Students’ Union UCL is committed to supporting disabled and neurodivergent students throughout their university journey. This page outlines the academic, financial, and wellbeing support available to help you thrive during your time at UCL.

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Your Studies at UCL 

Reasonable Academic Adjustments: 

UCL provides support to students with a disability or long-term condition in the form of Reasonable Academic Adjustments. These exist to help you access a range of appropriate support to facilitate your access to study and remove barriers to learning, teaching, and assessment. These adjustments may include, but are not limited to: 

  • Recorded lectures via UCL’s education recording policy. 
  • Lecture slides available in advance. 
  • Assistive technology and use of a PC.  
  • Extra time and rest breaks during your examinations.  
  • Coursework and assignment extensions.  
  • Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs). 
  • Access to a specialist mental health mentoring scheme. 
  • Physical adjustments such as braille, large print papers, ergonomic furniture and more.  
  • Support Assistants. 

The full details of UCL’s Reasonable Academic Adjustments can be found here. 

Registering for Reasonable Academic Adjustments 

To register for Reasonable Academic Adjustments, you will need evidence of your disability, mental health condition or specific learning difference. 

Note: UCL offers a no-fee screening for dyslexia, dyspraxia, and ADHD indicators for students. You can get an assessment here. 

You should apply for Reasonable Academic Adjustments through Portico. There is a PDF guide on how to apply here. Staff will review and process applications on Portico and you will also be able to view your adjustments on Portico.  

Note: if you have had a Summary of Reasonable Adjustments before September 2025, these will be transferred to UCL’s new system on Portico. 

If you would like to discuss your Reasonable Academic Adjustments, you should use askUCL.  

If you are a Postgraduate Research or Doctoral student, you should not apply for Reasonable Academic Adjustments via Portico. Instead, you should use askUCL to make an appointment with Student Support and Wellbeing Services to discuss your needs. 

Exam adjustments 

Generally, your Exam Adjustments will be a part of your Reasonable Academic Adjustments. However, if you need to amend your existing allowances for extra time and/ or rest breaks, or you need other types of adjustment such as specialist equipment, a scribe, or a PC, you can apply for Exam Adjustments. 

To apply for Exam Adjustments, you should get in touch through the askUCL online enquiries system and an adviser will talk you through the process.   

What if these adjustments are not enough? 

If you feel your Reasonable Academic Adjustments are not enough, in the first instance, you should request a review by speaking to your Departmental Reasonable Academic Adjustments Contact or a UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services Adviser. 

You may also be able to access the following processes: 

Extenuating Circumstances 

Your Reasonable Academic Adjustments should have allowances for fluctuations in your condition, including flare-ups or acute episodes, and you should not need to use the Extenuating Circumstances process in these circumstances. However, if you feel your Reasonable Academic Adjustments are not providing the necessary support, you can submit an Extenuating Circumstances claim, but you must also speak to your Departmental Reasonable Academic Adjustments Contact or a UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services Adviser about a review.  

You can still make an Extenuating Circumstances claim for circumstances that are not covered by your Reasonable Academic Adjustments. 

Delayed Assessment Scheme 

You can also use the Delayed Assessment Scheme. You should submit your Delayed Assessment Permit (DAP) before the original assessment deadline (not your Reasonable Academic Adjustments deadline). Your Reasonable Academic Adjustments extension still applies, but now it extends the new deadline, not the original one.  

For example, if the original deadline for an assessment is October 14 and your Reasonable Academic Adjustments deadline is October 21, then if you submit a DAP before 14 October, your new DAP deadline will be 21 October. Your Reasonable Academic Adjustments will be additional extension on your new DAP deadline. 

You can find our guide to the Delayed Assessment Scheme here. 

Support to Study 

In some cases, if your reasonable Academic Adjustments are not meeting your needs, your department or faculty may initiate the Support to Study procedure, which is designed to put additional support in place. For a guide to UCL’s Support to Study procedure, see here. 

Accommodation adjustments 

UCL Accommodation has provisions to ensure that students are allocated rooms that meet their additional needs. Your requirements could include a hall that enables an accessible route to campus, an en-suite room, or an individual kitchen. Where necessary and possible, UCL can make adaptations to rooms to make them more suitable for individual needs, for example desk, bed facilities, or equipment adjustments. 

You should make UCL aware of your additional needs in your application for UCL Accommodation and submit relevant evidence. 

You can find more information about other support UCL Accommodation can provide here. 

What if I’m not receiving the adjustments I’m entitled to? 

In the first instance, you should contact your Departmental Reasonable Academic Adjustments Contact. They can liaise between your Department and the Student Support and Wellbeing Services team to clarify any uncertainties around your Reasonable Academic Adjustments if these arise.  

If your issue has still not been resolved, you should contact your Faculty tutor for help and advice. Your Faculty tutor should be named on your programme handbook. 

If you have tried to speak to your Department and Faculty, and it has still not been resolved, you can complain to UCL. If would like to make a complaint, you can view our guide on the complaints procedure for an overview here. 

Students should make a complaint about not receiving their adjustments where it has impacted their academic performance as soon as is possible. 

