When you receive an offer

Offer holders who have disclosed a disability via UCAS will hear from the Disability Service to discuss support requirements prior to beginning their course.

The University of Bath welcomes students with disabilities. We provide advice and support for a wide range of students, including but not limited to those with:

• autistic spectrum conditions
• long-term health conditions (e.g. arthritis, diabetes, epilepsy, CFS/ ME, HIV)
• mental health conditions (e.g. anxiety, depression)
• mobility difficulties
• sensory impairments (e.g. hearing impairment, visual impairment)
• specific learning difficulties (e.g. dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, DLD)

Contact with the Disability Service whilst you are applying for your course

Applicants are encouraged to disclose their disability or long term condition when applying for a place. If you chose not to do so at the point of application you can either contact the Disability Service directly, or update your UCAS application so that your final University choice can be made aware and support you. To update your UCAS application with your disability status, call UCAS on 03714680468.

The Disability Service aim to contact all applicants who have disclosed a disability during their application whether they are planning to study at undergraduate, postgraduate taught or doctoral levels.

What to do prior to your course starting at Bath

Disability pre-entry form

Offer holders who have disclosed a disability will find a Disability pre-entry form on your online University of Bath Applicant Tracker. You do not need to have a confirmed place and Bath does not need to be your first choice to discuss your support.

Diagnostic or medical evidence

To enable us to discuss support and help you to apply for specialist provision, please also provide evidence confirming your disability such as:

• a letter from a doctor or other medical practitioner
• a diagnostic assessment report confirming a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia or paperwork from your school/college confirming your exam arrangements (this may be a completed Form 8).

Pre-entry meetings

Once we have received the Pre-entry form and accompanying evidence, we will get in touch with you to discuss your support needs further. We aim to create a Disability Access Plan (DAP) for students during the summer months so that any support - including exam arrangements - is in place when you begin your studies. A DAP is a document created in consultation with the applicant/student to inform the Department about the impact on study and ways they can support the student.

We can offer telephone appointments, video call appointments via Microsoft Teams and face-to-face appointments during the summer months. During these meetings, we can let you know more about the support available at the University of Bath and you will have the opportunity to discuss any concerns or ask any questions. We will contact you automatically once we receive your completed pre-entry form, however, if you would like to make an appointment please call 01225 383838 or email us at disabilityadvice@bath.ac.uk.

Transitional events

For applicants who identify as autistic and may struggle with the transition to university life, we offer Beginning at Bath. This is a free, two day transition event that takes place before the start of term. The event is held on campus and students are invited to stay overnight in university accommodation. This enables applicants to get to know others, familiarise themselves with the University campus, meet key members of support staff and chat to some of our current students. We can discuss this further during your pre-entry meeting with a disability adviser.

We also run the campus buddy scheme for students who may benefit from additional support with the social and practical aspects of student life during the first semester of their first year.

Further information on transitional events.

Disabled Students Allowance

We can also provide you with further details on the Disabled Students Allowance. This is a non-means tested government grant that can fund specialist equipment, software and non-medical helper support. We recommend that you apply for the DSA as soon as you apply for your Student Finance. We can provide further information on the DSA during your pre-entry meeting.

Personal support

If you require personal support because of a disability please contact your local social services department as soon as possible to arrange this. If you have someone who helps you at home at the moment you may require support when you come to university. Personal support may include help with shopping, cleaning, laundry and preparing meals.

Accommodation

If you have a disability or long term condition, the University offers accessible accommodation options designed to meet your needs. This can include adaptations for wheelchair usage, extra space for special equipment, smaller kitchen groups, quiet or no-alcohol blocks or ensuite facilities. Students are asked to complete the additional requirements application form and provide supporting medical evidence by the 1 July in their year of entry. Further information and the additional requirements application form can be found on the accommodation web pages.

Checklist

Have you:

• completed a pre-entry form or contacted us separately to tell us how your disability affects you so that we can ensure support is in place?
• applied for Disabled Students Allowance (DSA)?
• booked your DSA study needs assessment with a local assessment centre?
• informed accommodation services of any additional requirements?
• talked to your local social services department about any personal support requirements you have?