Disability / Special Needs

The INSA schools are public engineering institutions created in the 1950s by philosopher Gaston Berger and Rector Jean Capelle to support the expansion of higher education and the democratization of studies. From the outset, the institutes were founded on strong social and human values, which continue to shape their governance today.

Welcoming and supporting diverse student populations are part of the values and cultural identity defined by the INSA founders and carried forward by the schools’ leadership. Today, the INSA Group is composed of 7 INSA schools in France and 6 partner schools, each awarding its own degree. They all share the same values, and their recruitment procedures are common for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd years (except for apprenticeship-based programs).

The law of February 11, 2005, known as the law for equality of rights and opportunities, participation, and citizenship of persons with disabilities, marked an essential step in the recognition of disability within society.

Higher education institutions are responsible for ensuring that students with disabilities have access to courses, facilities, services, and the support needed to carry out their studies, regardless of their disability. Various Charters signed in 2007, 2008, and 2012—between the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, the Ministry of Labor, Social Relations and Solidarity, the State Secretariat for Solidarity, the Conference of University Presidents, and the Conference of Grandes Écoles—have encouraged all higher education institutions to develop a positive dynamic for students with disabilities.

It is important to inform the INSA Group of any particular situation: disabling illness, disability (motor, sensory, psychological, cognitive, speech and language disorders, etc.), or life accidents, in order to ensure that your specific needs are taken into account. Before any enrollment, you must contact one of the INSA Group disability advisors.

They will be able to:

• inform you about the admission and support of students with disabilities in a particular INSA school,
• assist you in compiling your file,
• discuss your situation with you,
• help you prepare for your start of studies.

Would you like to indicate that your situation has impacted your academic results?

You will need to submit a file (reviewed by disability advisors) via the personal online portal that will be opened for you after your application has been validated (Parcoursup, SCEI), or directly through our application platform (other applicant pools). Before submitting, you should contact the disability advisor of the school you most wish to attend. Their contact details can be found in the information brochure above. This file will then be reviewed exclusively by the disability advisors of the INSA Group schools. They will assess the impact of your disability or health issues on your academic performance and will transmit their conclusions to the admissions jury, without disclosing your personal health data. In the event of admission, awareness of your situation will also make it possible to prepare the best possible arrangements for your arrival. The file must be uploaded to your online application (not sent by email) as a single PDF document of at least 2 pages (maximum 10 MB).

It must include the following documents.

Mandatory documents:

• A letter from the applicant describing the possible impact of their situation on their academic journey AND any desired accommodations within the INSA Group, mentioning—if necessary—the school most suitable for their disability and/or medical situation.
• A letter from a physician confirming the disability and/or medical situation, if possible specifying its impact on schooling, without including a medical diagnosis. If required by the situation (e.g., medical follow-ups), the physician may indicate the most suitable school in the medical certificate.
• If accommodations were granted during schooling, provide supporting documents such as notifications or specific exam arrangements, PAI, PPS, PAP, etc.

Optional documents:

• Any other document useful for understanding the situation (non-medical).

Each file will be reviewed confidentially by the committee. However, medical documents (assessments, reports, analyses, prescriptions, etc.) will not be taken into account due to their confidential medical content. Any incomplete file will not be reviewed.