You may then need practical guidance and extra support to make the most of your study time. To make education accessible to everyone, VU Amsterdam offers specific guidance for students with autism.
During individual guidance sessions, there is room for your specific needs. Together with the peer coach, you explore your situation and discuss the support you need. This may include things like finding a suitable study to study, reviewing a drafted email to a lecturer, helping with creating and following a schedule, discussing your thesis process, or whatsoever. The individual guidance we offer can address a wide range of questions and is therefore tailored to each person’s needs. The peer coach provides a listening ear, and if needed, you will work together to find possible solutions.
Individual guidance is provided by student-assistants with a background in psychology who are well acquainted with the VU. The sessions take place once every two weeks and last half an hour. The sessions can be held either online or in person on campus.
To sign up for individual ASD guidance, you first schedule an intake with the autism coordinator to discuss your needs. This can be done via the ‘schedule an intake’ button at the top of this page.
Do you feel that your way of studying or dealing with stimuli differs from that of most fellow students? If so, you might want to sign up for the Brainpower group. This neurodiversity group is specifically designed for students with AD(H)D, autism, giftedness, high sensitivity, or other forms of neurodivergence - with or without a formal diagnosis.
The Brainpower group is an inclusive space to explore your neurotype more. In 6 sessions we share experiences and explore practical tools, so you will learn how to better balance your studies and student life. The Brainpower group is guided by a student counsellor.
'The recognition that I'm not the only one running into certain problems'
'That my schedule becomes so clear and less busy by discussing the week with someone who understands how a neurodiverse brain works'
'The social contact, advice and sharing experiences'
'Tips and tricks, helping to build a schedule, good thinking and lots of understanding'
If you incur study delay due to special circumstances, you may be eligible for financial support. In case of long-term delay due to chronic illness, disability, dyslexia or other special circumstances, the student counsellor can inform you about DUO schemes.
Under certain conditions, you can also appeal to the Student Support Regulation. If you are experiencing any special circumstances, please report them to your academic advisor as soon as possible. You might be eligible for financial compensation.
The Academic advisor can help you with study-related questions, such as developing a realistic study plan amongst others. In addition, the academic advisor is your first point of contact if you are experiencing personal circumstances that may affect your study progress. They can also help you apply for specific support facilities that can help you in your studies, such as extra time during exams.
The student psychological counsellors offer short-term and solution-oriented support for students who experience study-related and/or personal problems. During a first short consultation session (start session) you discuss the help you might need. Signing up for a training or personal counselling sessions could be the next step.
The student counsellors can help you with questions or problems that are not related to the content of your studies. You can contact the student counsellors for advice on DUO facilities, urgent housing questions and other (financial) regulations.
The Student Wellbeing Point is an informal and relaxed space in which trained VU students offer fellow students a listening ear, a safe place to catch their breath, or advice on where to find VU support services. You can find the Student Wellbeing Point right next to the student desk in the Main Building.
For more general information about studying with a disability, you can contact the Info Point Studying with a disability (SMF). Via this website you can also register your disability, so you will receive the right support.
Do you have any questions, or do you want more information on autism counselling or the Brainpower group? You can reach us via the contact form or you can make an appointment right away using the blue button on the top right of this page. An appointment takes about half an hour and is non-binding. Parent(s) and/or supervisor(s) are welcome at this meeting.
Do contact the student counsellors!
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