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SEND Support at University
Going to university can be a really exciting time in your life! It gives you the opportunity to be more independent and have new experiences.
Universities offer a vast amount and wide range of support for students with special educational needs and disabilities, to make sure that everyone can experience university life.
If you have applied to university, there are some big decisions to make before you accept an offer.
When it's time to start thinking about your next steps, make sure you think about:
Making sure you choose the right university and subject for you is very important.
Choosing a course that you are interested in, will mean that you will enjoy your studies. If you are worried that you might need extra support with your course, get in touch with the university to talk with them.
Universities have staff dedicated to supporting disabled students with their application, transition and experience during their university degree.
You want to make sure that you will feel comfortable and confident. In most cases, your university will be able to make changes, that will allow you to get the support or equipment you need to succeed.
University League Tables can be a good place to start when thinking about which universities you want to apply to.
Nottinghamshire Local Offer is an excellent resource, for anyone thinking about university. See their page about Post 16, further and higher education.
Moving away from home can be a big life change, so it's important to make where you're living as comfortable as possible.
If you are moving into university accommodation, make sure that you talk with the university first to make sure that it is suited to your needs.
If you are considering living in rented accommodation, you will need to do some research! This can be done by talking to local letting agencies to ask them about their accessibility, or looking on Unipol for safe, accessible places to live.
Don't forget that you will need to travel into the university for classes, so make sure you don't choose to live somewhere too far away. Often universities can offer transport options, so make sure that you discuss this with them.
And remember that once you are living away from home, you will be in charge of your own cooking and cleaning! Make sure you know how to make a few simple meals and think about how much money you will need to spend on food.
Occasionally universities can work alongside social care providers, if students have additional support needs, that mean that they need support with independence and self-care skills. Please talk to your Local Authority and university if you think this applies to you.
It is important that the university you go to is able to meet your needs. One of the best ways to find out about this is to attend opens days at the universities you are interested in.
Open days will give you the chance to see the university in person. You will also be able to talk directly to the lecturers and support teams, so that you can get answers to any questions you might have.
There are plenty of ways that your university may be able to support you and your needs.
These could include:
- Pairing you with a learning assistant
- Having someone who is able to take notes for you
- Making sure you are able to sit in a certain spot
- Providing you with class material ahead of time
- Extending your deadlines
- Giving you additional time during exams
- Finding a quiet environment for you to take exams in.
When you attend university, you can take out a student loan to help you to pay for your course and accommodation. This loan must be paid back once you start earning enough money.
However, you may also be able to claim Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA), which does not have to be paid back.
To claim Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA), you will need to attend a meeting, where your needs and abilities will be assessed, to see if you are eligible for the allowance.
To find out more about Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA), visit the government website.
When you apply, it can take up to three months for your allowance to be arranged - so it is better to apply early and not leave it until the week before you start university!
Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for additional funding and support – find out more about scholarships, grants and bursaries on the UCAS website.
A lot of university courses require a lot of reading! If this is something you struggle with, you may be able to ask your university to provide adapted study materials that meet your needs.
These materials could include:
- e-Books
- Audiobooks
- Braille
- Large print
- Digital Talking Books
- Videos
If you know what university and course you will be attending, you can speak with your teachers ahead of time, to find out more about what support they will be able to give you.
Post 16, Further and Higher Education

SEND Local Offer
The Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council SEND Local Offers are a great resource for finding events, support and activities in your area.
City Council County Council