Student rights for exam accommodations
Students coping with learning disabilities /other disabilities
1. Students with learning disabilities are entitled to accommodations based on their MATAL assessment, valid for up to ten years from date of issue. The maximum extension granted for learning disabilities is 25% of exam time. Test accommodation approval is given by the Office of Student Support and Accessibility. Further details are available at this link. Requests for accommodations may be submitted through the In-Bar portal (Requests and authorizations > Submit a request > Exam and course accommodations > Request for accommodations for students with learning disorders).
2. Students coping with disabilities are eligible for accommodations per their relevant medical documents. Test accommodation approval is given by the Office of Student Support and Accessibility. Further details are available at this link . Requests for accommodations may be submitted through the In-Bar portal (Requests and authorizations > Submit a request > Exam and course accommodations > Request for accommodations for students with disabilities).
Student Olim (new immigrants)/tourists:
1. Students who are Olim/tourists who have been in Israel for up to seven years (as per date of Aliyah), are eligible in all degree programs for a 25% extension on exam time but no more than 30 minutes per exam and with no penalty for spelling errors. To obtain test accommodation approval, please contact Sara Luzon, head of the Department for Olim. Requests are to be sent via email to: olim.wellbeing@biu.ac.il
2. Students who are Olim/tourists and are native English speakers studying in English language programs are not eligible for extra time.
3. Students who are Olim/tourists and are studying in the Department of Linguistics and English Literature or taking language courses (other than English as a Foreign Language) are not eligible for extra time on exams.
4. Students who are Olim/tourists and are taking certificate studies in accounting and have been in Israel for up to 10 months, are eligible for a 30-minute time extension overall for each section of their exams. Test accommodation approval is given by Sara Luzon, head of the Department for Olim. Requests are to be sent via email to: olim.wellbeing@biu.ac.il
5. Students who are Olim/tourists may use a dictionary or an electronic dictionary provided it is silent (and does not allow internet access), with the exception of language courses. Use of a dictionary requires course instructor approval.
6. Students who are Olim/tourists who have been in Israel for up to seven years (as per date of Aliyah), and who are in the first year of their bachelor’s or master’s degree and have not taken a degree in Hebrew before, are eligible for translation of their exams into English. Each student is eligible for translation of up to four exams per semester. Exercising this right is conditional upon approval by the instructor and incurs a fee to be paid through epay. To obtain authorization for a translated exam, contact the Department for Olim in the office of the Dean of Students olim.wellbeing@biu.ac.il.
7. Students taking an exam translated into English are not eligible for additional time for that exam.
8. Students who have difficulties with Hebrew beyond the accommodation eligibility period may contact the Department for Olim to determine whether their eligibility may be extended by up to three additional years.
Students of Ethiopian descent:
Students of Ethiopian descent are eligible for a 25% extension on exam time throughout their undergraduate degree. Apply here.
Students from Arab society:
1. Students from Arab society who have graduated from an institution where studies were not conducted in Hebrew are eligible for a 25% extension on exam time but no more than 30 minutes per exam, throughout their degree. Test accommodation approval is given by Mr. Rfat Sweidan, Academic Advisor for Arab Students. Apply here[יב3] .
2. Students from Arab society who have graduated from an institution where studies were not conducted in Hebrew, are eligible for a 30-minute time extension overall for each section of exams in accounting certificate studies. Test accommodation approval is given by Mr. Rfat Sweidan, Academic Advisor for Arab Students.
3. Students from Arab society may use a dictionary or an electronic dictionary provided it is silent (and does not allow internet access), with the exception of language courses. Use of a dictionary requires course instructor approval.
Students who come from Haredi institutions:
Students who come from Haredi institutions are eligible for a 25% extension on exam time but no more than 30 minutes, in their first year of undergraduate studies only. Test accommodation approval is given by the head of the Haredi Unit in the Department of Academics and Community. Send requests via email to: haredim.stu@live.biu.ac.il.
Students aged 60 or older:
Students over the age of 60 are eligible for a 25% extension on exam time. The extensions are updated automatically in the Bar-Ilan systems.
Pregnant/lactating students:
1. Pregnant students are eligible for a 25% extension on exam time in addition to eligibility for a restroom break. To obtain such authorization, submit an administrative request to the Student Support and Accessibility unit through the In-Bar portal (Requests and authorizations > Submit a request > Exam and course accommodations > Request for accommodations for pregnant students). For classroom-based exams only, a medical authorization may be presented to the proctor.
2. Lactating students with infants up to the age of six months are eligible for a 20-minute extension for exams that are three hours or longer, to nurse or express during the exam, and provided that a request was issued for this at least 5 business days before the exam. This extension is additional to any other extensions for which the student is eligible. Contact the Exam Office via the contact form, attaching a birth certificate. Apply here.
General remarks:
1. Please note – requests for accommodations must be submitted no later than May 31, 2023.
2. No cumulative extensions will be granted, except in the case of lactating students.
Accommodations granting extension of exam time also apply to quizzes.
Contact info:
The Department for Olim: olim.wellbeing@biu.ac.il, tel: 077-3643585
The Office of Student Support and Accessibility: negishut.student@biu.ac.il, tel: 03-5318491
Coordinator of the Haredi Unit in the Department of Academics and Community: haredim.stu@live.biu.ac.il
Center for students of Ethiopian descent – Ms. Tezeta Garmay: tel: 077-3643587, tezeta.garmay@biu.ac.il
Advisor for students from Arab society – Rfat Sweidan: tel: 052-3336383, Rfat_sweidan@hotmail.com
