Support for students with a disability at Spanish universities

Key rules

• Ask for it: Adaptations are not automatic; you must contact your university's accessibility unit and request them.
• Timing: Apply before the course starts, because adaptations are generally not retroactive.
• No certificate: A medical or psychological diagnostic report can often be assessed in place of the Spanish certificate.
• Foreign documents: Each unit decides whether your foreign documents need a sworn translation or apostille, so ask first.

Who arranges your adaptations

Every Spanish university has its own unit for students with a disability or specific learning needs. The name varies, for example a service for attention to diversity or disability. The unit assesses your needs and arranges adaptations for you. You have to ask: nothing starts automatically.

What support you can get

The unit draws up an individual adaptation plan. Typical measures are:

• Extra exam time, a separate room or a different exam format.
• Accessible study materials.
• Sign-language interpreters, note-takers and peer-support volunteers.
• Loans of assistive technology.
• Help with accessible transport or housing.
• Tutoring, guidance and advice for your lecturers.

Many units also run an orientation for new students and help with internships and jobs. Services differ between universities, so check what yours offers.

How the request works

Contact the unit by email or through its web form, ideally when you enrol or before. You then send your request with supporting documents and attend an interview where staff assess your needs. The unit issues a report or plan listing the measures. You can send it to your lecturers and faculty yourself, or ask the unit to do it. The plan is reviewed each year or term, so expect to renew it.

The timeline and checklist below give the order step by step.

Ask early

Apply before the course starts and well before any exam period. Adaptations are generally not retroactive, so an exam you have already sat is unlikely to be adjusted. Each university sets its own forms and deadlines. Look at your unit's page for them.

Which documents to bring

The unit usually asks for the Spanish disability certificate (certificado de discapacidad), issued by the regional government. It is normally granted at a disability level of 33% or more. If you do not have it, a medical or psychological diagnostic report, for example for dyslexia, ADHD or a chronic illness, can often be assessed instead.

Foreign certificates and reports are generally accepted as supporting evidence. The unit may ask for a sworn translation into Spanish, and sometimes for an apostille or legalisation. Ask the unit before you pay for either, because each unit decides case by case. Once you are resident in Spain you can also apply for the Spanish certificate. How that certificate is obtained is covered on its own page.

The unit decides which adaptations apply to you. The documents list below has the full set.

Timeline and deadlines

• Contact the accessibility unit by email or web form: at or before enrolment, and before the course starts

• Submit your request with supporting documents: right after your first contact, well before exam periods

• Attend an interview where unit staff assess your needs: after you submit the request

• Receive the adaptation report or plan listing the measures: after the interview

• Send the plan to your lecturers and faculty, or ask the unit to do it: as soon as you have the plan, before exams

• Have the plan reviewed: every year or term

Documents you need

• Spanish disability certificate (certificado de discapacidad), issued by the regional government, normally at a disability level of 33% or more. Universities usually ask for it.

• Medical or psychological diagnostic report, for example for dyslexia, ADHD or a chronic illness. It can replace the certificate if you do not have one, and the unit assesses it.

• Foreign disability certificate or medical report, accepted as supporting evidence if you studied or were assessed abroad.

• Sworn translation into Spanish of any foreign certificate or report, if the unit asks for it.

• Apostille or legalisation of a foreign document, which some units ask for.

Checklist

• Find your university's accessibility or disability unit and contact it by email or web form, ideally at or before enrolment.

• Gather your Spanish disability certificate or a medical or psychological diagnostic report.

• Ask the unit whether your foreign documents need a sworn translation into Spanish or an apostille.

• Submit your request with the supporting documents before the course starts.

• Attend the interview with unit staff to explain your needs.

• Ask for your adaptation plan in writing and check that it lists each measure.

• Make sure your lecturers and faculty receive the plan, either from you or from the unit.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get adaptations after an exam period has started?

Adaptations are generally not retroactive, so a request made after an exam will not change that result. Contact the unit before the course starts and well before exam periods. Ask the unit what it can still arrange for upcoming exams.

Can I use a medical report if I have no disability certificate?

Yes, many units accept a medical or psychological diagnostic report, for example for dyslexia, ADHD or a chronic illness, and assess it themselves.

Is my foreign disability certificate accepted in Spain?

Yes, foreign certificates and medical reports are generally accepted as supporting evidence, but the unit may ask for a sworn translation into Spanish. It may also ask for legalisation or an apostille.

What kind of support can a university accessibility unit give me?

Typical support includes extra exam time, separate rooms, accessible materials, sign-language interpreters, note-takers and loans of assistive technology. Many units also offer guidance for new students and help with internships and jobs. What is available varies by university.