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Accessibility statement
The OU is committed to making study accessible, and around 20% of our research students already tell us they have a disability.
You may not think of yourself as disabled, but if you:
Or, if you have another disability, you may wish to share that with us when you register. You do not necessarily need a formal diagnosis in order to bring any of these conditions to our attention.
Disability support in postgraduate research is quite different to what you may have experienced during your undergraduate or masters level studies. Support for disabled students on taught courses tends to focus on assignments, exams, and course materials, so the emphasis is on alternative formats of course material, extra time in exams, or the use of assistive technology. As a research student, however, you will direct your own work and won’t complete many formal assessments. This means that your support needs to be individualised to both your own needs and the circumstances of your research project.
For example:
It can take time to get the right support or reasonable adjustments in place for you, so it’s a good idea to tell us about any disability as soon as possible – ideally before you arrive – even if you aren’t yet sure what support you may eventually need.
When you tell us that you have a disability, you will be contacted by the University’s Disability Support Team. Together, you will develop a student disability profile that identifies the kinds of support and adjustments that may help you throughout your research journey. The profile will be shared with your supervisors, helping them understand your individual circumstances and how they can best support you.
Some adjustments are relatively simple and can be implemented through discussion and negotiation with the supervisory team. For instance, finding a quieter location in a busy laboratory for a neurodiverse student would usually not require direct involvement with the University’s Disability Support Team.
Other adjustments may take longer to implement or require specialist advice from the Disability Support Team. For example, where additional funding is required to pay for a sighted assistant to a blind student, the Disability Support Team can guide both supervisors and students through the process of accessing this support. If appropriate, they will guide you through the process of applying for Disabled Students Allowance (DSA). It is worth applying as soon as possible for DSA, as at busy times of the year, it can take many months to be put in place.
Remember, the sooner you tell us about your needs, the sooner we can get support in place.
Disabled research degree students in wheelchairs
The main thing that struck me at the OU was the attitude, the culture. If you’re finding something difficult in terms of a physical barrier, or anything else, they say, ‘right, what can we do?
For advice about applying for a research degree, or sponsoring a research student, email the Graduate School or call +44 (0)1908 653806.
Level info