Today we have a guest blog from our Wellbeing Services team, which will provide you with some great information on how to apply for accommodation adjustments should you need them due to a disability or health condition.
Moving into new accommodation can be one of the most exciting and nerve-wracking parts of coming to university, and whilst everyone has different priorities for where they live, the most important thing is to make sure that your accommodation is right for you. This is particularly important if you have specific requirements due to a disability or health condition. If so, the best way to communicate your requirements to the University is to get in touch with Wellbeing Services as soon as you can to discuss your adjustments.
Step One: Fill out the Prospective Student online form
The prospective student online form allows you to give the Wellbeing Service team details of the support you may require while you study here, including accommodation adjustments, exam adjustments, and teaching adjustments. It is best to fill this out as early as possible so that your support can be arranged before you start your studies.
When you fill out the form, you will be asked to provide supporting evidence for your accommodation adjustments to help us better understand your requirements. If you have queries about supporting evidence, you can read our supporting evidence guide.
It is helpful, but not essential, if your evidence can give details of recommended support adjustments (for example, if you need to have a fridge in your room due to taking refrigerated medication, or require a room on the ground floor/with lift access). However, please send us whatever evidence you have in the first instance and we can let you know if we will need anything further. You are welcome to ask your doctor or a relevant health professional to fill out our template form.
Once we have received your submission, we will be in touch with you to discuss your support. If appropriate, our advisors will email the Accommodation team in support of your requirements, but rest assured that details of your health condition or disability won’t be shared. Our advisors will confirm with you if they have supported your accommodation requirements, usually via email, or may ask for further information.
Step Two: Apply for your accommodation from Monday 8th April
You will then need to apply separately for your accommodation when the applications open from 09:00 on Monday 8th April 2024; the guarantee deadline for applications is Sunday 31st 2024. There is a tick box you should tick when you apply to show that you have been in touch with Wellbeing Services about your requirements.
In most cases, the Accommodation team will get in contact at the end of August when they start sending out accommodation offers. They will only get in touch with you earlier than this if they need to confirm any details of your application.
Please be aware that if your requirements mean you may require changes to a room’s structure, such as having a hoist installed, it is best to get in touch with us as early as possible to ensure we have enough time to discuss requirements with you and to make the necessary arrangements.
Accommodation Subsidy (Health and Disability)
Students who require an en-suite or studio room on the basis of a health condition or disability can also apply for an Accommodation Subsidy to mitigate some of the additional cost. You can find more details about the eligibility for this and how to apply in the ‘Accommodation Subsidy’ drop-down at the bottom of the Accessible Rooms webpage. Please be aware that the subsidy cannot be backdated so it is best to apply for this prior to moving into your accommodation.
Checklist
- Fill out the prospective student online form as soon as you can, attaching relevant supporting evidence
- Keep an eye on your emails and action any subsequent contact from Wellbeing Services
- Apply for accommodation when the applications open on Monday 8th April
- Apply for the Accommodation Financial Subsidy if appropriate for your circumstances
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about the above – we will be very happy to help.