Undergraduate: Individual needs

Higher education is an inclusive environment where support can be provided to help you study. Find out more.

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Students with individual needs

Course providers welcome over 45,000 disabled students each year, meaning there’s already lots of on-campus support available.

If you have a physical or mental health condition, learning difference, or long-term illness, you can let the course provider know on your application. However, it's a good idea to contact them directly to discuss your support needs as early as possible – even before sending your application.

There’s plenty of support in higher education for care-experienced students – with finances and accommodation, as well as help with settling in to your new surroundings.

Higher education can give students with caring responsibilities the independence and skills they need for their chosen career, through financial and academic support during their studies.

Universities and colleges are aware that if you are balancing your studies with family life, you may experience challenges from time-to-time. However, extra support may be available to help you manage, such as on-site childcare, academic support, and help with finances.

Many people with previous criminal convictions enter higher education. Depending on the course you want to study, you may need to disclose your criminal record - universities and colleges will be able to support you through this process and offer guidance.

Support is available for students who are no longer supported by their parents due to a breakdown in the relationship (known as estranged). This can include help with accommodation and finances, as well as health and wellbeing.

Refugees, asylum seekers or those with limited leave to remain who are considering applying to higher education, should always speak to the course provider before they apply, to see whether they can offer help with finances and other support needs.

Young people with one, or both, parents serving in the UK Armed Forces, should let the university or college know about their circumstances and check what support is available. We strongly recommend using the personal statement to highlight the skills and strengths gained through their experiences.

Visit the SCiP Alliance website to get more support with your application and transition to higher education.

For those who have served in the UK Armed Forces, or are preparing to transition into civilian life, there are a number of resources and initiatives available to help with applying for a higher education course.

Read more about the support available on the MoD’s Career Transitions Partnership website.

Applying to university as a mature student can seem daunting at first, as you may not have access to the same support and information as a current school/college pupil or recent school leaver.

Child bereavement occurs when a child loses someone of importance in their life – a parent, sibling, or friend – changing that person’s life forever. Many universities and colleges have initiatives or support programmes in place for students who have been bereaved as a child.

Unis and colleges welcome students from a diverse range of backgrounds and experience. If you choose to disclose you're a student with an imprisoned parent it will not negatively impact your application – it gives context to your circumstances.

Whatever stage of life you’re at, there will be excitement and challenges. There’s a wealth of resources out there to help you through every stage.

Financial support

One of the key factors for all students when making the decision to go to university is money, and if you have individual support needs, there may be additional costs involved in accessing the equipment and help you need to succeed with your studies. Knowing what different funding streams are available and how to apply for them will help prevent delays and ensure you make a smooth transition.

In addition to a student finance tuition fee loan and maintenance loan, below is a brief overview of the extra support you may be eligible for, depending on your circumstances and where you live.

Find out more about financial support

Students from GTRSB communities who are considering higher education might find it useful to find out more about how they can be supported to apply to university, and to understand more about the support they may be able to receive on campus.

The GTRSB into Higher Education Pledge is a firm commitment by a university or college to support GTRSB students into and within higher education, and to ensure a welcoming and inclusive environment.

More information and support can be found from:

People who are homeless and want to progress to higher education may find there are a number of challenges to overcome – such as qualifications, financial issues, and access to expert information, advice, and guidance.

The Foyer Federation provides housing to young people aged 16-25, along with help to reconnect with learning and increase employability. If you've spent time in a foyer, you may be able to access funding to help you go to university.
Crisis Skylight centres across the UK can offer careers information, advice and guidance – including access to courses and qualifications.

If you're homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless, the CentrePoint helpline is there for anyone aged 16-25 in England to get advice. They also offer careers support and training programmes to help you get to where you want to be.

Sharing your individual needs in the UCAS application

When you apply through UCAS, you will have the opportunity to share any individual needs or circumstances, including many of those listed above. Sharing this information helps the university connect you to the right support – they may send you more information or contact you to discuss what would help you succeed.

Universities are diverse and inclusive environments, and people from all backgrounds are welcomed – the support is available because they recognise some people may have different challenges and priorities, so this is in place to make sure you can make the most of your time. Visit the pages above to find out more about what may be available.

