How to access support when starting University
Tuesday 12 September 2023
Answer
If you have a diagnostic report by an appropriately qualified assessor with an Assessment Practicing Certificate (APC) then you can apply for the Disabled Students Allowances and access a range of support through this funding which is separate to your Maintenance loan (and you don’t pay it back). This funding includes the purchase of equipment, software and specialist tutoring. You can find the application link on your personal Student Finance England portal: https://bit.ly/3uDkJP8 You will need to upload the evidence that you have additional needs. If you also have health or well-being needs, then they may request some medical evidence too.
If you do not have evidence of your dyslexia/dyspraxia/dyscalculia/ADHD then you can ask the learning support team if they can refer and pay for you to have an assessment or whether they pay part of the costs; many universities do.
We also recommend that you contact the Student Support Services in your university to ask about any specific provision which they may offer directly. Some universities have study centres, dyslexia support groups and offer extended library loans.
You could contact your course tutors to ask them about subject specific help and guidance as well as extended deadlines and sympathetic marking schemes for learners who are dyslexic. If, for example, you have exams and course work due at the same time you could discuss an extension or completing your course work before the due date, so you are not overwhelmed by the volume of work at one time.
If you want to request exam access arrangements, you must set this up early on in the academic year; once again your diagnostic report will be required as evidence of your needs. You can organise support in examinations through the Learning Support or disability teams.
You may find it helpful to link up with other students who have similar needs to your own so you can swap ideas, techniques and tools. Some universities have dyslexia support groups, but you could also set up your own group!