The University welcomes applications from disabled students, those with a specific learning difficulty, long-term health condition or mental health condition. More than 14 per cent of our overall student population – including more than 1,600 undergraduates – had disclosed a disability (January 2018).
Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre
The Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre (ADRC) offers guidance, information and support, and is an essential contact for disabled applicants, including those with a specific learning difficulty, mental health conditions, or long-term health conditions. The ADRC supports applicants, offer holders and students with disabilities including:
- specific learning difficulties (including dyslexia and dyspraxia)
- physical/mobility impairments (including people with upper limb disorder/WRULD)
- sensory impairments (eg hearing, Deaf, visual)
- mental health conditions (eg depression, anxiety disorder)
- long-term health conditions (eg cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, HIV, diabetes, epilepsy, long Covid)
- Asperger syndrome, autism and ADHD
The collegiate University has a legal obligation to make reasonable adjustments for disabled students diagnosed with any of the above, and we're keen to ensure these can be put in place to support you when applying to and studying at Cambridge. Therefore, we encourage disabled applicants to get in touch with the ADRC and a College admissions office as soon as possible to discuss any requirements and your application.
Considering Cambridge
Location and accessibility
Students are based in Colleges for day-to-day living and go to a faculty/department for lectures, practical work etc. Therefore, we encourage you to visit before applying to assess the suitability of your intended College and department, including their locations relative to each other.
The ADRC’s advice for prospective students, online Building Access Guide and the Cambridge Admissions Office's advice on choosing a College are useful starting points for information regarding facilities and accessibility.
You can find access information on each of the College websites and the majority of the Colleges also have AccessAble guides which provide further details.
If a particular College meets your specific requirements, then we recommend that you apply to that College rather than making an open application.
Academic-related disability
With your agreement, the ADRC liaises with relevant University and College staff before you start to ensure that appropriate support requirements are established. If you require support workers such as note-takers, specialist one-to-one study skills tutors or mentors, the Non-Medical Help (NMHA) Scheme may be able to help.
The ADRC holds a range of specialist equipment that students with a disability can borrow to support their learning. Please contact the ADRC to discuss your requirements and if there may be anything available to you through the loan pool.
Examination access arrangements
If you require specific arrangements for examinations (such as additional time, someone to write on your behalf and/or use of a computer), the ADRC can advise how to organise this via your College Tutorial Office. Please note that arrangements, and evidence required, at university may differ to those in place at school/college.
Exam access arrangements are based on medical evidence, or on a current full diagnostic report written by an Educational Psychologist or Specialist Teacher. Please contact the ADRC for advice about what evidence is required.
Specific learning difficulties (SpLDs) including dyslexia and dyspraxia
If you have an SpLD you must have a current diagnostic assessment report as evidence for obtaining appropriate adjustments. Information about diagnostic assessments is available from the ADRC’s Neurodiversity Team and on the ADRC website.
Financial support
Currently, UK students can apply for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) to cover some of their support costs. It’s important that you begin the application process for DSAs as soon as possible to ensure any available support is in place for the start of term.
In addition, there are specific University funds that disabled students may apply for. Your eligibility for funding may depend on your fee status or nationality. Some funds are open to applications from offer-holders and, for others, you may need to have started your course. The ADRC can advise on appropriate funding applications. Further information on financial support for disabled students is available on the ADRC website.
Other support may also be available through Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs). Visit www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowances-dsas for more information.
Applying
We're keen for our admissions process to be as accessible and inclusive as possible for all students with the academic ability and potential to flourish at Cambridge.
We strongly encourage you to disclose any disability, specific learning difficulty, long-term health condition or mental health condition and provide any relevant information in your UCAS application.
Your application won't be adversely affected by declaring this – it'll be processed in exactly the same way as any other application, and considered on the same academic grounds as all other candidates.
However, if you're eligible for reasonable adjustments as a result of a disability or health condition, we're keen to know about this as soon as possible so there's sufficient time to put required support in place, both as part of the application process and (if successful) in time for your arrival.
If your disability or health condition has implications for your living arrangements, it's also worth noting that College accommodation is often in high demand and making reasonable adjustments with respect to accommodation and/or location is more straightforward to implement early in the process.
Should you choose not to disclose a disability or health condition at all, please be aware that this may limit the level and type of support the collegiate University can provide. We may not be able to make reasonable adjustments and you may miss out on funding and support.
Admission assessments and interviews
Most applicants are required to take a written admission assesment as part of the application process. Disclosing a disability, specific learning difficulty or health condition in your UCAS application will enable us to make appropriate adjustments to the admission assessment and interview process, if required.
Alternative formats
If you would like some of the information from any of our publications or website in an alternative format (eg large print), please contact the Cambridge Admissions Office to discuss your requirements.