Living independently:

Leaving home can be intimidating for anyone, and if you have a disability, health condition or learning difficulty there are extra things to consider when preparing for living independently, including accommodation, food, travel, money and healthcare.

Accommodation:

If your condition(s) means that you require or would benefit from specific accommodation, it’s best to start talking to your university ASAP to make them aware, so they can sort it for you.

 

Example features of accessible accommodation: 

• Ground floor or lift-access
• Accessible / private bathroom
• Plenty of sunlight
• Private kitchen, perhaps with lower work surfaces
• Level floor throughout
• Vibrating pillow or flashing beacon as an emergency alarm (for D/deaf students)
• Extra space for specialist equipment
• Quiet location (not always possible as it depends on the layout of accommodation but worth asking if you think this would be helpful) 

To talk about arranging these, or find out what support you might be able to get, try contacting your university housing department, or the disability support centre should be able to point you in the right direction. As accommodation requirements come under ‘reasonable adjustments’ you should not have to pay extra for accessible accommodation. 

Once you get there, you may need further support, e.g. help cleaning, or a personalised evacuation plan in the event of fire; whoever is responsible for managing your accommodation is responsible for helping you with this. 

Usually, disabled students are allowed to live in halls (university-owned accommodation) for the duration of their degrees, unlike most students who live out (in private accommodation) after their first year. If you have to or would like to live out, allow plenty of time to find somewhere accessible as most students sign rental agreements months in advance. 

 

Food:

Glorious food! Very important when choosing where you’ll live: 

Are you going to be able to cook for yourself? Every day? Would you rather have access to (subjectively) delicious meals in your halls’ cafe or diner? Check opening times for meals, is this going to be restrictive for you?

Alternatively, if you have niche dietary restrictions (halls will have vegetarian options and signal allergens, but their coverage of vegan, halal and kosher food can be patchy), self-catering may be essential, in which case be sure to pick accommodation with a decent kitchen (@most Oxbridge colleges, up your game!)

If you think you’ll be entirely or mostly catered, it can be worth investigating whether paying more credit upfront leads to a rent discount. 

If you are going to be partly or entirely self-catered, here are some basic tips:

• If you struggle with carrying heavy shopping or being in a noisy, crowded shop, try online delivery – if you can’t meet the minimum spend (usually around £40) on your own, try getting together with friends. You can also buy all your non-perishable food for term in advance and have family or friends help carry it when you move in – think dried pasta, pasta sauce, noodles, rice, tins of soup – that way, if you can’t make it to the shop you have food available
• Batch cook (always!). No matter how bad your cooking is, there’s something to be said for the satisfaction of being at university, living independently and eating what you’ve made, so make big portions that’ll last you 3 meals, with ⅓ of the washing up! If you don’t want to eat it for 3 days straight, you could freeze some. This also reduces the amount of energy/time you need to spend on cooking as cooking one big batch is easier than multiple cooking sessions
• It’s always worth having an ‘emergency’ ready meal or pizza in the freezer for the days when you just don’t want to cook
• Don’t worry about cooking Michelin star dishes – university can be exhausting and some days cheesy beans on toast is the perfect answer. Make sure you try and stick to 3 meals a day, it’s very important to keep your energy levels up and prioritise your meal times. Remember your fruit and veg – it will help ward of freshers’ flu. 

Travel and getting around:

If you have mobility issues and will need to use public/private transport, do some research before starting uni:

• Some campuses, especially where the accommodation is out of town, offer free bus services
• If you will need to take buses or taxis to get to classes, or to get between home and university, the Disabled Students’ Allowance can reimburse you some of the cost, usually minus the cost of public transport a non-disabled student would incur
• If you need or want to take your car to university, you may have to apply in advance for a parking permit. Mileage costs can also be reimbursed via DSA

Other tips:

• Have a good rucksack or bag, it’s much easier and better for you to carry your stuff in a decent rucksack 
• Consider a wheelie/trolley bag to save you from carrying everything or even if it’s just for days when you’re planning a library trip (textbooks are heavy!)
• Think about what you need to take with you each day, make sure you have everything you need to save a trip back to your accommodation
• Also consider: do you need every book, all your folders etc? Could you use plastic wallets with the set of notes you need for that day, rather than carrying a whole pad of paper about, to make your bag as light as possible
• Cycling, if this is an option for you and it may depend on what city you’re in, can offer a more efficient method of travelling. If you have a basket this saves you from needing to carry your stuff
  • E-bikes can be rented relatively cheaply, and make cycling a much more accessible option as they make long distance or hills much easier

 

Finance:

Disabled or not, finance is an unavoidable part of planning for uni; there is government funding available but it may not cover all of your costs. Our university finance page covers tuition fees, maintenance loans, and scholarships.

Student Bank Accounts:

A key part of starting uni is setting up a student bank account. This isn’t compulsory, however banks often offer better deals to students (e.g. interest-free overdrafts, so you don’t repay extra if you overspend) in the hope you’ll stay with them after graduating, so it’s usually worth opening a student account.

You don’t have to wait until you start uni; you can start to set up an account with your student code from UCAS. You’ll need proof of address, ID (passport or driving licence) and your student status (a UCAS/university acceptance letter or NUS student card).

A note for international students:

You may have to apply for a bank account specifically for international students; these are usually very similar to UK student accounts, although some charge a small extra fee.   

It may be easier to complete your application when you arrive, as you’ll need to register a UK address, and some banks require a UK telephone number to contact you on. You will have to show them your UCAS confirmation letter as well as some ID: for EU students this is currently an EU passport and ID card or driving licence; for non-EU students this includes your passport, student visa and biometric resident permit.

Save the Student has a great guide explaining student banking, while Money Saving Expert ranks the different accounts on offer.

Finance from a disability perspective:

You may face extra costs because of your disability, for things like travel, specialist equipment or employing a helper. The Disabled Students’ Allowance from the government covers some of these, we’ve got a page about DSA here.

Even if the DSA doesn’t cover everything, it’s also worth checking what your university or college offers; your tutor may be able to point you towards disability-specific grants and support.

Tips on managing your money:

1. Calculate how much you’ll get for your maintenance loan and any other grants. If this is under £7,000, it will probably not be enough to live on so you might need to ask family members for help or look into job opportunities. The sooner you do these the better. 
2. Budget! If you make a rough plan of what you’ll allow yourself to spend, particularly on things like eating out or partying, you’re less likely to splurge. 
3. Download your banking app to easily keep an eye on your spending. There are lots of other apps as well that can keep track of how you are spending your money and show where you could cut back.
4. Plan your meals in advance so you don’t have to keep going to the shops each day, which often costs more. Food going off before you eat it is a waste of food and money. 
5. Watch your card! Research has shown that we’re more conscious of money and spend less using cash. Getting to uni with a new student bank card can tempt us into spending money without really realising. Check your account regularly (this can catch your own overspending and potential fraud!)
6. Don’t panic! If you’re nearing your overdraft limit and running out of money, don’t bottle up your stress and stay quiet: tell someone. Many universities offer emergency grants to students in this situation, and can offer support to help you better-manage your money in future; a good place to start is usually your tutor.

 

Healthcare at university:

When you start university, you’ll need to re-register with a new GP (if living away from home), get vaccinated before you move in and ensure you have enough medication with you, at least until you’re set up with your new doctor. Find our healthcare at university page here.