Student tutorial at St Anne's College, Oxford
Student tutorial at St Anne's College, Oxford

Assessment Centre

The Oxford University Assessment Centre is based at 3 Worcester Street, Oxford, OX1 2BX. If you would like to make an appointment or speak to us, please contact us via [email protected]. We can offer both online and in-person appointments.

The Oxford University Assessment Centre (OUAC) provides study needs assessments for students applying for the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA). 

The study needs assessment

After sending your DSA application form to your funding body, you will be asked to arrange a DSA study needs assessment at a local assessment centre. This assessment is not a test, but an opportunity for you to discuss with a specialist assessor the areas of your studies that you may need support with, and for the assessor to then make recommendations on what support can be provided. The assessment will take approximately two hours, carried out at OUAC, and involves:

  • An assessment based upon your individual requirements
  • Demonstration of a range of assistive technology available for you to see and try
  • Advice and guidance with any stage of the DSA and assessment process, including help with ordering your equipment and arranging follow-up assessments
  • A written report sent to your funding body.

It takes an average of 13.5 working days from when you first make contact to the final needs assessment report outlining the recommendations made. This will then be sent to your funding body who will subsequently write to you outlining which recommendations they agree to pay for. 

Booking an appointment

Once you have received an Eligibility Letter from your funding body asking you to arrange a study needs assessment, contact the OUAC or another registered assessment centre of your choice.

At the time of booking the study needs assessment, you need to:

  • Send copies of your authorisation letter and evidence that you are disabled (for example, educational psychologist’s report, letter from your GP etc)
  • Think about what support you think will help you when studying, including previous study strategies you feel were effective, or not.
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