Exam Disability Supports – Athlone

Overview of Supports

Exam supports are available only to students registered with the Disability Support Service (DSS). Students should register as early as possible in the semester to ensure their exam arrangements are in place.

To register, complete the online registration form and upload your supporting documentation.

Exam Supports Available

The DSS liaises with the Examinations Office to arrange additional supports for end-of-semester exams. While every effort is made to provide necessary facilities, not all requests may be possible. Specific supports are discussed individually during the Needs Assessment, and students must have sufficient working knowledge of any facility or technology they request to use in an exam.

Exam supports may include:

• Exam supports may include:
• Separate exam venue.
• Smaller shared exam venue.
• Use of PC or laptop.
• Use of assistive technology such as screen reading software.
• Exam paper in an alternative format (e.g. audio format or enlarged text paper).
• Use of coloured examination paper.
• Reader and/or scribe.
• Extra time (10 minutes per hour).
• Marking Guidelines (advice for examiners when marking papers).
• Rest periods (provided for candidates who require breaks during the exam, e.g. students who have mobility difficulties; concentration difficulties; or who suffer from chronic pain.
• Specialised furniture or aids

Students must sign an Exam Form with a DSS staff member when requesting exam supports.

Important: Marking guidelines (spelling & grammar waiver) apply only to timed written exams and cannot be applied to other written assessments (e.g. essays, thesis, presentations).

End-of-Semester Exams

• Exam supports for end-of-semester exams automatically carry forward each year for registered DSS students.
• No need to reapply—supports remain in place based on your Needs Assessment.
• If your needs change or if something isn’t working, contact the DSS as soon as possible to review and make adjustments.
• Strict deadlines apply each semester. Exam supports cannot be added or changed after the deadline.
• Students must be registered with the DSS before the deadline to receive supports.

For any exam support queries or adjustment requests, contact disability.midlands@tus.ie.

Continuous Assessment & In-Class Exams

Exam supports for timed in-class assessments (e.g., midterms, class tests) are not automatically arranged. Students must request accommodations at least 7 days in advance.

Failure to submit a request on time may result in supports not being available.

Temporary Exam Supports

Temporary exam supports are available for students who experience a short-term injury or condition that affects their ability to sit official end-of-semester exams.

How to Apply for Temporary Exam Supports

To apply, email: disability.midlands@tus.ie with your request and supporting medical documentation.

Eligibility Criteria

Temporary supports are available only for students with a recent injury or short-term condition.

• Medical documentation must be dated within 4 weeks of the application.
• Supports are granted for one exam session only.
• Students with ongoing conditions should register with the Disability Support Service for long-term support.
• Students with an infectious illness (e.g., COVID, flu, mumps) cannot be accommodated in exam halls.

Medical Documentation Requirements

Students must provide recent medical documentation that covers the exam period and meets the following criteria:

• Confirms a specific diagnosis of an injury or temporary condition.
• Issued by a GP or relevant health professional (e.g. hospital consultant, counsellor).
• Must be on headed paper, including student’s name and details.
• Signed and stamped—Word documents, emails, or phone numbers to call medical professionals will not be accepted.

Documentation that does not meet these requirements will not be accepted.

Important Information

• It is the student’s responsibility to notify the relevant School of your situation.
• Temporary Exam Support is based on the medical confirmation provided on your documentation only.
• Temporary exam supports are put in place for ONE exam session only. 
• If your illness, injury or disability requires ongoing support, you must register with TUS Athlone Disability Support Service for Disability Support.
• If you require a scribe, you should have adequate practice of working with a scribe before taking your exam(s) as you may find it difficult to adjust to using this support. Contact disability.midlands@tus.ie for further advice.
• Temporary exam support is only applicable to end-of-semester exams.
• Once your application is received we will review it and send a notification to your student email account outlining whether or not your application has been successful.
• For any questions or help regarding your Temporary Exam Support Application, please contact disability.midlands@tus.ie

Once your application is reviewed, a notification will be sent to your student email account confirming whether your application was successful.

For any questions regarding Temporary Exam Supports, please contact disability.midlands@tus.ie.