Disabled Students 2018 Entry
Hi everyone,
Thought I'd make a thread for people with disabilities applying to universities for 2018 entry. Hopefully it will be helpful for people with questions about university application and university life as a person with a disability. Also for students to get to know each other, share information and experiences and ask questions!!
[A personal note - please could anyone who posts any image files make sure to include a written description so that they are accessible to people with visual impairment. Thank you!]
Feel free to use the following template to introduce yourself (blank version posted below). Obviously feel free to delete any elements that you feel uncomfortable divulging or add any you feel are relevant. If you are a student with a disability already at university then feel free to adapt as appropriate as I'm sure your input would be valued immensely.
Also, you can edit your post if you make a mistake or want to update information e.g. about interviews of offers.
ALL ABOUT ME:
Course/s:
Medicine A100
Universities:
University of Oxford
King's College London
Imperial College London
University of Cardiff.
Interviews if applicable:
Interviews offered for all.
Offers/Rejections:
King's College London on 18.12.17 - conditional on one more A (biology).
Oxford (Trinity College) on 10.01.18 - conditional on one more A (any subject).
GCSEs + Grades:
EngLang A*, EngLit A*, Maths A*, Further Maths A*, Bio A*, Chem A*, Phys A*, Geography A*, History A*, French A*, Dance B.
A-Levels:
Biology, Chemistry, Psychology, Maths (and AS Further Maths)
A-Level Grades:
Chemistry: A*
Maths: A*
Biology: A at AS, predicted A* at A2.
Psychology: A at AS, predicted A* at A2.
Further Maths: predicted A at AS.
Other Qualifications:
Level 1 and 2 BTEC Braille
Self-Taught GCSE Shortcourse in Psychology
Any Entrance Exams Taken + Results:
UKCAT: 820 average with band 1 SJ (VR 790, DM 730, AR 870, QR 890).
BMAT: 5.1, 5.4, 4A
Extracurricular Activities:
GB Disability Gymnastics Squad and BG Disability Ambassador.
Piano and Flute at Grade 5.
Spoken on at House of Commons Parliamentary Debate.
Considerable campaign work for major disability charities.
Guide Dogs Young Persons Achievement Award.
Disability Type (delete as appropriate):
PHYSICAL | VISUAL | MENTAL HEALTH | LONG-TERM ILLNESS
Further Details of Disability:
Sight impairment caused by multiple conditions including double elevator palsy, torsional manifest nystagmus, reverse amblyopia and neurological conductive delay. Good close up vision meaning I use print rather than Braille (although I am a qualified Braillist). Distance vision is very poor. I have a beautiful Guide Dog.
Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, with associated conditions including Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Funding Type (e.g. Student Finance England, Self-Funding):
Student Finance England
Applying for DSA? (Disabled Students Allowance):
Yes
Do you receive other disability support? (e.g. PIP, DLA, ESA, Direct Payments, Vulnerable Students Bursary etc.):
DLA (higher care and high mobility), ESA, limited Direct Payments and Vulnerable Student Bursary.
Did you attend mainstream or specialist education, and do you have an EHCP/Statement?:
Mainstream primary and secondary, specialist further education college (Royal National College for the Blind). Move to specialist blind college for sixth form due to systemic failure of my secondary school to adhere to my statement of SEN and later EHCP.
BLANK VERSION
Course/s:
Universities:
Interviews if applicable:
Offers/Rejections:
GCSEs + Grades:
A-Levels:
A-Level Grades:
Other Qualifications:
Any Entrance Exams Taken + Results:
Extracurricular Activities:
Disability Type (delete as appropriate):
PHYSICAL | VISUAL HEARING | LEARNING | MENTAL HEALTH | LONG-TERM ILLNESS | OTHER
Further Details of Disability:
Funding Type (e.g. Student Finance England, Self-Funding):
Applying for DSA? (Disabled Students Allowance):
Do you receive other disability support? (e.g. PIP, DLA, ESA, Direct Payments, Vulnerable Students Bursary etc.):
Did you attend mainstream or specialist education, and do you have an EHCP/Statement?:
Thought I'd make a thread for people with disabilities applying to universities for 2018 entry. Hopefully it will be helpful for people with questions about university application and university life as a person with a disability. Also for students to get to know each other, share information and experiences and ask questions!!
[A personal note - please could anyone who posts any image files make sure to include a written description so that they are accessible to people with visual impairment. Thank you!]
Feel free to use the following template to introduce yourself (blank version posted below). Obviously feel free to delete any elements that you feel uncomfortable divulging or add any you feel are relevant. If you are a student with a disability already at university then feel free to adapt as appropriate as I'm sure your input would be valued immensely.
