Exam and coursework support for disabled students

Arrangements for exams and assessment

If you have a disability, temporary medical condition, or injury that will affect your performance in examinations, you can apply for individual exam arrangements.

Arrangements vary depending on your requirements and supporting evidence but can include things like extra time for writing or rest breaks, advising the marker of your specific learning difficulties or autistic spectrum condition, using a computer, having someone to write/read for you and having exam papers in suitable format (eg braille, large print).

Applying for arrangements

Apply now by completing our online application form (.pdf).

There are two deadlines each academic year for exam arrangements:

• 31 October for December/January examinations
• 31 January for May/June examinations

After these deadlines, there is no guarantee that we can put arrangements in place until the next examination period.

There are some circumstances where you may have to apply after a deadline, such as if you receive a new diagnosis or sustain a temporary injury which will impact your ability to sit exams. Please contact us to discuss exam arrangements.

There is no need to reapply each year if you are on an existing course. If you have started a new course eg. a postgraduate course or have transferred to a different scheme, please contact us.

If your application is accepted, your individual exam arrangements will apply to all future exams on your current course, unless or until you cancel the arrangements. It is not possible to opt-out of your arrangements for an individual exam.

Alternative assessment

Methods of assessment vary, although most courses are assessed on written course work such as essays, as well as examinations. Some subjects also require practical, fieldwork or study abroad. If you wish to discuss access to assessment, please contact us.

Coversheets for assignments

If you have registered your Specific Learning Difference, e.g. dyslexia or another neurodiverse condition or autistic spectrum condition (ASC), and provided evidence and consent to share this information to the Student Wellbeing and Inclusivity Service (SWIS), you will automatically be assigned a coversheet online through FASER. You do not need to take any further action. If, for any reason, you prefer not to have the coversheet in place then you can ‘untick’ the pre-populated box on FASER.

You will not receive extra marks as a result of using a coversheet and where learning outcomes are being assessed you will still be required to demonstrate you have met these. The coversheet provides guidance to the marker about the type of difficulties you may experience in your written expression so that you are not penalised on simple issues with style. Markers may continue to provide feedback on structure, spelling and grammar so that you are aware of these and can give consideration to study skills strategies that may help address these.

If you're required to print and hand in a physical copy of your submission:

1. Log into FASER
2. Click the 'Help and Support' tab on the left-hand panel
3. Click on 'Student Support' on the drop down menu, upload and print

If you have any problems with the system or any queries about support for your studies, please contact us.