Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Before arrival

1. Are you a teacher or a visiting staff with special needs?

The following section also applies with small adjustments to any visiting persons to MU. Make sure you contact us at mobility@teiresias.muni.cz.

General information on the services that we provide to persons with special needs is available here.

2. How should I proceed when arranging a study stay at MU?

• Contact the Special Needs mobility section at mobility@teiresias.muni.cz. 
• Arrange a meeting with us (in person or virtually). 
• Apply for the exchange through the Erasmus+ coordinator at your home university.
• Check the special needs option in the application form.
• Apply for the special needs grant (do not forget to consult the expenses with us).
• Find your Buddy through ESN. 
• Arrive safely to Brno. 
• Meet your Study Advisor at Teiresias Centre MU. 
• Enjoy your stay :-)

3. Who can I talk to regarding disability related issues?

We advise you to contact our mobility coordinators at mobility@teiresias.muni.cz.

4. Should I disclose my disability when I apply for a study stay at Masaryk University?

The application form will include a question asking if you have any special needs. Disclosing a disability in your application will in no way affect the overall application and nomination process.

In addition, we recommend notifying Teiresias Centre at mobility@teireisias.muni.cz. This will give the administrators valuable time to discuss your needs and make necessary arrangements and adaptations prior to your arrival.

5. If I disclose my disability, who will know about it at Masaryk University?

Any information and documents you provide regarding your disability, health issue(s) or specific learning difficulties are treated as confidential and are shared only with those who need to know, such as the study advisor, your personal tutor, programme director or supervisor.

6. What documents will I need to recognize my needs?

A proof of disability or proof of study accommodation is required. These can be issued either by the disability office of your home institution or can be supplied in the form of a medical report. They will provide the grounds for establishing the adaptation framework.

We accept documents written in Czech and English. Documents in other languages should be translated into either of the accepted languages. Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions regarding the required documents.

Disclaimer: Any information provided through these documents are treated as strictly confidential.

7. Who are the main points of contact?

Administrative issues

Your main point of contact at Masaryk University is the Centre for International Cooperation (CIC) which administers all incoming (and outgoing) mobilities at Masaryk University. Any paperwork regarding your mobility, such as Learning Agreement, Letter of Acceptance etc. should be addressed to them. For more information see their website.

Make sure you check out their other site:

• What do I need to do before departure?
• What do I need to do while abroad?
• What do I need to do after return?

Special needs support

It is provided by the Teiresias Centre. You will be in touch with a mobility coordinator, Study Advisor and other specialists depending on your needs.

8. Is there a barrier-free accommodation available at the University?

Some halls of residence are fully barrier-free, please refer to our Students with mobility impairment section for more information. You can also use our portal Ariadne mapping the accessibility of MU buildings.

For further information please see section on What services does MU offer to students with mobility impairment?

Services

1. What services does MU offer to students with visual loss?

Adaptation of classes

• Independent movement and spatial orientation
  • initial intensive training at the beginning of studies
  • spatial orientation of important places (halls of residence, the Teiresias Centre, faculty buildings, etc.)
  • assistance
• Course adjustments
  • based on the severity of the impairment, individual tutoring of selected courses can be arranged in the Teiresias Centre premises
• Preparation and adjustment of study materials
  • digitalization
  • printing in braille
  • production of tactile graphics
• Technical support
  • providing apt technologies facilitating instruction accessibility
  • loans of technological equipment (screen readers, braille displays etc.)
• Courses offered to students with visual loss
  • sports for special needs students (see more here)
  • using assistive technologies
  • language courses, etc.

Adaptation of exams

• adaptation of the test materials into tactile or digital format with the possibility of using preferred assistive technology, such as screenreader or Braille display
• additional time for oral and written exams
• possibility of taking exams in Teiresias Centre – outside the main exam group - to ensure calm and quiet environment

Full info available here and here.

2. What services does MU offer to students with hearing loss?

Adaptation of classes

• Interpretation and visualization of instructions
  • students and staff are entitled to interpretation/visualization of spoken language
• Communication systems used:
  • Czech Sign Language
  • Signed Czech
  • Czech/English visualized either by accessible real-time transcription or by articulation
  • Users of other sign languages can contact us at mobility@teiresias.muni.cz.
• Courses offered to deaf and hard of hearing students
  • Czech Language for the Deaf
  • English Language for the Deaf
  • Sports activities (see more here)

Adaptation of exams

• additional time for oral and written exams
• oral exams in the form of online chat
• transcription/interpreting services for exam instructions
• possibility of taking exams in the Teiresias Centre – outside the main exam group - to ensure calm/stress-free environment

Full info available here.