Also, you can edit your post if you make a mistake or want to update information e.g. about interviews of offers.
ALL ABOUT ME:
Course/s:
Medicine A100
Universities:
University of Oxford
King's College London
Imperial College London
University of Cardiff.
Interviews if applicable:
Interviews offered for all.
Offers/Rejections:
King's College London on 18.12.17 - conditional on one more A (biology).
Oxford (Trinity College) on 10.01.18 - conditional on one more A (any subject).
GCSEs + Grades:
EngLang A*, EngLit A*, Maths A*, Further Maths A*, Bio A*, Chem A*, Phys A*, Geography A*, History A*, French A*, Dance B.
A-Levels:
Biology, Chemistry, Psychology, Maths (and AS Further Maths)
A-Level Grades:
Chemistry: A*
Maths: A*
Biology: A at AS, predicted A* at A2.
Psychology: A at AS, predicted A* at A2.
Further Maths: predicted A at AS.
Other Qualifications:
Level 1 and 2 BTEC Braille
Self-Taught GCSE Shortcourse in Psychology
Any Entrance Exams Taken + Results:
UKCAT: 820 average with band 1 SJ (VR 790, DM 730, AR 870, QR 890).
BMAT: 5.1, 5.4, 4A
Extracurricular Activities:
GB Disability Gymnastics Squad and BG Disability Ambassador.
Piano and Flute at Grade 5.
Spoken on at House of Commons Parliamentary Debate.
Considerable campaign work for major disability charities.
Guide Dogs Young Persons Achievement Award.
Disability Type (delete as appropriate):
PHYSICAL | VISUAL | MENTAL HEALTH | LONG-TERM ILLNESS
Further Details of Disability:
Sight impairment caused by multiple conditions including double elevator palsy, torsional manifest nystagmus, reverse amblyopia and neurological conductive delay. Good close up vision meaning I use print rather than Braille (although I am a qualified Braillist). Distance vision is very poor. I have a beautiful Guide Dog.
Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, with associated conditions including Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Funding Type (e.g. Student Finance England, Self-Funding):
Student Finance England
Applying for DSA? (Disabled Students Allowance):
Yes
Do you receive other disability support? (e.g. PIP, DLA, ESA, Direct Payments, Vulnerable Students Bursary etc.):
DLA (higher care and high mobility), ESA, limited Direct Payments and Vulnerable Student Bursary.
Did you attend mainstream or specialist education, and do you have an EHCP/Statement?:
Mainstream primary and secondary, specialist further education college (Royal National College for the Blind). Move to specialist blind college for sixth form due to systemic failure of my secondary school to adhere to my statement of SEN and later EHCP.
BLANK VERSION
Course/s:
Universities:
Interviews if applicable:
Offers/Rejections:
GCSEs + Grades:
A-Levels:
A-Level Grades:
Other Qualifications:
Any Entrance Exams Taken + Results:
Extracurricular Activities:
Disability Type (delete as appropriate):
PHYSICAL | VISUAL HEARING | LEARNING | MENTAL HEALTH | LONG-TERM ILLNESS | OTHER
Further Details of Disability:
Funding Type (e.g. Student Finance England, Self-Funding):
Applying for DSA? (Disabled Students Allowance):
Do you receive other disability support? (e.g. PIP, DLA, ESA, Direct Payments, Vulnerable Students Bursary etc.):
Did you attend mainstream or specialist education, and do you have an EHCP/Statement?:
(edited 6 years ago)
Scroll to see replies
I applied last year and am now studying so if anyone has any questions let me know. I'm not gonna pretend to be an expert on all things disability but I've applied and got DSA and stuff.
OP, this is a wonderful thread.
MR
Original post by 04MR17
I applied last year and am now studying so if anyone has any questions let me know. I'm not gonna pretend to be an expert on all things disability but I've applied and got DSA and stuff.
OP, this is a wonderful thread.
MR
I applied last year and am now studying so if anyone has any questions let me know. I'm not gonna pretend to be an expert on all things disability but I've applied and got DSA and stuff.
OP, this is a wonderful thread.
MR
Thank you!!
What are you studying and where if you don't mind me asking?
Original post by tizzaclaire98
Thank you!!
What are you studying and where if you don't mind me asking?
What are you studying and where if you don't mind me asking?
Original post by 04MR17
I'm doing Education and History at Keele.
Oh that's awesome! I very nearly applied to Keele! A girl who went to my college went to Keele (studying psychology I think) and set up a guide dog society!