Financial support 

Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) 

What is the Disabled Students’ Allowance? 

Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) is a grant designed to help cover any extra costs you may incur due to a disability or long-term health condition while studying. The amount awarded depends on your course and any other funding you receive. 

DSA funding can cover a range of support tailored to disability-related needs, including: 

  • Assistive technology and specialised equipment - such as laptops, note-taking software, or ergonomic furniture. 
  • Human support - including non-medical helpers like sign language interpreters, study skills tutors, mentors, and training in assistive technologies. 
  • Transport assistance - like taxi fares to and from campus if public transport is challenging to use. 
  • Additional support - such as increased printing allowances and other disability-related provisions. 

Disability Rights UK have an extensive list of the support that DSA can provide here. 

How do I apply for DSA? 

We would recommend applying for DSA as soon as you know you are coming to UCL. UCL have a guide on applying for DSA, including checking your eligibility that you can find here. 

Raising concerns about non-medical helper provision: 

To raise concerns about non-medical helpers, you should first speak to your DSA provider. They will be able to speak to the helper on your behalf to resolve any issues or arrange for a different helper to work with you. 

If you’re ineligible for DSA: 

UCL contributes to disability-related study support for students who aren't eligible for DSA, so you may benefit from the same academic experience to that of their UK and DSA eligible peers. 

UCL may provide funding for the following support: 

  • Assistive technology such as software and hardware to support with your teaching, learning and assessments. 
  • Specialist study skills tutoring for students with a Specific Learning Difference (SpLD) such as dyslexia, dyspraxia or ADHD. 
  • A note-taker or other non-medical helper (NMH) for course-related needs (up to a maximum hourly rate and hours assessed as reasonable by a Disability Advisor). 
  • Other costs related to your studies. 

UCL is currently unable to fund personal care needs such as assistance with shopping, cooking or cleaning. 

You should book an appointment via askUCL to register for support and discuss funding options with one UCL’s advisors. 

Welfare Benefits

The following information is for general information purposes and does not constitute financial advice. For tailored advice, students are advised to seek independent benefits advice. 

For advice, information and a benefits calculator to check your eligibility for welfare benefits, use Entitled to. 

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)  

Personal Independence Payment (PIP), or the Adult Disability Payment if you normally live in Scotland, can be paid to people who have daily care needs and/or mobility needs because of their disability. Your income, such as student funding, and any savings, are not considered when making a claim. You do not need to have paid National Insurance contributions and it is usually paid every four weeks. You can find a guide to apply for PIP by Disability Rights UK here. 

Note, if you receive PIP, and any activities you do as part of your studies suggest that your daily living/care needs or mobility needs have lessened, your PIP award may be reviewed and could be reduced or ended.    

Employment and Support Allowance    

Contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) (sometimes called “new style ESA”) is a benefit for people who are limited in their ability to work because of an illness or disability. You must have paid National Insurance contributions in recent years to qualify.  

After making a claim you will be subject to an assessment to determine if you have:    

  • ‘Limited capability for work-related activity’, and therefore will not have to take part in any work-related activities; or   
  • ‘Limited capability for work’ only, and therefore you must take part in certain work-related activities.   
  • If you are making a new claim for ESA, you can no longer also get income-related ESA, but you may claim Universal Credit as well.    

Universal Credit   

If you are a full-time student, you may be eligible to claim Universal Credit but only in specific circumstances. These include if:     

  • Due to a disability/long-term health condition you are assessed as having ‘limited capability for work' and you get PIP or Disability Living Allowance. Note: It must have been decided that you have limited capability for work before you start your studies;     
  • You are waiting to return to your course after taking time out because of illness or caring responsibilities.   

If you are part time student you can claim Universal Credit, but only if you are able to study and meet the conditions in your claimant commitment. If you are claiming it as a disabled student and have limited capability for work, you will not have to find a job. Either no conditions will apply, or the conditions will include participating only in work-related activities (e.g. training) that make it more likely you will be able to obtain work in future. However, if it is decided that as a condition of claiming Universal Credit you must look for and be available for work, you will have to argue this is possible while also studying part-time.  

Note: Universal Credit is a means-tested benefit, so your income, and any savings worth over £6000 are considered. Most student funding for maintenance costs is counted as income.  

Carer’s Allowance 

If you care for an adult or child with a disability or long-term illness, and are in part-time education, you may be able to claim Carer’s Allowance. So, if you are on a course that UCL describes as full-time, you cannot claim Carer’s Allowance.  You must be caring for the disabled person for at least 35 hours a week, and they must be getting a disability benefit (i.e. PIP, Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance). You do not have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for. If you do any paid work, your earnings must be £196 or less a week after certain deductions, including income tax and National Insurance. Any other income is completely ignored. However, the benefit cannot be paid at all if the earnings limit is exceeded.   

For more information, help and support, Disability Rights UK provides specialist, detailed information on a range of welfare benefits and other financial support e.g. Disabled Student's Allowance. 

