carer? Share your care!
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Caring for a family member, combined with your education, friends and hobbies is tough, especially in this day and age. So how do you take good care of yourself? And what support is there for you? Mantelzorg.nl gives you some tips. (in Dutch)
Experience stories
Read the experience stories of others here
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- On this page you will find the Not-to-Miss portrait stories of Young Informal Carers from across the country. Each year during Young Mantel Carer Week, a number of Young Mantel Carer Ambassadors always share their stories (Dutch).
- Share your experience story too. With your experience story, you can give others, such as education professionals and fellow students, an insight into what goes well and what could be better when studying with special needs. A source of inspiration with tips, hints and flops. Together with you, ECIO provides an experience story with impact.
Organisations
Through the tool 'Hulpwijzer'[Help Guide], you can find organisations that have expertise on your support needs. Check out the possibilities.