What is UTAS?
University Transition Autism School (UTAS) is a series of two events (in-person or online) for autistic students starting university in autumn 2023.
The first session took place on 20 September 2023. The second, final session will take place on Friday 26 January 2024.
UTAS aims to provide support to autistic students as they begin university and throughout the first term. Whichever university you go to, and whichever discipline you study, you’ll be able to meet autistic peers going through a similar experience.
Can I attend?
You must be autistic (formally diagnosed or self-diagnosed) and be starting at a UK university in autumn 2023.
Attending these events
The first session on Wednesday 20 September took place at the University of Bath in the 10 West building.
The second session on Friday 26 January 2024 will take place in person at the University of Bath and online using Microsoft Teams.
Find out more about using and installing Microsoft Teams
How do I apply?
UTAS is free, but you will need to pre-register your interest in attending.
Please note that we may not be able to offer a place to all applicants. Please register your interest early, as we may need to close registration if we receive too many applications.
All responses will be anonymised and will inform the content of UTAS, so that it can be tailored to the needs of those attending.
UTAS schedule
Day one (part one): Wednesday 20 September 2023
- Time: 12pm - 1:45pm
- Platform: In person only
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 12pm - 1:45pm | Lunch and structured activities |
Day one (part two): Wednesday 20 September 2023
- Time: 2pm - 5pm
- Platform: In person and online
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 2pm - 2:15pm | Welcome |
| 2:15pm - 2:45pm | Autistic strengths at university |
| 2:45pm - 3pm | Student services at university |
| 3pm - 3:15 | Break |
| 3:15pm - 3:45pm | talking about your diagnosis |
| 3:45pm - 4pm | Clubs and societies at university |
| 4pm - 4:15pm | Break |
| 4:15pm - 4:35pm | Fun quiz |
| 4:35pm - 4:55pm | Student panel |
| 4:55pm - 5pm | Closing summary and future meeting details |
Day two: January 2024
- Time: 12pm (midday) - 4:10pm
- Platform: In person or online using Microsoft Teams
The January UTAS event has been designed by autistic people currently studying and/or working at the University of Bath and will be delivered on the day by this same team.
| Time | Activity | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 12pm | Introduction | Introduction to UTAS helpers and explanation of schedule for event. |
| 12:30pm | Lunch | Lunch provided to those who attend in-person (but please feel free to bring your own if you’d prefer!). During this time, in-person and online attendees will have the opportunity to speak with UTAS helpers and other student attendees. |
| 1pm | Activity 1: Expectations vs Reality of University | Interactive discussion of students' expectations of university before starting and whether this was different from actual experiences of university. |
| 1:25pm | Activity 2: Highlights and Lowlights of University | Building on previous activity, this will look at more specific positives and negatives (e.g., highlights and lowlights) of first term of university. |
| 2pm | Activity 3: Workshop - Deconstructing Key Issues at University | Interactive discussion of issues that students are experiencing at university with UTAS helpers and student suggestions for ideas to help with each issue. |
| 3pm | Break | |
| 3:10pm | Activity 4: Reflections - Sharing Tips and Tricks | Students and UTAS helpers reflect on "What they wish they'd known before starting university" and share Top Tips for next year's autistic students starting university. |
| 4:10pm | Finish | Students can leave event or stay if they have further questions/would like to chat with other students and/or UTAS helpers. |
Who is running UTAS?
UTAS is being run by academics and autistic people from the Centre for Applied Autism Research (CAAR) in the Department of Psychology at the University of Bath.
CAAR have been running hugely successful autism summer schools for around 10 years.