Support for disabled students
What to expect as a disabled student
As a disabled student, your university and college may offer you additional support. We have outlined some of the things your university or college may offer below.
To find out more about specific support options at your university or college, talk to a member of staff, or your students’ union (if you have one).
1. Reasonable adjustments
Universities and colleges have a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled students.
Reasonable adjustments are steps taken by a university or college to remove a substantial disadvantage to a particular disabled student that results from its systems. These can be changes to exam arrangements or physical spaces, or providing auxiliary aids or services.
Adjustments that would be highly impractical or prohibitively expensive are not considered reasonable.
2. Inclusive approaches
Many universities and colleges use inclusive approaches to design their course content and assessment methods. The aim is to make learning accessible for all and reduce the number of individual adjustments that need to be made.
3. Learning support plan
Your university or college may provide you with a learning support plan. This is a document that outlines your needs and the support or adjustments agreed by your university or college.
It is usually developed in discussion with you and should help to inform relevant staff about how they can support you in your studies.
4. Disabled Students’ Allowance
Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) is government funding that aims to cover the study-related costs you have because of a mental health problem, long-term illness or any other disability.
The type of support and how much you get depends on your individual needs. DSA does not cover disability-related costs you’d have if you were not attending a course, or costs that any student might have.
You can apply for DSA if you live in England and have a disability (as defined by the Equality Act 2010), that affects your ability to study. You must meet other eligibility criteria that is set out on GOV.UK.
Describe your experience of using this website