Guidance for applicants with disabilities

The University of Oxford and its colleges welcome applications from people with disabilities and are committed to making arrangements where appropriate, to enable students with disabilities to participate fully in student life.

The University and colleges view applications from students with disabilities on the same grounds as those from other candidates, which are assessed purely on academic merit and potential, according to the published selection criteria relevant to the course applied for. 

Educational institutions have a duty under the Equality Act (2010) to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to enable people with disabilities to study effectively.

The University and its colleges make some adjustments in anticipation of disabled students’ support requirements (e.g. improving physical access to buildings), but also appreciate that individuals are different and further changes may need to be considered and implemented.

Any disability disclosure will be dealt with confidentially and sensitively. If you tell us what your difficulties are then we can discuss appropriate solutions. Adjustments can be made and support requirements taken into consideration during the application process to enable you to best demonstrate your abilities and achievements. We encourage you to tell us about your disability when you apply, but if you have not done so, please tell us when you receive an offer of a place.

In order to provide study support, relevant departments and colleges of the University may need to share information about your needs. Information will only be shared with your explicit consent on a need-to-know basis with relevant people, such as the lecturers and tutors who will teach you and relevant library and support staff. The information provided is also used to monitor rates of participation in Higher Education by particular groups of people, which is a statutory requirement; it does not form part of any assessment of your application.  

The systems for supporting students with disabilities at Oxford may be different from those that you have experienced at your previous universities. 

Study Support is developed around your individual requirements, which means that you have a say in what equipment or learning support will be most helpful to you, but you also have responsibility for thinking about and letting us know what you will need. This can be problematic in that it is difficult to predict what your experience of life at Oxford will be like before you arrive.

However, there are many individuals who can help you through the process, and contacting the Disability Advisory Service is a good starting point. This will help you to plan properly and get arrangements in place before your arrival, so you can focus on enjoying student life at Oxford.

If you make a successful application and are offered a place, it is advisable to make a more formal appointment - possibly via telephone or Skype if you are not able to come to Oxford - with your supervisor and the departmental and college Disability Contacts to discuss your requirements. This will give you the opportunity to explore whether the University and college will be able to meet your individual needs and, wherever possible, support systems can be established before you begin your course. It is recommended that you involve the Disability Advisory Service in these discussions. 

Funding for students with disabilities

The Disability Advisory Service can advise on funds available to students with disabilities.

UK students may be eligible for the Disabled Students' Allowances (DSA) and the Disability Advisory Service can assist students with making an application or advise on other funds available to those who do not qualify for DSA, including students in receipt of research council funding.

Non-UK students are not eligible for DSA. However,  the University is piloting a scheme which funds non-UK study support for students with disabilities on the basis of a 15% (college) / 85% (department) breakdown of contribution, up to a level of £10,000 per student, towards disability-related study support costs. The procedure for assessing an individual's study needs mirrors the UK student experience.

This source of funding can only be utilised where there is no funding available from the student's own country, funding body, sponsor, research council or other source; Clarendon scholars and other recipients of awards with a disability study support element would also be ineligible.

It can take several months from the point of application before full support is implemented, therefore the earlier you apply the better.

You may choose to either (i) indicate that you have no college preference, in which case a college will be selected on your behalf, or (ii) state a college preference. You will not be able to amend your college preference after submitting your application.

If you have a preferred college which you would like to apply to, you may wish to contact the college to discuss the support provision available. Preliminary information about existing college support for students with disabilities and contact details for all colleges are available via the College Guide.

If you have been allocated a college but you believe that it is not suitable owing to your disability, you should initially discuss your requirements with the college Disability Contact to establish whether reasonable adjustments can be made.

If the situation cannot be resolved satisfactorily you should contact Graduate Admissions and Funding to request a change of college. You will be required to provide supporting medical information about your disability.

If you have the opportunity, you should consider coming to Oxford for an informal visit to view the colleges and department of your choice. You should always arrange appointments in advance, as staff are not always available and buildings will not always be open.

Some departments hold open days, which you should attend if you can. This will give you a good idea of the accessibility of buildings and other services and the proximity of colleges to the department where you will be studying, as well as the opportunity to ask any questions relating to your support requirements.

You may also want to use the Virtual Open Day to find out more about the experience of graduates at the University.

Access around the University

You are advised to contact your department about access to lecture theatres and other facilities if this may be a concern for you.

If you have a disability for which you usually have special accommodation requirements, we very strongly encourage you to disclose it in the ‘About You’ section of the graduate application form. We also encourage you to apply by the relevant January deadline where possible as early notice will help us to support you in the college admissions process in the case that your application is successful and college accommodation tends to fill up as the year progresses. Please note, however, that no candidate is guaranteed college or university accommodation.  

Most colleges have a limited number of accessible/ground-floor rooms with en-suite bathrooms. You may need arrangements made for a carer, or require an adjustable desk and ergonomic seating. However, not all colleges guarantee graduate accommodation, and where it is provided the accommodation may be either on the central site or elsewhere within the city in an annexe building. 

Any individual disability-related requirements should be discussed with your college Disability Contact as soon as possible, or with the Graduate Admissions Office if you do not yet have a college place, as adaptations can take a while to organise. It may not always be possible to adapt a room to meet all your needs, but colleges are always willing to look at the possibilities.

The Land Agent’s and Accommodation Service provides information about accommodation owned by the University as well as in the private sector for all students. Students with a partner or those with dependent children should contact the Office as soon as they have been accepted as University-owned accommodation may be available. Contact details for the Accommodation Service are available via their website.