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 by completing our application form (.pdf).

Arrangements vary depending on your requirements and supporting evidence but can include:

• extra time for writing or rest breaks
• advising the marker of your specific learning difficulties or autistic spectrum condition
• a computer
• someone to write/read for you
• exam papers in suitable format (eg braille, large print)
• a separate room
• special furniture

Applying for arrangements

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 academic year (or the September resit period if you are required to undertake reassessment).

If you have a diagnosis of a Specific Learning Difference or medical condition after these deadlines please contact us to discuss exam arrangements and we will be able to advise on when these can be in place.

If you have an injury which means you will not be able to take your exams unless you have exam arrangements in place, please contact us to discuss individual exam arrangements.

The intention is that arrangements should enable you to meet the expected learning outcomes and to compensate for the restriction imposed by any disability without affecting the validity of the examination.

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 so we can check if arrangements are in place.

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 a diagnosis of Specific Learning Difficulties such as dyslexia or an autistic spectrum disorder, you may wish to use coversheets for your assignments to alert the marker to difficulties you encounter when writing.

You will not receive extra marks as a result of using this; however, it should prompt the marker to respect your difficulties and, if learning outcomes are not compromised, it may be that you are less likely to be penalised on simple issues with style.

If you have registered your disability and provided evidence of your condition to student support you will automatically be able to access your coversheet online via FASer and just by ticking the box your coversheet will upload.

How to download your coversheet

1. Log on to FASer with your username and password
2. Click the 'Help and Support' tab on the left-hand panel
3. Click on 'Student Support' on the drop down menu
4. Download your coversheet
5. Submit this either by uploading it alongside your coursework, or printing it out if you need to hand in a physical copy

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