Forbidden to access something on a given server...?

Hi all,

I am trying to access a pdf file from a web page of a university with which I am not affiliated. When I do that, I get a "Forbidden" message, telling me that I do not have permission to access the file on this server. I have this same problem when trying to access various pdf files on different web pages. For anyone good with computers, is there a way that I could access the file(s)? I am not particularly well-versed in computers, and when I google this particular problem, most of the explanations go way over my head (they involve lots of tech-lingo, info about Linux, etc).

Help would be enormously appreciated.