Student Disability and Inclusion offers a variety of support for students with disabilities, mental health conditions, long-term health conditions and specific learning differences. We can offer support right from your arrival such as helping you to settle in, meeting our team and providing practical support. During your studies, we can provide ongoing specialist support that could include 1:1 specialist study skills appointments, study skills advice and workshops, learning support and mentoring. Please see the Disability and Study Support sections of our website for more information on the types of support that are available.
You can contact the Student Disability and Inclusion Team via the Student Hub.
Email: studenthub@soton.ac.uk
Phone: 02380 599 599
All students with a university email address will have access to Microsoft Teams, providing internet access is available. Please see the guidance document at the bottom of the page on how to use Microsoft Teams.
In exceptional circumstances, if there is a reason you are unable to access Microsoft Teams for your student appointment, please email us via studenthub@soton.ac.uk.
Get in touch with the Student Disability and Inclusion team to arrange a Student Support Appointment with one of our specialist practitioners. In this appointment, you will have the opportunity to discuss your individual support needs and the support that may be available to you.
Long-term support through Student Disability and Inclusion may include:
• Support with specialist tutors, mentors or learning support assistants
• Additional Exam Recommendations (AERs)
• Sharing Student Support Recommendations (SSRs) with your faculty
• Access to quiet areas on campus
Arrange a Student Support Appointment with the Student Disability and Inclusion Team by contacting us via studenthub@soton.ac.uk or by calling 02380 599 599.
Students with a disability, mental health condition or specific learning difference (SpLD), such as dyslexia or dyspraxia may be eligible to receive additional arrangements for exams and timed assessments. Arrangements are made according to individual need and can include extra time, use of a word processor, rest breaks and smaller exam rooms.
If you think this may apply to you, please send the Student Disability and Inclusion Team a copy of your medical evidence or evidence of your SpLD and arrange a student support appointment. During your student support appointment you will meet with a specialist practitioner who will make appropriate recommendations to your Faculty based on your individual needs. If you have already met with a practitioner for your Student Support Appointment you do not need to do so again unless you are moving from undergraduate to postgraduate study. For more information on additional exam recommendations please visit our Disability and SpLD and Study Support web pages.
As a student with a disability, long term health condition, mental health condition or Specific Learning Difference (SpLD), you may be eligible for additional funding for services and equipment through Disabled Students' Allowance (DSAs). You can find out more about DSA and how to apply on our dedicated DSA section of our website.
Mentor support may be available for students with Disabled Students' Allowance who have long-term health conditions, including mental health conditions. The support that mentoring offers is tailored to suit a student’s individual needs and includes help with organisation, planning, and management of your study time. For more information please contact Student Disability and Inclusion.
Please refer to the information outlined on the DSA section of our website.
Student Disability and Inclusion run a transition programme for students who are starting at the University of Southampton who have a disability, long-term health condition, mental health condition or Specific Learning Difference (SpLD).
The programme contains essential information about the support available to help you with your learning and every day living. A core element of the programme is the opportunity to meet with a specialist practitioner to discuss your needs so that these can be put in place before your course begins.
Step One: if you are a current student and think you may have a Specific Learning Difference (SpLD) such as Dyslexia, you can request an online screening questionnaire from the Student Hub. Once you have completed the questionnaire it will be reviewed by a specialist practitioner who will advise if you show any signs of an SpLD and recommend if a post-16 full diagnostic assessment is appropriate.
Step Two: if it is recommended that you take a post-16 diagnostic assessment you will be given information on how to find an assessor. Diagnostic assessments take around three hours and range between £400 and £600 in cost. Please note assessments must be carried out by a specialist teacher/assessor with a current Assessing Practising Certificate (APC) or psychologists registered with the Health and Care Professional Council (HCPC). The Student Disability and Inclusion Team can provide diagnostic assessments free of charge to current students with a household income below £30,000. Please contact us for more information if you think you are eligible.
Step Three: send your post-16 diagnostic assessment report to studenthub@soton.ac.uk to arrange a student support appointment and discuss your support recommendations. A post-16 diagnostic assessment report may give you access to Disabled Students' Allowance and/or additional exam recommendations.
Student Disability and Inclusion run bookable specialist study skills support sessions for practical study advice. Specialist study skills support is designed to support students who may have a specific learning difference (SpLD) such as dyslexia.
Please note that our Specialist Study Skills Drop-In runs on a first come first served basis and can be booked via our dedicated Study Skills support webpage. These sessions will last approximately 30 minutes. Should you require a longer, 1-hour appointment please contact us to arrange.
In addition to this, we also run a series of study skills workshops that may help you. Please visit our Events Page for more information.
The Academic Skills Hub (SASH) also offer Study Support appointments and have a range of study advice and resources available on the Academic Skills Hub website.
If the reason you need help is due to extenuating circumstances we’d suggest you consider applying for special considerations. Further information can be found on the dedicated Special Considerations web page.
Assistive Technology (AT) facilities are available at each campus throughout the University. These facilities are available upon the recommendation of a specialist practitioner.
The study spaces in these areas are equipped with computers with assistive software, scanners, printers and other assistive aids. Find out where our Assistive Technology facilities are located by visiting the AT section of our website.
Access to the ATS is upon recommendation from one of our Specialist Practitioners through a Student Support Appointment. Once you have been granted computer login access, you can find the Assistive Technology Suite on Level 2 (Room 2047) in the Hartley Library, Highfield campus.
If you believe that either illness or other personal circumstances have affected your academic performance during the academic year or have prevented you from meeting deadlines, you may wish to apply for Special Considerations. Information can be found on the dedicated Special Considerations page. You will need to complete a Special Considerations form and submit this to your Student Office.
Written documentary evidence to support the facts (for example a medical certificate or GP/consultant letter, or a statement from your Personal Academic Tutor) is advised but you may be able to self-certify. Student Disability and Inclusion can only offer a supporting statement only in some circumstances.
Whilst Student Disability and Inclusion are able to provide practical support for students we are unable to give advice on issues relating to difficulties in relationships with academic staff. The Students' Union provide academic help and support in this area. Please refer to their website for further information.
You could speak to your Academic Course rep, which you can find in the Students' Union section of your Faculty Blackboard Hub.
If you find that these difficulties are having a negative impact on your studies or wellbeing please contact the Student Wellbeing Team via the Student Hub at studenthub@soton.ac.uk.
The Student Disability and Inclusion team run a variety of workshops, designed to support students' wellbeing and studies. Our workshops are free to access/attend and are advertised via our events page or the Library Academic Skills Hub website.