Disabled students: Researching your choices

If you have complex support needs it may take time to arrange adjustments, so the earlier you speak to the university, the sooner they can start making arrangements.

Never be put off by any assumptions about your disability impairment – most courses (and professions) can be made accessible with the appropriate support. 

There are some important differences in the support you may have received at school or college, and what you can access in higher education. While the university will arrange adjustments and support, you will be expected to speak to them about your requirements. The National Association of Disability Practitioners (NADP) and University of Leeds have created a handy guide to help disabled students understand the differences in the language and terminology used in higher education and school, and outline how to access the right support for you.

Your research will depend on your individual support and adjustment requirements, so make a list of what you need. 

If you're applying from a school or college where you've received support from the learning support team, talk to the learning support staff or SENCO about what you might need. Although the support you receive at school may be very different to what’s available in higher education, this will give you a good starting point for your research and discussions with the university support team.

Here are some suggestions to get you started with your research:

• Pre-entry support: Can you arrange a bespoke visit to the campus to look around and speak to the support team? Do they offer orientation days before you arrive so you can get to know your surroundings before term begins? How will they ensure any interviews, auditions or entrance tests are accessible and inclusive?
• Academic and study support: Are accessible and inclusive online platforms used to deliver online learning, and is the same technology used across all departments? Does the course include off-site visits or work placements – how does the university ensure they are accessible and inclusive? Does the course include blended learning and how will they make sure you can access all elements? Will the disability adviser ensure the course tutors are aware of any barriers or challenges (with consent)?
• Assessment support: How is the course assessed and what adjustments can be made to accommodate your needs – for example, additional time in exams and deadline extensions? Where is the extenuating circumstances policies?
• Campus and facilities: Is the campus fully accessible (e.g. wheelchair ramps, accessible lifts, toilets, and stair lifts)? Are there designated parking spaces for disabled students? Is there an on-campus GP or will you need to find one locally?
• Accommodation and lifestyle: Do accommodation options meet your needs (e.g. accessible rooms, quiet options)? Can you live on campus for the duration of your course? What are the transport links like? What local facilities are important to you? Are there accessible and inclusive clubs and societies aligned to your interests? Is there a GP surgery on campus and how do you register? Read more about accommodation, including our accommodation guide for disabled students.
• Personal care: This may be practical help and support you need for independent living (e.g. support with cooking, cleaning, personal hygiene, correspondence, shopping, and transport). It can take time to organise personal care, especially if you require an assessment, so it’s important to think about this early in your journey. Start by speaking to your local authority about your higher education plans, and read more on our financial support page.
• Mental health and wellbeing support: What services are available to manage your mental health and wellbeing on campus and/or in the local area?

You do not need evidence or a diagnosis to share a disability or mental health condition in the UCAS application. However, you may need to provide evidence for certain adjustments and support. Check with the university if you need to provide evidence, what they will accept, and when they will need it.

If applying for the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA), you will need evidence. Find out more about eligibility on our DSA pages.

The university website

In most instances, the university or college website will be your starting point. You will find information about the support available – such as learning and assessment methods – along with contact details for the disability or mental health adviser.

If you can’t find the information you need, contact the student support team, who will point you in the right direction – read more about student support services.

Unifish

If you're thinking of applying to a university in London, Unifish lists all universities and colleges in and around the city, outlining the support available, with handy links and students’ insights.

Talk to course providers

Support requirements are tailored and vary from student to student. We recommend contacting the university or college directly to discuss your circumstances and ask questions in more depth so you can make an informed choice. They are always happy to talk to prospective students and explain the support they offer – even if you decide not to apply there. Start these conversations early to make sure you have time to consider which is the right fit for you.

If you’re not sure what to ask the disability adviser or the student support team, you’re not alone. To help, we’ve put together advice for speaking to student support services.

Open days are a valuable way to experience the university or college campus first-hand – you can tour the facilities, speak to staff and current students, and really get a feel for whether you would like to study there. Read our guide to preparing for open days and getting the most out of your visit.

If you can’t make an open day, lots of universities offer virtual tours, so you don’t have to miss out. You can also directly chat to students at different universities through Unibuddy to find out their experiences of studying there.

If it is important to you to see the university facilities in person, you may be able to arrange a separate visit – speak to the student support team to discuss this. They can also make arrangements for you to speak to the disability adviser or current students if you would find that helpful.

Find an open day

If you’re not sure where your current qualifications can take you, we can show you what others like you went on to study. Perhaps you have a specific career in mind – we can help you understand what pathways are available. Or maybe there is a particular subject you enjoy but you’re not sure what the options are for taking it further – there are lots of tools and resources to help you plan your next steps.in the UCAS Hub.

Our subject guides are a great starting point, or you can ‘try before you apply’ with subject tasters, which are real degree course lectures across a broad range of subjects.

Read our ultimate guide to picking your degree

If you're taking a professional course where you are responsible for the health and safety of other people, such as medicine, dentistry or nursing, you will need to meet ‘fitness to practise’ standards. This means being able to demonstrate the skills and knowledge you need to carry out your duties safely and effectively. This is usually assessed through a questionnaire about your health, and sometimes an occupational health assessment.

Some students worry this will prevent them from being able to study a subject or follow a particular career. However, universities, colleges and employers have a duty under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments to help disabled people meet these requirements. If you’re getting the right support, a disability, learning difference, long-term illness or mental health condition is unlikely to affect your ability to meet these requirements. 

Check the guidance on fitness to practise from your chosen professional course – some are listed below, but your course provider can help if you’re not sure which relate to your course. Always speak to your university or college if you have any concerns or questions.

• General Medical Council (GMC)
• The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
• General Dental Council (GDC)
• Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)

Competence standards

Another term you may hear is ‘competence standards’, which is different to ‘fitness to practise’. Some professional courses require students to meet 'an academic, medical, or other standard applied for the purposes of determining whether or not a person has a particular level of competence or ability' (as defined by the Equality Act 2010). 

These standards are designed to ensure students are clear about the demands and expectations of the course, but reasonable adjustments will be made to ensure disabled students have an equal opportunity to meet them.

If considering Clearing, remember that you will not have much time to discuss support arrangements with the university. There might be a delay in getting any adjustments ready for your arrival, particularly if you have complex or specialist requirements.

However, universities and colleges are very experienced in supporting students with a wide range of disabilities which means most campuses and courses will already be accessible and inclusive, so Clearing may not present any challenges to your arrangements. We strongly recommend you discuss your individual needs when you talk to the university about a Clearing place, to make sure they can support you before you accept.

When you begin deciding what and where to study, it’s a good idea to have a contingency plan. During your research, make a list of suitable alternative universities and colleges that you're confident can support you – perhaps because you’ve already spoken to them or visited. This way, you’ll be better prepared if you decide to use Clearing later on.