Admissions exam to offer no exception for those with chronic illnesses

The woman participated in last year's admissions procedure but failed to secure a spot in the academic year 2023/2024. In her case before the Council of State, she argued that her chronic illness kept her from preparing for the knowledge and insight test as well as she would have liked.

According to the candidate, UU's handling of her situation breaks the equal treatment law. In her opinion, the university could have offered her an opportunity to retake the exam. By not doing so, the conditions are not the same for all candidates.

Although UU acknowledges that candidates may be disadvantaged if they have a disease, it argues that it can't offer exceptions in its selection process. The Council of State has ruled in favour of the university, saying that this does not break the equal treatment law, which does not oblige institutions to offer special arrangements and facilities when doing so constitutes too much of a burden.

Moreover, the council finds that the university is already striving to treat all candidates equally by having all of them take the test on the same day. Besides, prospective students should know where they stand as soon as possible, so organising more examination days would harm the interests of other candidates.