3. What services does MU offer to students with mobility impairment?

Adaptation of classes

• Accessibility of buildings
  • we strive to ensure the MU buildings are barrier-free, some historical buildings provide certain restrictions in access but measures are being made to improve their accessibility;
  • Physical Disabilities Section of Teiresias Centre will make sure that any classes situated in inaccessible premises would be moved into barrier-free spaces (contact us if you have any questions concerning the accessibility of MU buildings)
  • make sure you check out our virtual accessibility guide
• Personal assistance
  • a trained assistant can be assigned to aid students/staff with limited mobility in partially accessible spaces
• Accessible accommodation
  • university has a number of barrier-free rooms all around Brno (more details available here); please contact us directly at oph@teiresias.muni.cz (not through the MU Accommodation Office)
• Accessible canteens
  • MU has a range of barrier-free canteens located in various parts of Brno

Adaptation of exams

• additional time for oral and written exams
• adaptation of the test materials into digital format with the possibility of using preferred assistive technology, such as screenreaders, Sticky keys (which lets you use Ctrl, Shift, Alt, and Windows logo keys by pressing one key at a time), virtual keyboards, etc.
• possibility of taking exams in the Teiresias Centre - outside the main exam group - to ensure administration in accessible classroom and with the use of assistive technology, if needed

Full info available here.

4. What services does MU offer to students with specific learning disabilities?

Adaptation of classes

• Adaptation of written tests
  • extended time limit
  • computer-based exam instead of paper-based exam
  • exams in the Teiresias Centre (calm and quiet environment)
• Other services
  • subsidiary foreign language tuition for students with specific learning disabilities
  • counselling
  • software solutions (i.e. ClaroRead)

Adaptation of exams

• additional time for oral and written exams
• consultation sessions with pedagogical specialists (e.g. to distribute the workload evenly, help with the assignments, etc.)
• possibility of taking exams in Teiresias Centre - outside the main exam group - to ensure calm/stress-free environment

Full info available here.

5. What services does MU offer to students with psychological difficulties and chronic diseases?

Adaptation of classes

• counseling services
  • our English speaking psychologists and therapists are ready to assist you whenever you feel like you need help
• individual changes to study conditions
  • individualised tuition of selected courses (see Adaptation of classes section)

Adaptation of exams

• additional time for oral and written exams
• possibility of taking exams in Teiresias Centre - outside the main exam group - to ensure calm/stress-free environment

Full info available here.

Financial matters

1. Do I have to pay for the services?

Some of the services may be very costly. The Erasmus+ programme therefore offers the The Erasmus+ Funds for Students and Staff with disabilities grant for participants with special needs. This grant provides additional funds to cover the costs associated with the special needs services.

For further information on the grant, please refer to the funding section.

If you are coming to MU under a different exchange program (partner university agreement, Fulbright, CEEPUS, etc.), please contact us before your nomination and arrival to negotiate the necessary adjustments to your studies and their costs. We will help you with estimating the costs.

2. Am I eligible for any extra financial support?

Under the Erasmus+ programme, each participant with special needs can apply for The Erasmus+ Funds for Students and Staff with disabilities grant, whose purpose is to provide additional funds to cover the costs associated with your special needs.

For further information, please visit the website of the Erasmus+ National Agency. Make sure to contact us at mobility@teiresias.muni.cz before applying for the grant. We can help you with the application procedure and the cost estimation.

The grant can be used to cover excessive costs (the difference between regular costs and the increased costs resulting from the disability) in these areas:

• adaptation of study materials (i.e. editing for the purposes of screen-reading, text enlargement, tactile printing, etc.) 
• interpreting/speech-to-text services 
• accommodation (above-standard accommodation, i.e. barrier-free room close to school)
• food (i.e. gluten-free food, lactose-free dairy products)
• assistant services
• medical care (traveling for regular check-ups in your home country/country of exchange, rehabilitations, physiotherapies, etc.; the necessity of regular check-ups needs to be clearly stated in the medical report)
• transportation (traveling to the designated location)