Support for PhD candidates with a disability

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Ghent University attaches great importance to diversity and therefore pursues an equal opportunities policy.

If you have a disability or chronic illness that creates barriers when defending your doctoral dissertation or performing your job, you may be eligible for reasonable accommodations or special employment support measures.

Doctoral defence

Reasonable accommodations

Ghent University works with you to identify which adjustments can help reduce the obstacles you experience. Any accommodations must remain compatible with the assessment of the candidate’s knowledge and competencies, as well as with the legal requirements of the doctoral examination.

This means that:

  • the core competencies and final objectives of the doctorate must remain intact
  • the quality and integrity of the research and the defence are safeguarded
  • solutions are sought that are practically feasible for both you and the faculty

Submitting a request

Contact the Doctoral School team at doctoralschools@ugent.be. A meeting will then be scheduled to discuss your personal situation and explore possible options.

To qualify for reasonable accommodations, you must provide a valid report or certificate. Attach this documentation to your request.

Employment

Special employment support measures

Recognised disabilities may entitle you to specialised guidance and special employment support measures.

You can request a meeting to assess the accessibility of your workplace or to explore whether an adjusted set of tasks, specialised support, special employment support measures, or Individual Customised Work (Individueel Maatwerk) is possible. More information is available on intranet.

Submitting a request

If you require workplace support due to a disability and/or chronic illness, you can contact arbeidsbeperking@ugent.be. For Individual Customised Work or for returning to work after a long absence, contact re-integratie@ugent.be. Together with you, we will determine which adjustments are possible and necessary to support you in performing your work effectively and sustainably.