Students with a disability, mental health condition or Specific Learning Difference (SpLD), such as Dyslexia or Dyspraxia may be eligible to receive Additional Exam Recommendations (AERs) such as extra time, rest breaks and/or smaller exam rooms.
AERs are made according to individual need and students must provide evidence of their disability, health condition or SpLD to the Student Disability and Inclusion Team.
AERs can be arranged throughout the year, not just in the lead up to exams, however the University has AER deadlines in place to ensure support can be put in place for each semester. All students will be advised of the AER deadline via email and SUSSED.
For more information regarding AERs and how they are applied in assessments, please see the 'understanding your AERs 2022' document in the Useful Downloads section at the bottom of the page.
Current AER Deadlines: Semester One of the 2022/23 academic year
The deadline for the semester one period of the 2022/23 academic year is Friday 18th November. If you have any concerns please contact us.
If you miss the deadline but have sufficient evidence, please contact us and we may be able to arrange AERs for your future exams.
The deadline for the semester two period of the 2022/23 academic year is Friday 24th March 2023.
Current students: How to access AERs
1. Send the Student Disability and Inclusion team a copy of your medical evidence. For an SpLD this must be a Pre-16 or Post-16 Full Diagnostic Assessment report.
2. Contact the Student Disability and Inclusion team to arrange a student support appointment with a specialist practitioner. During the appointment reasonable adjustments and AERs will be discussed with you. If additional exam recommendations and/or reasonable adjustments are arranged for you they will remain in place for the duration of your course.
If you are an undergraduate student and change course (including moving from undergraduate to post-graduate study), please contact us to book a Student Support Appointment to review your needs.
We recommend contacting us prior to the deadline date to ensure additional arrangements for exams are organised as early as possible.
Prospective Students: How to access AERs
1. Declare on your university application form your health condition, disability or SpLD.
2. Send the Disability and Inclusion team a copy of your medical evidence. For an SpLD this must be a Pre-16 or Post-16 Full Diagnostic Assessment report.
3. Attend our Transition Programme held by the Student Disability and Inclusion team for prospective students in August and September. If you are unable to attend an appointment during the Transition Programme please contact us to arrange a Student Support Appointment for when you start University to discuss possible AERs and reasonable adjustments.
Temporary Injuries: How to access AERs
If you require AERs due to a temporary injury such as a broken arm, the Student Disability and Inclusion team may be able to organise emergency AERs for one semester only for you. To be considered for emergency AERs please:
1. Contact us with evidence as soon as possible following the injury. The Student Disability and Inclusion team can be contacted via telephone; 02380 599 599, email; studenthub@soton.ac.uk, or via Live Chat
I do not have medical evidence or a Pre-16 or Post-16 Full Diagnostic Assessment report for an SpLD: Can I still access AERs?
- I do not have any medical evidence:
If you do not have any medical evidence, the Student Disability and Inclusion team are unable to organise any AERs for you. If you require medical evidence for a disability or health condition, please contact your GP who may be able to provide you with a copy for you to send to us.
Find out how to obtain medical evidence
- I do not have a Pre-16 or Post-16 Full Diagnostic Assessment report:
If you do not have a diagnostic assessment report report we recommend that you...
1. Make arrangements to be have a Post-16 Full Diagnostic Assessment. Please note, you must send us a copy of your Post-16 Full Diagnostic Assessment report prior to the AER deadline to be considered for AERs for your upcoming exams. Information on how to access a screening and diagnostic assessment can be found here.
2. If you are unable to have a Post-16 Full Diagnostic Assessment before the AER deadline, the Student Disability and Inclusion team may be able to arrange temporary AERs for you if you are able to send a copy of the following to Student Disability and Inclusion:
- A JCQ8 form with substantial evidence
Please be aware evidence from a teacher is not acceptable. The Student Disability and Inclusion team can only provide temporary AERs for a maximum of two semesters. To be considered for AERs for the duration of your course you must seek a Post-16 Full Diagnostic Assessment.
What happens if I miss the AER deadline?
If you miss the AER deadline we will be unable to arrange AERs for your upcoming exams unless you have a temporary injury and require emergency AERs. However, if you have sufficient evidence we may be able to arrange AERs for your future exams. If you feel disadvantaged as a result of this you may wish to apply for special considerations.
Who is informed about my AERs?
Once you have attended a student support appointment with a member of our team, reasonable adjustments and AERs may be arranged for you. Your faculty will be advised of your disability/health condition/SpLD and informed of any AERs and reasonable adjustments made for you.
Your AERs will also be added to Banner so the exams office are aware of your recommendations when they schedule exams.
For more information on how data is shared at the university, please view the University of Southampton's privacy notice.
I need to change my AERs: What should I do?
If you would like any adjustments to be made to your AERs and/or reasonable adjustments due to a change in course (including moving from undergraduate to post-graduate study), please contact Student Disability and Inclusion to book a Student Support Appointment to review your needs.
If any adjustments are made to your AERs, your recommendations will be updated and your faculty will be made aware. Please note you must contact the Student Disability and Inclusion team by the AER deadline for these to be effective for your next set of exams.
Any further AER queries?
Please contact the Student Disability and Inclusion team via The Student Hub.