Students with Special Educational Needs (SEN)

To access the services offered to students with Special Educational Needs, you must submit a valid diagnostic certification issued by the National Health Service.

Learning difficulties, in fact, do not always fall within the formal definitions of disability or SLD. Some students may find themselves, for temporary or long-term reasons, in situations of disadvantage that require personalized educational attention from the University.

Non-ordinary and persistent difficulties in learning and participating in university life — such as in the case of students with neurodiversity, emotional disorders, debilitating anxiety, or chronic illnesses affecting study or attendance — if adequately documented by medical certification issued by the National Health Service, are taken into consideration by the University through the preparation of a Personalized Study Support Plan.

The Plan, developed by Unifi Include, provides for personalized teaching support measures and interventions aimed at ensuring equal opportunities, inclusion, and full participation in university life.

When to submit the certification

The certification can be submitted at different stages of your academic journey, depending on your needs:

• when registering for admission tests (except for nationally regulated degree programmes, for which reference should be made to the annual ministerial decrees) or initial knowledge assessment tests: you may upload the certification directly to the University’s online platforms. A Committee established by the University will verify its validity and completeness;
• during enrolment: during the online enrolment procedure, you will be able to upload the certification attesting disability in the section Segreteria > Dichiarazione disabilità / DSA of the "Student Career Management" portal. At this stage, it is strongly recommended that you contact Unifi Include for an initial informational and guidance meeting.
• during the academic year: if you have not submitted the documentation during admission or enrolment, you may do so at any time during your university career. In this case as well, we recommend booking an appointment with Unifi Include for an introductory meeting.

Submitting the declaration is voluntary. However, if you intend to benefit from compensatory measures and support services, it is essential that the certification has been formally submitted.

Personal data are processed in compliance with current data protection legislation (GDPR, EU Regulation 2016/679), and no information regarding disability or SLD will be included in the final degree certificate.

The Service offers personalized guidance to identify, together with you, the adjustments and support measures best suited to your needs. After an introductory meeting and evaluation of the documentation, we define a plan that takes into account your characteristics, the way teaching activities are carried out, and your academic path as a whole.

Adjustments may include personalized support for attendance, study, and assessments.

Each request is assessed together with you. If it is not possible to accommodate it in the proposed way, we will help you identify the solution best suited to your needs, taking into account the characteristics of the teaching activity or the specific situation.

Communication with lecturers is normally managed independently by the student.

When necessary, the Service can support you in facilitating communication and defining adjustments. Support can be activated in different ways, depending on your preference and the situation:

• you may contact the lecturer directly, copying in the Service and stating that you are supported by Unifi Include;
• the Service may contact the lecturer to present your situation and facilitate discussion.

The aim is to foster a constructive and respectful dialogue, while preserving your active role in your academic journey.

To request accommodations for admission exams, please ensure that all procedures and steps outlined in the individual call for applications are carefully followed.

Before registering, ensure you have:

• the required documentation in PDF format,
• a valid identity document.

To be granted accommodations during an admission exam, it is necessary to present a medical certification issued by the National Health Service (SSN) in which the disorder is correctly identified with a nosographic code certifying the special educational need, identifying which learning area the disorder affects. 

The documentation must be clear and complete with all information useful for understanding the candidate's specific needs.

If you reside abroad, the certification must be issued in your country of residence and accompanied by an official translation into Italian, in compliance with current regulations.

Requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis to identify the most appropriate methods while respecting regulations and organizational procedures.

Accommodations for admission exams in the case of certification of special educational needs consist of:

• +30% additional time,
• non-scientific calculator.

In case of special needs, contact the office at the dedicated email address: certificazioni.proveammissioni@unifi.it

Personalized adjustments may be provided for examinations, including:

• 30% additional time during written exams or, alternatively, a proportional reduction in the number of questions;
• use of learning aids (maps, tables, formula sheets) to be agreed with the lecturer at least 15 days before the exam;
• possibility of alternative formats (e.g. oral instead of written examination);
• splitting the examination into several partial tests;
• use of specific aids

In this case as well, submission of the documentation required by the regulations and the preparation of the Personalized Study Support Plan are necessary.

Adjustments are agreed on a personalized basis, taking into account your needs and the characteristics of the course.