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Inclusion Office
Students

ESCI-UPF is deeply committed to universal accessibility, equality, and non-discrimination. The Inclusion Service was created to guarantee the rights, autonomy, and equal participation of the entire university community, with a special focus on educational diversity, high-performance athletes, and individuals with disabilities or at risk of socio-economic exclusion.

From day one, the service provides a welcoming environment, guidance, and personalised support for students with special educational needs. By submitting the appropriate supporting documentation, students can establish necessary curricular adaptations from the very beginning and arrange the resources required to ensure smooth progress throughout their academic journey and university life.

Accommodations and Resources for diversity

A. Accommodations

  • Additional time for exams and assessments
  • Leniency regarding spelling errors 
  • Clarification of exam instructions and prompts
  • Grading priority: prioritising content and substance over form
  • Preferential seating: front rows or low-distraction seating 
  • Alternative exam format: exemption from multiple-choice testing
  • Adjustments to continuous assessment
  • In-class laptop use (excluding exams) 
  • Attendance flexibility for documented health-related reasons
  • Earplugs: Authorised use of earplugs during exams to reduce auditory distractions (under faculty supervision)
  • Calculator: Authorised except when manual calculation is an essential competency evaluated in the assessment

B. Institutional Support Resources and Services

  • Universal accessibility: Adequate provisions to facilitate access across all university facilities 
  • High-performance athletes: Academic support programme and dedicated mentorship to balance studies with sporting commitments 
  • Psychological support: Access to guidance, mental health services and counselling for students 
     
Assistance protocol
  • Detection and welcome:
    1. Before the start of the academic year, students who present with special educational needs at enrolment are directed to the Inclusion Office for an initial interview.
    2. Students may also be directed to the Inclusion Office if academic tutors detect any special educational needs during their meetings with students.
    3. Students may approach the coordinator of the Inclusion Office themselves at any time.
  • Guidance and request for support: initial interview with the Inclusion Office to assess any adaptations or additional resources.
    1. Students provide the Inclusion Office with up-to-date documents proving their special educational needs and/or disability. (Personal data protection regulations restrict lecturers’ and tutors’ access to these documents.)
  • The Head of Studies signs off on any adaptations to the course programme and/or additional support provided.
  • Tutors and lecturers are informed of any adaptations to the course programme and/or additional resources required.

Follow-up meetings are held with students every term to review their academic progress.