Support for disabled applicants

Educational institutions have a duty under the Equality Act (2010) to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to ensure that disabled students are not placed at a substantial disadvantage in their access to services, assessment and teaching.

The University is committed to equity and inclusion. We welcome applications from disabled people and will make reasonable adjustments, as appropriate to enable students to participate fully in student life.

Note that all applications are assessed purely on academic merit and potential, according to the published selection criteria for the course you have applied for. The University and colleges view applications from disabled students on the same grounds as those from other candidates.

If you are thinking about applying to Oxford, you can find information about the facilities and support available to students from the Disability Advisory Service (DAS).

If you would like to discuss your application, you can contact Graduate Admissions and Funding online or by telephone at +44 (0) 1865 270059.

Guidance on making an application for postgraduate study as a disabled student has been published by the Disabled Students’ Commission. This guidance was written for UK funded students. As such, some references, including to DSA funding, are not relevant to overseas students. However, the University contributes to disability-related study support for international students who are not eligible for the DSA. Further information is provided below. 

The systems for supporting disabled students at Oxford may be different from those that you have experienced at your previous universities. 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. Study support is developed around your individual requirements, as appropriate, and there are many individuals who can help you through the process.

Therefore, we strongly encourage you to tell us about your disability when you apply by responding to the questions on the application form. Information will be dealt with confidentially and sensitively. If you have disclosed a disability and you have been made an offer, the Disability Advisory Service (DAS) will contact you to obtain more information on the impact of your disability and discuss any appropriate support. Adjustments and support requirements can be considered, as appropriate, during the application process to enable you to best demonstrate your abilities and achievements.

If you have not disclosed your disability in the application form and have received an offer, please contact DAS and complete the DAS registration form, and respond to the welcome email. It can take time to arrange support so it is important to start this process without delay.

We also advise you to make a formal appointment with your departmental and college disability contacts to discuss your requirements. These discussions can take place via telephone or video call.

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 Disability Advisory Service can advise on funds available to disabled students to cover certain disability related study support costs. Study support might include assistive technology, specialist equipment, non-medical helpers and other academic accommodations.

Funding is not available to cover personal care, medication, or medical supplies. The University's Disability Advisory Service (DAS) has published a PDF document that contains further guidance on personal care considerations.

UK students may be eligible for the Disabled Students' Allowances (DSA) if they have appropriate evidence of a disability, 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.

Non-UK students are not eligible for DSA. However, the University has a policy of funding a similar level of disability-related study support for non-UK students, where there is an assessed need.

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

All colleges are committed to making reasonable adjustments for disabled students and have a duty to do so. Preliminary information about existing college support for disabled students and contact details for all colleges are available via our individual college pages.

If you have a preferred college to which you would like to apply, you may wish to contact that college to discuss the support provision available. Contact details for all colleges are available via the individual college pages. However, please note that selecting a college preference in your application does not guarantee that you will be offered a place by that college.

Colleges are not able to guarantee accommodation to all graduate students, and you may need to apply for University accommodation and/or look to the private rental market. You can find more information on the Accommodation page.