Do you mind me asking what your disability is? Fine if not of course.
Original post by tizzaclaire98
Oh that's awesome! I very nearly applied to Keele! A girl who went to my college went to Keele (studying psychology I think) and set up a guide dog society!
Do you mind me asking what your disability is? Fine if not of course.
Do you mind me asking what your disability is? Fine if not of course.
Original post by 04MR17
I have one ear.
Oh wow! I know lots of people with one or no eyes, but I've never met anyone with one ear before! Probably because I circulate in the blind community more though to be fair
Original post by tizzaclaire98
Oh wow! I know lots of people with one or no eyes, but I've never met anyone with one ear before! Probably because I circulate in the blind community more though to be fair
Just out of interest, how does your type of Nystagmus affect you? I've got it too; but mine is Latent, which means if I cover one eye it's meant to be more obvious.
Original post by Tiger Rag
Just out of interest, how does your type of Nystagmus affect you? I've got it too; but mine is Latent, which means if I cover one eye it's meant to be more obvious.
Mine is manifest so always present regardless of one eye/two eyes etc. It's also torsional which means rather than shaking side to side, my eyes sort of rotate around the pivot point of my pupil. A bit like a second hand stuck on a clock. It affects me similarly to normal nystagmus, except that things are more distorted because of the rotation. It's also very difficult to diagnose because it's almost invisible, as the eye is circular so rotational motion can't be seen obviously.
Course: Music
Universities: Studying at a UK RG uni, reapplied to Oxford for 2018 entry
Interviews if applicable: Interviewed in December
Offers/Rejections: n/a, still waiting
GCSEs + Grades: 1 B at GCSE
(mental health issues made studying difficult)
A-Levels: English Lit, Music, French, Spanish
A-Level Grades: A*AAA (achieved)
Other Qualifications: EPQ in music therapy (A*); couple of ABRSM exams
Any Entrance Exams Taken + Results: n/a
Extracurricular Activities: mostly music tbh
Disability Type (delete as appropriate):
PHYSICAL | LEARNING | MENTAL HEALTH | LONG-TERM ILLNESS | OTHER
Further Details of Disability:
Chronic IBS
Autistic
Depression + anxiety
Auditory processing disorder (mild)
Chronic pain
Funding Type (e.g. Student Finance England, Self-Funding): SFE loans and some savings in case my parents decide they don't support me anymore (it's a long story)
Applying for DSA? (Disabled Students Allowance): Applied, approved and have an assessment soon
Do you receive other disability support? (e.g. PIP, DLA, ESA, Direct Payments, Vulnerable Students Bursary etc.): No
Did you attend mainstream or specialist education, and do you have an EHCP/Statement?: Mainstream although have had accommodations put in place both at uni and in Year 13
Universities: Studying at a UK RG uni, reapplied to Oxford for 2018 entry
Interviews if applicable: Interviewed in December
Offers/Rejections: n/a, still waiting
GCSEs + Grades: 1 B at GCSE
(mental health issues made studying difficult)A-Levels: English Lit, Music, French, Spanish
A-Level Grades: A*AAA (achieved)
Other Qualifications: EPQ in music therapy (A*); couple of ABRSM exams
Any Entrance Exams Taken + Results: n/a
Extracurricular Activities: mostly music tbh
Disability Type (delete as appropriate):
PHYSICAL | LEARNING | MENTAL HEALTH | LONG-TERM ILLNESS | OTHER
Further Details of Disability:
Chronic IBS
Autistic
Depression + anxiety
Auditory processing disorder (mild)
Chronic pain
Funding Type (e.g. Student Finance England, Self-Funding): SFE loans and some savings in case my parents decide they don't support me anymore (it's a long story)
Applying for DSA? (Disabled Students Allowance): Applied, approved and have an assessment soon
Do you receive other disability support? (e.g. PIP, DLA, ESA, Direct Payments, Vulnerable Students Bursary etc.): No
Did you attend mainstream or specialist education, and do you have an EHCP/Statement?: Mainstream although have had accommodations put in place both at uni and in Year 13
(edited 6 years ago)
Original post by auburnstar
Course: Music
Universities: Studying at a UK RG uni, reapplied to Oxford for 2018 entry
Interviews if applicable: Interviewed in December
Offers/Rejections: n/a, still waiting
GCSEs + Grades: 1 B at GCSE (mental health issues made studying difficult)
A-Levels: English Lit, Music, French, Spanish
A-Level Grades: A*AAA (achieved)
Other Qualifications: EPQ in music therapy (A*); couple of ABRSM exams
Any Entrance Exams Taken + Results: n/a
Extracurricular Activities: mostly music tbh
Disability Type (delete as appropriate):
