Skip to main content
N I Direct government services

Main navigation

  • Home
  • News
  • Contacts
  • Help
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • RSS

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. People with disabilities
  3. Learning and education
  4. Support at college or university

Disability support in higher education

Universities and colleges are increasingly aware of the needs of students with a disability and students with a learning difficulty. They can offer support in a number of ways and you may be able to get extra financial help.

Support for students with disabilities

See the latest advice about COVID-19 for students in higher education.

Universities and higher education colleges must make provision for students with disabilities. Support given by colleges and universities can include:

  • accommodation adapted for the needs of students with disabilities
  • professional care staff
  • help from volunteers

Each university or college should publish a 'disability statement' setting out how it gives support. You can ask to see a copy of this statement, as well as looking on its website to see details of its policies.

Disability advisors and learning support coordinators

Every university or college has a disability advisor or learning support coordinator to help you get the most out of your time in higher education. They can tell you about the support available, for example, equipment to help you study.

You may find it useful to contact your university or college's disability adviser or disability coordinator before you make a final decision about where to study. It's also a good idea to go and check the institution out for yourself.

When applying to a university, you don't have to tell them about your disability but you will need to do so to get additional support or funding.

Help while you're studying

There are many things universities can do to help students with disabilities, including:

  • offering course materials in Braille and other accessible formats
  • making sure buildings and facilities are accessible
  • encouraging flexible teaching methods
  • giving support during exams
  • allowing additional time to complete courses

You may also need help on a day-to-day basis to help you study. This could be someone to:

  • interpret words into sign language
  • take notes for you
  • write down your words, for example, in an exam
  • help you overcome physical barriers

It's worth contacting your disability advisor or disability co-ordinator soon after you arrive at university or college so you can find out about the support available.

If you're in further education, you can get advice and guidance from your teacher or college about the courses, colleges or universities you are interested in.

Video - going to university with a disability 

Having a disability doesn't need to be a barrier if you want to go to university. The following YouTube video shows how one student with disabilities got the support she needed.

  • Going to university with a disability

Disabled Students' Allowances and other financial help

Disabled Students' Allowances offer extra financial help if you have an impairment, health condition (including mental health conditions) or a specific learning difficulty like dyslexia. 

If you qualify for Disabled Students’ Allowances, they’re paid on top of any standard student support you get. They're not means-tested and you don’t have to pay them back.

  • Financial help for students with disabilities 
  • Student Finance Northern Ireland

 

More useful links

  • Higher education
  • Skills to succeed
Share this page Share on Facebook (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share on Twitter (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share by email (external link opens in a new window / tab)

Support at college or university

  • Appeal a benefits decision
  • Disability support at college
  • Disability support in higher education
  • Financial help for students with disabilities

Translation help

How to translate this page

Help improve this page - send your feedback

What do you want to do?
Report a problem
Which problem did you find on this page? (Tick all that apply)

Messages

You will not receive a reply. We will consider your feedback to help improve the site.

Don't include any personal or financial information, for example National Insurance, credit card numbers, or phone numbers.

What is your question about?

What to do next

Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk 

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit.  Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Carer's Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912
Email 
dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Call 0800 587 2750 
Email 
customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk

Disability Living Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912 
Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

  • Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
  • Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme,  email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about:

  • Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
    contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
     
  • Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
    contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

 

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about  60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly.  We don't have access to information about you.

Related sites

  • gov.uk
  • nibusinessinfo.co.uk

Links to supporting information

  • Accessibility statement
  • Crown copyright
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy
  • Cookies
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • RSS