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  3. Disability and Specific Learning Difference Support

Disability and Specific Learning Difference Support

Support for disabled students, from application to graduation.

As the only campus-based Russell Group university in London, we aim to be accessible to students with a wide range of needs, physical, sensory, mental health, or a specific learning difference like dyslexia, dyspraxia or ADHD.

Telling us about your condition is entirely your choice. Doing so simply helps us put everything below in place for you. All advice from the Disability and Dyslexia Service is always given in the strictest confidence.

Three reasons to tell us about your condition

  1. It means we can prepare early
    Contact us for an informal chat before you arrive, so adjustments are ready from day one.
  2. It opens up funding, adjustments and offers.
    Disabled Students' Allowance, exam access arrangements, reasonable adjustments, and a contextual offer all start with this conversation.
  3. It's confidential.
    Shared only with staff who need to know, and given in the strictest confidence.

Our support for you

For full information about the support available, see our Disability and Dyslexia Service pages.

Before and during your application

Applying to Queen Mary

In care for at least 13 weeks during secondary education? You may qualify for a reduced grades offer through our contextual admissions policy. We can also support you in the following ways:

  • Our outreach team can guide you through the application, whether or not your school can help.
  • Priority access to outreach programmes like Access to Queen Mary, without standard eligibility scoring.
  • A travel bursary covers costs to attend open days and taster events.

Funding your support

Disabled Students' Allowance

DSA is a non-means-tested grant that covers the additional cost of specialist study skills support and assistive technology — it's not a cash payment.

  • You may be eligible with a specific learning difference (e.g. dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD), a disability, or a long-standing mental health condition.
  • Your needs assessment is arranged independently through Study Tech or Capita, based on your funding body.
  • We deliver Specialist One-to-One Study Skills Support directly, and can help you navigate the rest of the process.
A Disability Adviser can talk you through applying, step by step.

Somewhere to live

Accommodation, assessed on individual need

Every new undergraduate is covered by the standard first-year accommodation guarantee. Beyond that, requests made on disability grounds are prioritised by need rather than automatically guaranteed, so it's worth getting in touch early.

  • Wheelchair-accessible rooms, with adjacent carer's rooms, are available in Chapman House and Feilden House.
  • We can't provide overnight care ourselves, but can advise on funding routes if you need it arranged.
  • Priority is based on how significantly your disability affects access to other accommodation.

While you are here and beyond

Once you're registered with us, reasonable adjustments and Examination Access Arrangements are agreed with your department. This may include additional time, a scribe or reader, alternative formats, and more.

  • Non-specialist human support including note-takers, readers, campus support workers, arranged through us.
  • Dedicated resource and assistive technology rooms at Mile End, Lincoln's Inn Fields and Whitechapel.
  • SensusAccess converts course materials into accessible formats.
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