PHYSICAL | LEARNING | MENTAL HEALTH | LONG-TERM ILLNESS | OTHER
Further Details of Disability:
Chronic IBS
Autistic
Depression + anxiety
Auditory processing disorder (mild)
Chronic pain
Funding Type (e.g. Student Finance England, Self-Funding): SFE loans and some savings in case my parents decide they don't support me anymore (it's a long story)
Applying for DSA? (Disabled Students Allowance): Applied, approved and have an assessment soon
Do you receive other disability support? (e.g. PIP, DLA, ESA, Direct Payments, Vulnerable Students Bursary etc.): No
Did you attend mainstream or specialist education, and do you have an EHCP/Statement?: Mainstream although have had accommodations put in place both at uni and in Year 13
Universities: Studying at a UK RG uni, reapplied to Oxford for 2018 entry
Interviews if applicable: Interviewed in December
Offers/Rejections: n/a, still waiting
GCSEs + Grades: 1 B at GCSE
(mental health issues made studying difficult)A-Levels: English Lit, Music, French, Spanish
A-Level Grades: A*AAA (achieved)
Other Qualifications: EPQ in music therapy (A*); couple of ABRSM exams
Any Entrance Exams Taken + Results: n/a
Extracurricular Activities: mostly music tbh
Disability Type (delete as appropriate):
PHYSICAL | LEARNING | MENTAL HEALTH | LONG-TERM ILLNESS | OTHER
Further Details of Disability:
Chronic IBS
Autistic
Depression + anxiety
Auditory processing disorder (mild)
Chronic pain
Funding Type (e.g. Student Finance England, Self-Funding): SFE loans and some savings in case my parents decide they don't support me anymore (it's a long story)
Applying for DSA? (Disabled Students Allowance): Applied, approved and have an assessment soon
Do you receive other disability support? (e.g. PIP, DLA, ESA, Direct Payments, Vulnerable Students Bursary etc.): No
Did you attend mainstream or specialist education, and do you have an EHCP/Statement?: Mainstream although have had accommodations put in place both at uni and in Year 13
Hi! Guessing you're waiting for results on the 10th too then.
Which colleges were you interviewed at? Massive kudos to you for taking two languages at A-Level - that's amazing!
Original post by tizzaclaire98
Hi! Guessing you're waiting for results on the 10th too then. Which colleges were you interviewed at?
Massive kudos to you for taking two languages at A-Level - that's amazing!
Which colleges were you interviewed at?Massive kudos to you for taking two languages at A-Level - that's amazing!
Yep!
Last year I was allocated to Somerville and was interviewed there and at LMH. This year I applied directly to St John's and was also interviewed at Worcester. Thanks haha, I was raised bilingual so French was a little easier for me
Spanish was a bit more hard work (but not too bad), I like to think I'll be comfortable enough language-wise to hopefully travel to Spain/South America with not too many problems in the future. Congrats on your KCL offer btw! I applied to KCL last year
(close tie b/w that and Birmingham as an insurance, and Brum just won out)Original post by auburnstar
Yep! Last year I was allocated to Somerville and was interviewed there and at LMH. This year I applied directly to St John's and was also interviewed at Worcester.
Thanks haha, I was raised bilingual so French was a little easier for me Spanish was a bit more hard work (but not too bad), I like to think I'll be comfortable enough language-wise to hopefully travel to Spain/South America with not too many problems in the future.
Congrats on your KCL offer btw! I applied to KCL last year (close tie b/w that and Birmingham as an insurance, and Brum just won out)
Last year I was allocated to Somerville and was interviewed there and at LMH. This year I applied directly to St John's and was also interviewed at Worcester. Thanks haha, I was raised bilingual so French was a little easier for me
Spanish was a bit more hard work (but not too bad), I like to think I'll be comfortable enough language-wise to hopefully travel to Spain/South America with not too many problems in the future. Congrats on your KCL offer btw! I applied to KCL last year
(close tie b/w that and Birmingham as an insurance, and Brum just won out)Oh yes, I remember you from the St John's thread!
Ahh I see - my dad has an amazing affinity for languages because of being raised bilingual, I've always been annoyed that he didn't teach me Welsh growing up because I struggled so much with languages!
Thank you! I'm so glad that I have at least one offer before hearing about Oxford, makes it a little less scary. Especially because the condition is completely achievable.
Did you apply for DSA last year and will transfer it? I've been told that I can't apply til mid January (when SFE opens).
