Decide what you need

Studying with the OU may involve a number of different activities, some of which might be quite demanding for you: for example

  • reading study material
  • producing written work (e.g. assignments, essays, reports, examination scripts)
  • using multimedia
  • making notes (e.g. at tutorials and day schools)
  • using a computer
  • taking part in tutorials
  • attending residential school.

Please think about what you need help with and consider the support you want to ask for. For example, you may need additional facilities at tutorials, such as a radio aid, sign-language interpreter or a wheelchair-accessible room. We can organise support if we know in advance what is needed.

Your study requirements - four step checklist

These four steps will help you to identify the support services and facilities that will enable you to succeed in your studies. If you have already read this information elsewhere just skip down to the next step.

As you read, make a note of

  • the services and facilities you want to request
  • any questions you want to ask your regional or national centre advisers.

You can print an RTF version of this four step checklist (RTF, 105KB) to work through as your time allows.

Disabled Students' Allowance - are you eligible?

Use the DSA eligibility quiz to find out if you are eligible for funding. It should take you less than three minutes to complete.

If you are eligible for a DSA, The Open University will only provide study support that cannot be provided by a DSA

If you have any queries about a module, finance or the support you would receive, please contact an adviser.

For DSA, examination arrangements, and some other financial or equipment schemes you will need to provide written evidence of additional needs. This evidence is usually a diagnostic assessment or medical report but will depend on the individual situation. As this can take a considerable period of time to arrange it is advisable to think about this well in advance.

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