Support available at University
The support available will vary between different universities. Unfortunately we can’t cover them all, so we’ve outlined where to look and the types of support that should be available.
It is important to remember that none of the information about your support or adjustments at school will automatically transfer to university. Your university won’t know about your support requirements unless you tell them so it’s worth contacting the Disability Services at your chosen university as soon as you can to make sure you have everything in place before you start.
However it is never too late to find support! University is a different environment to school and circumstances can change – you can also reach out for help after starting university, whether your needs are new, longstanding, or changing.
Finding support:
If you are seeking disability-specific support relating to academics, i.e. having access arrangements put in place for classes, there is usually a centre set up to manage this. Try searching the name of your university and ‘disabled students’ or ‘disabled support centre’; they go by different names but these generic terms should bring up the right result.
If you are seeking welfare support, try looking on your university website under ‘student support’ or ‘life at _ university’. Details about the support structure in place for students, and things like counselling services, are usually listed.
As well as ‘official’ university support, often student unions offer student-led advice & support. You can find out more from your student union website or representatives.
Most universities have a student advice service which is a confidential, impartial, and independent body that can give you advice on academic or personal welfare concerns; you can go to them if you’re not sure who to ask for help, or if the usual points of contact aren’t helping you adequately.
What support is available:
Academic support
Your disabled support centre should help with processing access arrangements (including exam arrangements), anything from accessible classrooms to having a scribe or helper for you. They may also have a document in which they detail what support you’ll need written with your knowledge and permission, which they send to your teachers on your behalf so that you don’t have to tell your teachers, they should already know what support you’ll need.
Most support will come under the term ‘reasonable adjustments’ ; these are basic inclusive practices including exam arrangements, accessible resources and some personal support. This should be covered by the university.
Some support is more specialist and may require extra funding such as BSL interpreters, specialist equipment or software. Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) should cover these costs and the disabled student support centre will be able to advise you on eligibility and assistance in applying for DSA if you haven’t already done prior to starting university.
You should also have a tutor or director of studies who can advise you on academic matters such as which modules to take, or what to do if you’re struggling with your course.
Pastoral support
This can include anything from free yoga or mindfulness classes, to a university-run counselling service.
You can speak to your tutor for support and advice regarding non-academic concerns like finances, family or personal problems (some universities have separate academic and non-academic tutors, but many assign you the same tutor to help you with both).
Your university’s disabled support centre may offer mentoring, which can cover the emotional & practical challenges you’ll face at university. In universities split into colleges, there may be services offered on a university and a collegiate level, so you can choose where you go to seek support.
Universities do not provide social or personal care support. If you come under this care support it is important to communicate with your Local Authority and/or adult social services to ensure your care is transferred appropriately while you are at university.
Informal support
Whether provided by your students’ union or led by peer-support groups, you can find awareness campaigns, welfare nights designed to bring students together in a calm, relaxing environment and many other events and support networks at university.
Most student unions will have a disabled students’ group which generally aims to offer a space to voice concerns or ideas for university wide policies and practice, and runs social events and social media pages to help to meet people with similar disabilities/conditions.
About Us
The general aim and objective of Head Up! is to promote the interests of young people with disabilities, physical and/or mental health conditions, specific learning difficulties and neurodivergence; offering them practical advice and support concerning their education and welfare.