Special Support Maintenance Loan: 

You may be eligible for a higher amount of maintenance loan than other students if :

  • you are deaf and qualify for Disabled Students’ Allowance 
  • you have been treated as incapable of work for a continuous period of at least 28 weeks 
  • you have a disability and qualify for income-related Employment and Support Allowance 
  • you are waiting to go back to a course having taken agreed time out from that course due to an illness or caring responsibility that has now ended 
  • you are entitled to PIP 
  • you are entitled to Disability Living Allowance

The special support loan is part of the maintenance loan worth up to £4,461 and does not count as income in your means-tested benefits. 

To access this support, you should: 

  • Tick the relevant box on your student finance application to indicate you quality under the criteria 
  • Send supporting evidence with your application 

Sarah Douglas Hardship Fund 

The Sarah Douglas Hardship Fund is the Students’ Union hardship fund, managed by the Students’ Union UCL Advice Service. The aim of the fund is to help UCL students who are experiencing financial difficulty and have no other form of support available (including further support from UCL student hardship funds). Successful applicants will receive grants to help them through a short-term period of unexpected financial difficulty.  

Additional funding sources for your degree: 

UCL has a comprehensive list of bursaries and awards that are available to disabled students that you can view on their website here. You can also find additional options outlined by Scope, a disability charity, here. 

Accessibility on campus 

UCL has developed an Inclusive Design Strategy that outlines their proactive commitment to creating an environment that is accessible, inclusive, and welcoming to all, by taking all reasonable and practicable steps to ensure its buildings, spaces, and services support equal participation, celebrate diversity, and meet or exceed national accessibility standards. This strategy applies to all new construction, as well as existing and refurbished facilities, ensuring that every part of the UCL estate reflects these inclusive design principles. 

UCL’s ongoing work under this new strategy includes improving step-free access, tackling heavy doors by automating them, implementing an Assistance Dog policy and improving hearing accessibility in teaching spaces, amongst other initiatives. If you’re interested in finding out more about UCL’s physical accessibility work, you can view their progress here. 

AccessAble 

AccessAble provides accessibility information on its website and app so you can determine whether a place is accessible to you. UCL has detailed access guides and information on their buildings and services on AccessAble that you can view here. 

Sunflower Lanyard  

UCL supports the Sunflower Lanyard that indicates that someone has an invisible disability. It is an initiative designed to act as a discreet sign that somebody has an invisible disability and may require additional assistance while out in public. 

More information on the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme at UCL can be found here and you can collect a sunflower lanyard for free from one of the UCL buildings listed here. 

Give me Space 

Give me Space aims to support individuals who would like to social distance and acts as a polite reminder to maintain respectful distancing around others when possible. 

Students can request lanyards online via AskUCL and on campus from some libraries including; IOE Library, Main Library, Science Library and Cruciform Hub.  

How can I raise issues with campus accessibility? 

If you see an issue on campus, for example a lift or accessible toilet that doesn’t work, you should report it on MyCampus, which is available for all buildings apart from UCL East and student residences. 

Additional UCL Support

Disability and Neurodiversity team 

UCL’s Disability and Neurodiversity Team provides specialist support, advice, and adjustments for disabled students, neurodivergent students, and those with long-term health conditions. 

You can speak to the team about any wellbeing, mental health, or disability-related concerns that may be affecting your ability to study. Staff offer confidential, non-judgemental guidance tailored to your individual needs. 

UCL Counselling Services: 

UCL offers 6 free counselling sessions per year to students to speak about their personal, emotional and psychological concerns. Register for UCL Counselling Services here. 

Mental health mentoring: 

UCL provides a specialist mental health mentoring scheme to help students manage the impact of any long-term mental health difficulties on their studies, which involves regular meetings with a mentor who will work with you to help you identify and overcome barriers to your learning. To be referred to UCL’s mental health mentoring, book an appointment with a UCL adviser here. 

Digital Accessibility Hubs: 

UCL has Digital Accessibility Hubs at its Bloomsbury and UCL East campuses which are dedicated IT workrooms for students and staff with a disability or who need reasonable adjustments. These hubs offer a range of facilities and in-person support including: 

  • access to specialist equipment 
  • support for students, professional services and academic staff 
  • training on accessibility software programs, accessible content creation, and ergonomic equipment.   

Find more information about the Digital Accessibility Hubs including opening hours and their rules here. 

Resources 

Disability Rights UK is a charity run for and by disabled people that works to campaign and influence for stronger disability rights and provides information and resources for disabled people. 

Disabled Students UK is a community research organisation run by current and former disabled students. They share disabled students’ insights to inform policy and improve accessibility in Higher Education and provide information and resources to disabled students. 

Students’ Union UCL also has an elected Disabled Students’ Officer and a Disabled Students’ Network which works to promote the interests of disabled students including those with long term illness, neurodivergence and mental health issues. 

How the Advice Service can help 

Your Advice Service can offer support to disabled students and students with long-term health conditions in situations where:   

  • You need to make a complaint because your department/faculty is not providing your reasonable adjustments 
  • You need help understanding the Support to Study and Extenuating Circumstances processes 
  • You would like an advisor to attend a panel meeting as your ‘friend’ for moral support   

To get in touch with an advisor, please use our contact form. 

Last updated 2 weeks ago