Special conditions at written exams

It is possible to apply for special conditions at written exams at DTU. The student must submit an application form and medical/dyslexia documentation to specialexamconditions@adm.dtu.dk. Alternatively, it is possible to mark the request for extra time and the use of their own computer when submitting an application for SPS in our SPS inquiery portal. The deadlines are 15 April, 1 July, and 1 November. The application form is available at student.dtu.dk.

Special conditions outside DTU:
The special exam conditions mentioned below apply only at DTU. If the student is taking courses at another university (including in joint study programmes), the student is responsible for looking into the local application procedure for special conditions. 

Grant and letter regarding approved special conditions 

The Office for Study Programmes and Student Affairs (AUS) will decide on all special conditions at written exams. In most cases, the special arrangements will apply throughout the student’s study period, but there may also be cases where special arrangements are granted for a limited period.

Once AUS has completed the application from the student, the special conditions and their duration are described in a letter that is sent to the student's study email. The letter is exclusively digital and must be presented via mobile phone or computer to the exam supervisor upon attendance at the exam.

NOTE! DTU has switched from laminated cards to digital letters as proof. Therefore, many students will still use the laminated card, while others only have the digital letter. Both are valid. The student must always make sure to have access to the digital letter to be presented to the exam supervisor before the examination.

The letter is not a substitute for the student card, which must also always be brought to the exam as identification.

Who manages the special conditions?

• Ordinary exam periods
  When a student is granted special conditions for written exams, the student will automatically be granted special conditions during the ordinary exam periods. AUS always manages these.
• Non-ordinary exam periods
  The special conditions also apply to minor written exams on campus (on-site exams), which are either a prerequisite for participation in the exam or which are included with a minimum of 20% or more in the final assessment. It is typically held during the teaching period and handled by the lecturer. The student must make the lecturer aware that he/she has been granted special conditions for a written exam by AUS. The student must contact the lecturer by mail and attach the answer to the application as documentation of the special conditions the student has been granted. There may be cases where it is not practically possible to give the student the conditions granted by AUS, e.g., concerning special physical surroundings.  

What are the special conditions?

Special conditions can be one or more of the following:

• Extra time
  For written exams held at DTU, students may apply for extra time. It is usual for 25% extra time to be granted. However, in some instances, 50% extra time may be granted.
  
  
• Use of a computer and USB flash drive
  Students may apply for permission to bring their own computer to written exams—even to exams where aids are otherwise not permitted. Permission is granted in cases where the student needs the computer as a writing tool and/or for support programs (such as CD ORD and speech synthesis). Students with dyslexia may also be permitted to use ordinary electronic dictionaries (not technical or clinical), headphones, and an electronic dictionary pen.
  
  A USB flash drive containing the exam task can also be given to the student, so they can listen to it being read aloud via headphones. In these cases, the student will receive both a physical (paper) version and an electronic (USB flash drive) version of the exam paper. The student must request the USB flash drive well in advance. The student must inform the Office for Study Programmes and Student Affairs (AUS) of their needs. An employee from the examinations office will then contact the lecturer and request that an electronic version of the exam paper be emailed to the examinations office.
  
  The exam response may also be submitted on a USB flash drive. The student must inform the lecturer beforehand that the response will be submitted on a USB flash drive and must ensure that the file is in a well-known format that the lecturer can open and print.
  
  If the student has received the exam task on a USB flash drive, this may be used to submit the exam response. Otherwise, the student may bring a USB flash drive and use this to submit the exam response. The student may request that their own USB flash drive be returned after the examination assessment.
  
  AUS has prepared a statutory declaration form concerning using a computer for written exams. The student signs a statutory declaration that they will only use the materials permitted in the course description and any permitted support programs installed on their computer in connection with the written exam. Despite signing this statutory declaration, the student’s computer use in connection with the written exam may still be checked at any time.
  
  
• Physical setting
  It is possible to apply for a particular physical setting at DTU. For all ordinary exams at DTU, a small examination room will be established with space for fewer students and furnished with height-adjustable tables and swivel chairs. These special arrangements may be granted if the student has physical discomfort (a bad back, physical pain, is a wheelchair user, etc.), or mental/cognitive challenges (social anxiety disorder, attention deficit disorder, noise sensitivity, etc.) that make it difficult to sit an exam in an ordinary examination room.
  
  
• Other conditions
  Other possible special conditions include the ‘use of a device and headphones to play music’ (if the student is particularly challenged by noise sensitivity or attention deficit disorder, this can be granted based on a medical certificate), and permission to use a secretary (e.g., students with cerebral palsy).