Definition of the target groups

Article 37 of Organic Law on the University System (LOSU) establishes that universities must promote inclusive and accessible curricular structures for university education. In particular, they must adopt positive action measures so that students with disabilities can enjoy an inclusive, accessible and adaptable university education, on equal terms with the rest of the student body.

Universities shall promote access to university studies for people with intellectual disabilities as well as on other grounds of disability through the promotion of their own studies adapted to the students' abilities. In addition, regarding the award of grants and financial support, socio-economic criteria shall be taken into account and special attention shall be paid to:

• disability and its support needs,

• national and ethnic origin, 

• social circumstances, 

• family responsibilities,

• situations of gender-based violence.

Specific support measures

Financial support for students

• Article 32 of the LOSU, stipulates that the government and the autonomous communities, as well as the universities themselves, shall implement a policy of grants and study aids in order to ensure that no one is excluded from university studies due to financial reasons. In the case of public universities, they shall establish modalities for partial or total exemption from the payment of public fees for the provision of academic services. In all cases, special attention shall be paid to people with disabilities and their support needs, national and ethnic origin, social circumstances, family responsibilities, victims of gender violence and people with dependency and disabilities, thus guaranteeing their access to and continuation of university studies.
• The Ministry of Universities (MIU) and the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sport (MEFD) make joint decisions on the design, planning and management of the policy on grants and study aids.
• Within its area of competence, the MEFD regulates the award of general grants and financial support. The MEFD invests financial resources in these grants, a part of which is intended for support for students with special educational needs, as well as for compensating universities regarding the public prices for the academic services corresponding to students who are grant holders and students of the National University for Distance Education (UNED) with any disability.
• Special grants for disabled university students are characterised by the following:
• the possibility of reducing the number of credits in which they enrol in the case of university students with a degree of legally recognised disability of 65 % or more;
• if students enrol in all the credits, the fixed amounts of the corresponding grants will be increased by a 50 %.

Organisational options and alternative structures

• Distance university education:
  • provided by UNED, a public university in Spain;
  • the goal is to facilitate the access to studies and their continuity to those people who cannot regularly attend university due to work, economic, place of residence or any other reason.
• Distance advanced vocational training: the MEFD has created the platform Vocational Training through Internet with the purpose of familiarising citizens with vocational training, as well as facilitating information on these studies and giving access to online training.

Specific measures for students with disabilities

Article 37 of the LOSU, on equity and non-discrimination, establishes that universities must encourage the curricular structures of university education to be inclusive and accessible. In particular, they shall adopt positive action measures so that students with disabilities can enjoy an inclusive, accessible and adaptable university education, on equal terms with the rest of the student body, making reasonable adjustments, both curricular and methodological, to teaching materials, teaching methods and the assessment system. Universities shall also promote access to university studies for people with intellectual disabilities as well as on other grounds of disability through the promotion of their own studies adapted to the students' abilities

Article 12 of Royal Decree 1791/2010, which approves the University Student Statute, underlines that universities must establish the necessary resources and adaptations so that students with disabilities can exercise their rights on equal conditions as the rest, without it leading to a reduction in the required academic level.

Regarding access and admission procedures, article 15 of the University Student Statute, establishes that the specific needs of these people must be taken into account,in order to ensure equal opportunities and their full integration into university. They must guarantee the accessibility of spaces and buildings, including virtual spaces, and must make available to students with disabilities the material, human and technical resources to ensure equal opportunities and their full integration into the university community.

Administrations and universities, in accordance with article18 of the University Student Statute, shall promote the participation of students with disabilities in national and international mobility programmes, establishing the relevant quotas, guaranteeing sufficient funding in each case, as well as information and cooperation systems between the units that provide care for these students.

According to article 22 of the University Student Statute, the establishment of permanent academic supervision programmes, so that students with disabilities can have a tutor throughout their studies, will be promoted.

As for evaluations, article 26 of the University Student Statute university institutions and departments must make the necessary methodological, time and space adjustments:

• establishment of the necessary resources and adaptations so that students with disabilities can exercise their rights on an equal basis as other students, without lowering the academic standards required;
• regarding access and admission processes, the specific needs of these students must be adopted, in order to guarantee equal opportunities and their full integration into universities;
• accessibility of their spaces and buildings, including virtual spaces, and material, human and technical resources must be made available to disabled students in order to ensure their full integration
• promotion of participation in national and international mobility programmes for students with disabilities;
• academic supervision programmes and activities will take into account the needs of disabled students, through the necessary methodological adaptations and, where appropriate, the establishment of specific academic supervision according to their needs. The establishment of permanent academic supervision programmes, so that students with disabilities can have a tutor throughout their studies, will be promoted;
• concerning the development of external work placements, the establishment of agreements with companies and institutions will be promoted. Such companies will be encouraged to implement the necessary adaptations for the accessibility of trainee disabled students
• regarding evaluation tests, institutions and departments must make the necessary methodological, time and space adjustments;
• the communication of the exam results and the premises aimed at exam revision must be accessible for students with disabilities;
• promotion of student representation, facilitating the access and participation of disabled students;
• promotion of physical and sport activity programmes for students with disabilities, providing the means and adapting the facilities;
• encourage the participation of disabled students in development cooperation and social participation projects;
• creation and maintenance of adapted transport services for students with motor disabilities and/or with reduced mobility;
• promotion of the creation of Assistance Services aimed at the educational community with disabilities;
• the facilities of university colleges and residences must be accessible for people with disabilities.