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    We strive for equal opportunities and diversity among our students, therefore we offer students with special needs the option to request a reflex statute.

    Reflex?

    Reflex stands for reasonable flexibility. It involves making necessary adjustments to the teaching and examination regulations, to give you an equal chance during evaluations. For example: more time to complete an exam, tolerance for spelling errors, etc.

    These flexibility measures will be considered reasonable when they meet the following three criteria: feasible for the student in question, justifiable for the other students and acceptable for the professor.

    Who qualifies for Reflex?

    Any student in need of extra facilities, changes in timetables and different evaluation methods can request a Reflex statute. We basically distinguish the following 4 categories:

    ! Because of the corona crisis, a 5th group is temporarily added: Students who are in a high-risk group because of corona.

    Students with a disability

    Visual/auditory/motoric disability - Coordination disorder - Chronic disease - Learning disorder - Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) - Autism spectrum disorder - Tic disorder - Psychiatric disability 

    VUB student-entrepreneurs

    Students who are owning a business or who or planning to start their own business in combination with their studies.
    Contact start@vub.be first to find out what support you can get. If you are already sufficiently advanced with your business, you can also apply for a reflex statute.

    Working students

    Students who work full time or part time in combination with their studies
    (in a programme for working students)

    Student representatives

    Students with the authorisation of student representative inside the VUB

    Students who are in a high-risk group because of corona

    CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES, POORLY REGULATED DIABETES (OR WITH COMPLICATIONS), CHRONIC LUNG PROBLEMS WITH PULMONARY DISABILITY (FVC<60%), CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE REQUIRING DIALYSIS, CANCER UNDER TREATMENT, PERSONS WITH IMMUNITY PROBLEMS, SEVERE CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER, MORBID OBESITY (BMI >40KG/M2), STUDENTS OVER 65 YEARS OF AGE.
    STUDENTS IN ENFORCED QUARANTINE OR STUDENTS INFECTED WITH THE VIRUS USE THE FORCE MAJEURE PROCEDURE OF THEIR FACULTY

    Student athlete?

    Are you a student athlete? You may need special facilities and flexibility in your classes, too. For this, you can contact Topsport and Study.

    Is your situation different than the ones mentioned above?

    Contact a student psychologist

    Request a Reflex statute

    Follow these steps to request a ReFlex statute:

    1. Send us your certificate

    To receive special facilities, your request should be accompanied with a correct professional certificate. Under the tab 'Administration’ you can find an overview of those documents needed to become acknowledged as a Reflex-student. Students with a disability can download sample bundles which you can have filled in.

    You can hand in your certificate here.

    2. Individual appointment to finalize your statute

    If your certificate has been checked by us and is in order, you will receive a link to make an individual appointment to finalize your reflex statute. During this appointment you will be informed about the measures you will be able to take and how you can make use of these measures. At the end of this conversation, your reflex status will be in order.

    During this appointment you can also indicate what your needs are and if you want to make use of study guidance.

    Important deadlines for requesting the ReFlex statute:

    It is possible to apply for the ReFlex Statute during the whole academic year. However if you want to apply for your accommodotions for a certain exam period, the following deadlines must be followed:

    • November 15: if you wish to request accommodations for the exam period in January
    • April 15: if you wish to request accommodations for the exam period in June
    • July 1: if you wish to request accommodations for the second session

    Inter-University Program

    If you’re following an inter-university program, the undermentioned steps are necessary to get acknowledged and receive accommodations as a student with a disability:

    • The registration and the certification of the disability have to be done in your main institution. This is the institution where you first registered. You don’t have to go through the admission procedure again in your secondary institution.
    • The accommodations and their arrangements may differ per institution. Make an appointment at the partner institution after your admission at the primary institution to discuss the accommodations. Please, note that this request has to be submitted before 1 November for the first semester and before 1 March for the second semester.
    • If you contact the partner institution, please include the documentations regarding your reasonable accommodations from your main institution (e.g. the certification of the allowed accommodations for courses or exams, or your disability certification). It makes it easier to help along with your case. You will be informed if a personal appointment is needed.

    Contact details per institution:

    Request accommodations

    Once acknowledged as a Reflex-student, there are some additional things you need to follow up when you request reasonable accommodations for a course or an exam.

    Required information

    You must pass on the following information to the study guidance via reflex@vub.be:

    • Your student number
    • The course(s) for which you request reasonable accommodations
    • The titular of the course
    • The reasonable accommodations you want to request

    The student psychologist will pass on your request to your professors through an online tool. You will be notified by email about the status of each request. Please read these emails very carefully. It's an additional step to take, but this will allow the faculty staff to organize your evaluation to suit your needs.

    Important deadlines for the application:

    • Requests January exam period: 1 December
    • Requests June exam period: 1 May
    • Requests 2nd session:    15 July
    • All evaluations or tests that aren't planned during the January or June exam period, or 2nd session: 2 weeks before the evaluation
    • 2nd semester 1st session for Business Management: 15 March

    Requests that are send after these dates or that are not sent to ‘reflex@’ will not be considered.

    Students facing an exceptional situation after these deadlines can contact the Study Guidance to consider their request.

    Documentation for attestation for students with a disability

    Discretion

    Your Reflex file will be followed up by a student psychologist and will be treated strictly confidential. Information will only be shared with others with your permission.

    When requesting your student facilities, we will never share the reason for your request.