If you identify as neurodivergent or disabled we encourage you to let the Student Success and Accessibility Team know, even if you don’t think it will affect your experience at UCW.

UCW guides students through the Reasonable Adjustment process. We proactively put adjustments in place for our students that declare a learning difference, disability, health condition or mental health difficulty. We can also put support in place for students who are pregnant, have caring responsibilities or have any other circumstances which may affect their studies. If you are not sure, get in touch to talk it through.

Please get in touch to find out more about UCW’s approach to Reasonable Adjustments on support@ucw.ac.uk

How Disability Advisors Can Guide You

Our Disability Advisors work alongside you to help create an inclusive, accessible, and empowering learning experience, whether you're studying an apprenticeship, foundation degree, or honours degree. We'll take time to understand your strengths, experiences, and goals, and work with you to identify what will help you succeed at UCW.

We can help with:

• Screening and referrals for dyslexia, dyspraxia, and ADHD through UCW's internal processes.
• Co-producing personalised support plans that outline reasonable adjustments for learning, assessment, and the study environment.
• Connecting you with resources, technology, services, and support on campus and online.
• Accessibility advice for campus access, accommodation, and learning environments.
• Developing Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) where needed.
• Assisting with Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) applications and exploring alternative options.
• Having conversations about adjustments with employers.

We also offer specialist study skills, mentoring, workshops and inclusive events throughout the year.

What You Can Expect When You Meet With Us

We will:

• Listen to you
• Help you understand your situation
• Plan and problem solve
• Agree practical next steps and actions

Advice and guidance is always tailored to the individual's strengths, goals and learning needs. Sessions can focus on organisation and time management; academic reading & writing; essay planning; presentations; revision strategies; and skills.

UCW provides specialist mentoring and study skills sessions for neurodivergent and disabled students, either in-person (multiple campuses) or on Teams.

Specialist mentoring and study skills may be provided through an external agency. Face to face sessions through F2F Support can be arranged at the Winter Gardens campus or online.

Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSAs) can provide funding for classic route degree students to help pay for any additional essential costs for support a student may need as a direct result of a disability, a long-term health condition, mental health difficulty or Specific Learning Difference (SpLD), such as dyslexia or dyspraxia. This can include a specialist study skills tutor, specialist mentor, technologies, equipment and software, or specific ergonomic items. Once a student has successfully applied it is up to the student to arrange the support with the allocated providers. Support to do this or amend this if needed is available at UCW. The funding does not have to be repaid by the student.

You can also find more information on the rates we charge for in-house UCW specialist provision under DSA find out more information on DSA rates here. 

Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) is available to students across specific pathways — including full honours degrees, foundation degrees, top-up, and HNC courses (where applicable).

During enrolment, all new UCW students complete a short screening called QuickScan, which helps identify learning styles and explores indicators of dyslexia or dyspraxia. If QuickScan suggests a possible SpLD, you’ll be offered a meeting with our team to discuss next steps, including whether you’d like to apply for DSA.

Students can apply for DSA once Student Finance applications open. This video explains the process. For further information please visit the Student Finance DSA page.

How to apply:

• Submit evidence of your disability, health condition or learning difference.
• If you don’t have a post-16 diagnostic report, UCW can help arrange an assessment. There is a cost to this.
• Apply online via your student finance provider
• Once approved you’ll receive a DSA1 letter, which allows you to book a Needs Assessment. This can be done in person or remotely.
• After your assessment, you’ll receive a Needs Assessment Report (NAR) outlining recommended support.
• When funding is confirmed, you’ll get a DSA2 entitlement letter, explaining the equipment, support and services.

Our Disability Advisors are here to support you throughout this process, from evidence gathering and applications to liaising with your funding body.

Please contact support@ucw.ac.uk if you need help or have questions.