The information you share will always be treated sensitively, and only used by those responsible for arranging support and helping you with your application (e.g. the student support team). It is never used when universities decide whether to offer you a place, but it might be used to make you an offer that looks at your achievements in context.

We recommend that you read the relevant pages above and research what help the university can offer before making an application – it is important that you make a decision that is right for you.

England

Personal Independence Payment (PIP): students with a long-term illness or impairment who need assistance with mobility or daily life may be entitled to additional financial support.
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA): disabled students who receive Personal Independence Payment may be eligible for additional support. If you are entitled to a student loan (even if you choose not to take one), part of this will be considered as income when assessing your ESA entitlement.
Housing benefit: disabled students may be eligible for housing benefit, even for university-owned accommodation. Check the full eligibility criteria.
If a health condition or impairment prevents you from working, you may be eligible for income support. This may also apply if you are pregnant, a carer, or a lone parent to a child under five years old, but you will need to meet all the eligibility criteria.
Parents and carers may be eligible for a Childcare Grant, a Parents’ Learning Allowance, or an Adult Dependants’ Grant.

Wales

Personal Independence Payment (PIP): students with a long-term illness or impairment who need assistance with mobility or daily life may be entitled to additional financial support.
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA): disabled students who receive Personal Independence Payment may be eligible for additional support.
Housing benefit: disabled students may be eligible for housing benefit, even for university-owned accommodation. Check the full eligibility criteria.
If a health condition or impairment prevents you from working, you may be eligible for income support. This may also apply if you’re pregnant, a carer, or a lone parent to a child under five years old, but you will need to meet all the eligibility criteria.
Parents and carers may be eligible for a Childcare Grant, a Parents' Learning Allowance, or an Adult Dependent’s Grant.
If you're attending a clinical placement in the UK, or if you have to travel abroad as part of your course, you may be eligible for a Travel Grant to help with your expenses.

Scotland

Living cost grants are available for carers and lone parents.
Care Experienced Accommodation Grant: if you are a care leaver, you can apply for help with accommodation costs over the holidays. More details for students who have been in care can be found on our care leavers’ page.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP): students with a long-term illness or impairment who need assistance with mobility or daily life may be entitled to additional financial support.
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA): disabled students who receive Personal Independence Payment may be eligible for additional support with an ESA.
Housing benefit: disabled students may be eligible for housing benefit, even for university-owned accommodation. Check the full eligibility criteria.
If a health condition or impairment prevents you from working, you may be eligible for income support. This may also apply if you are pregnant, or a carer or lone parent to a child under five but you will need to meet all the eligibility criteria.
Parents and carers may be eligible for a Childcare Grant, a Lone Parent’s Grant, or a Dependent’s Grant.

Northern Ireland

Personal Independence Payment (PIP): students with a long-term illness or impairment who need assistance with mobility or daily life may be entitled to additional financial support.
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA): you may be able to get the ESA if you have an illness or impairment that affects your ability to work.
Housing benefit: disabled students may be entitled to claim housing benefit, even for university-owned accommodation.
If a health condition or impairment prevents you from working, you may be eligible for income support. This may also apply if you are pregnant, a carer, or a lone parent to a child under five years old, but you will need to meet all the eligibility criteria.

Channel Islands and the Isle of Man

States of Jersey

For more information about benefits available to students from the States of Jersey, visit the benefits and financial support pages on the government information services website.

States of Guernsey

For more information about benefits available to students from the States of Guernsey, visit the benefit information pages on the government information services website.

The Isle of Man

For more information about benefits available to students from the Isle of Man, visit the social security benefits pages on the government information services website.

Students chatting in communal area at university

Contextual admissions

Some students face additional challenges during their education which may impact their results. Universities recognise these challenges, and can make adjustments through ‘contextual admissions’. Find out more about what this is, who is eligible, and how you qualify.

Students with physical or mental health conditions and learning differences

Every year, over 60,000 students with physical and/or mental health conditions and learning differences apply through UCAS to study at a university or college in the UK, and access a range of support to help them succeed with their studies, day-to-day activities, travel, and lifestyle.

Students with caring responsibilities

If you're responsible for providing unpaid care to a family member, partner or friend, you may be able to get extra support during your studies.

Financial support for students not supported by their parents (estranged)

A key factor when making the decision to move into higher education is finance – for estranged students, this can be a particular challenge.