Original post by tizzaclaire98
Oh yes, I remember you from the St John's thread!
Ahh I see - my dad has an amazing affinity for languages because of being raised bilingual, I've always been annoyed that he didn't teach me Welsh growing up because I struggled so much with languages!
Thank you! I'm so glad that I have at least one offer before hearing about Oxford, makes it a little less scary. Especially because the condition is completely achievable.
Did you apply for DSA last year and will transfer it? I've been told that I can't apply til mid January (when SFE opens).
Ahh I see - my dad has an amazing affinity for languages because of being raised bilingual, I've always been annoyed that he didn't teach me Welsh growing up because I struggled so much with languages!
Thank you! I'm so glad that I have at least one offer before hearing about Oxford, makes it a little less scary. Especially because the condition is completely achievable.
Did you apply for DSA last year and will transfer it? I've been told that I can't apply til mid January (when SFE opens).
I applied for DSA very recently actually (I think I sent the forms off in late October??) because I procrastinate completing any forms of additional paperwork and my assessment is on the 26th. DSA afaik lasts for however long you're studying, regardless of where that is so if I need to transfer it I think it's fine. SFE grants a "gift year" as well.
Original post by auburnstar
I applied for DSA very recently actually (I think I sent the forms off in late October??) because I procrastinate completing any forms of additional paperwork and my assessment is on the 26th. DSA afaik lasts for however long you're studying, regardless of where that is so if I need to transfer it I think it's fine. SFE grants a "gift year" as well.
Ah okay, I think I get it. I'm just trusting that my college knows what to do, they don't have experience of medicine or oxbridge but they do have a lot of experience in applying for DSA.
Hey Guys, Whilst I was doing my masters 2016-2017, I applied for DSA... I was able to get Travel , so a taxi company had worked with DSA, they pay for most of the travel and I contribute some money too with the travel. Without this, I wouldn't have been able to travel to Uni at all Also my Uni was great, as I had extra examination time and etc.
Also my Uni was great, as I had extra examination time and etc.Original post by fskhan2808
Hey Guys, Whilst I was doing my masters 2016-2017, I applied for DSA... I was able to get Travel , so a taxi company had worked with DSA, they pay for most of the travel and I contribute some money too with the travel. Without this, I wouldn't have been able to travel to Uni at all Also my Uni was great, as I had extra examination time and etc.
Also my Uni was great, as I had extra examination time and etc.Hi! that's great, how did you find the application process?
Original post by tizzaclaire98
Hi! that's great, how did you find the application process?
The application process was long, it did take two months for the DSA.
The University asked questions about my condition, what my limitations are, and they said to apply for DSA, which i did, and they arranged all the transport by getting in touch with DSA and everything.
I needed a doctors letter to say that it's pretty much a disability and that I do struggle with everyday activities. I applied in October and got everything sorted by December. I kept a photocopy of the doctors notes and the DSA copy, as when I apply for PhD, I will be needing all those documents again
The university disability support pretty much happened straight away after I gave the letter from the Doctor and gave details about my condition.
Original post by fskhan2808
The application process was long, it did take two months for the DSA.
The University asked questions about my condition, what my limitations are, and they said to apply for DSA, which i did, and they arranged all the transport by getting in touch with DSA and everything.
I needed a doctors letter to say that it's pretty much a disability and that I do struggle with everyday activities. I applied in October and got everything sorted by December. I kept a photocopy of the doctors notes and the DSA copy, as when I apply for PhD, I will be needing all those documents again
The university disability support pretty much happened straight away after I gave the letter from the Doctor and gave details about my condition.
The University asked questions about my condition, what my limitations are, and they said to apply for DSA, which i did, and they arranged all the transport by getting in touch with DSA and everything.
I needed a doctors letter to say that it's pretty much a disability and that I do struggle with everyday activities. I applied in October and got everything sorted by December. I kept a photocopy of the doctors notes and the DSA copy, as when I apply for PhD, I will be needing all those documents again
The university disability support pretty much happened straight away after I gave the letter from the Doctor and gave details about my condition.
Ah that makes sense, sounds a bit like applying for DLA PIP etc... I'm hoping I can reuse some of the letters I had from that.
What university was it if you don't mind me asking?
Original post by tizzaclaire98
Ah that makes sense, sounds a bit like applying for DLA PIP etc... I'm hoping I can reuse some of the letters I had from that.
What university was it if you don't mind me asking?
What university was it if you don't mind me asking?
I was studying at the University of Westminster in London. The DSA and transport stopped once I had finished.
I hope they are available, If I do a PhD.
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