General application
There will be opportunities during the online UCAS form and further in the university application process for you to state disabilities, conditions or SpLDs you may have. Don’t be worried that declaring a disability will hinder your application, this is absolutely not true; in the 2019 UCAS admissions round the acceptance rate for those with a declared disability was exactly the same as those without at 82%.
Some universities also have a form where you can detail your mitigating circumstances, e.g. at Cambridge there is the Extenuating Circumstances Form (ECF). This is not just for people with disabilities, but also if your education or home life has been significantly disrupted for any reason. These forms allow you to explain gaps in your education or performance, which helps universities to contextualise your application and appreciate the extra hard work you’ve put in to get there.
Admission exams
Some universities (Oxbridge) & certain courses (Medicine, Vet, some Law courses) will have admission exams. If you normally have exam access arrangements such as extra time, rest breaks, large text etc. these can be arranged for these tests, but you must let your college / assessment centre know in advance.
Interviews
- Access - costs: Almost all universities will help with travel costs for interviews if you’ve ever been in care, or a state-school pupil eligible for free school meals, or over-21 & eligible for certain government benefits. Some colleges/universities offer free accommodation to all interviewees or those who can’t travel on the day due to disability or living far away.
- Access - disability: Just like the tests, if you require access arrangements you should make your college/university aware in advance. If you declare your condition on UCAS & other application forms, the university/college should contact you regarding your needs prior to interview. Of particular importance:
- Your safety - for example if you need to evacuate from a building during a fire
- Your ability to access your interviews - for example if they take place up three flights of stairs (particularly the case in old Oxbridge buildings)
- Other considerations:
Extra time for pre-reading documents
Room arrangement/lighting e.g allow for lip-reading
Guide to your interview room
Rest time between interviews
Disclosing your disability will NOT harm your application chances - if anything it will impress them with how much harder you have worked to get to this point - it also ensures that you get the extra support you need to perform your best.