University: choosing and applying

Introduction

The National Autistic Society's Autism Helpline receives many calls from individuals who have an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) who are considering going to university. This is a guide to help people apply to - and prepare for - university. The term ASD (which includes Asperger syndrome) is used throughout.

Everyone has different needs and abilities, and you may find that some of the information may not be relevant or useful for you. It may be helpful for a family member or support worker to read through this information so that they are aware of what needs to be considered when applying to university.

This information sheet is presented in the form of frequently asked questions (FAQs) to the Autism Helpline.

What course should I take?

This is perhaps the most important question to ask as your choice of course will help you decide where to study.

What courses are there to choose from?

You may feel overwhelmed by the number of courses available. When choosing a course, you may be offered the option to study more than one subject or over a varying length of time. Options include single subject degrees, joint degrees where you study two subjects, and sandwich courses. With a sandwich course you would be expected to spend time in work placements in industry or commerce. This may be a year-long placement or a number of shorter placements. For further information about options available, please refer to the following websites:

www.link2learn.co.uk/content/default.asp?PageId=446
www.aimhigher.ac.uk/courses/choosing_courses.cfm
www.connexions-cd.org.uk/careers_makingchoices_1718_3b.asp

As there are a lot of subjects to choose from, what will help me decide what course to take?

There are a number of reasons why students may choose to study a particular course. It may be important to choose a course that, once completed, will enable you to follow the career you would like, but you also have to think ahead and consider if this career will be suitable for you.

Tony Attwood (1998) writes briefly about suitable careers for individuals who have Asperger syndrome (see under 'References, useful reading and sources of help' below). Some further suggestions can be found through the following website link: www.aspergerfoundation.org.uk/infosheets/a_careers.pdf (2005)

It is important to choose a subject or subjects that interest you; the usual duration of a degree course is three years, so you should be sufficiently motivated to study it. Harpur, Lawlor and Fitzgerald (2004) provide the following suggestion on making the right choice of study:

"Deciding that you will go to college X because the scientist that gave a lecture on television wore an interesting jacket would be unwise. On the other hand, if the scientist gave a stimulating lecture and his or her website looked particularly interesting, then applying to that college makes more sense."

If you have an interest or excel in using computers, you may want to study information technology. However, you will need to find out about the content of the course to see if it meets your expectations. When exploring course options, it would be advisable to discuss them with people who know you well. If you are currently in education, arrange to talk to a teacher at your school, sixth form or college, as they should have a good insight into your abilities. You could also talk to a family member about what course to choose and listen to their advice and reasons as to why they feel you should or shouldnt study a particular course. Careers advisors and Connexions Personal Advisers may also offer valuable guidance and provide you with information about potential careers. But remember that others can only give you guidance; you will be studying the chosen subject so you need to be sure that it is the right course for you.

Do courses differ in how they are taught?

Studying at university is very different to studying at school, college or sixth form. You may be used to having a lot of direction with your learning and very structured teaching methods. At university you will be expected to attend lectures and seminars and then you will need to study and read about your subject outside of these structured times. Your choice of course will determine how many hours of seminars and lectures you will be expected to attend each week and how much independent study will be expected of you.

To find out what a course involves in terms of study, you could refer to the university's prospectus or website or arrange to speak to either course tutors, the disabled students' advisor (sometimes called disability co-ordinator) or current students at the university. Most universities will have an enquiry line for general queries regarding courses. They will also be able to tell you about open days, which are another good way of contacting students and professionals at the university.

Are the course content and entry requirements for a particular subject the same at every university?

Once you've decided on the subject or subjects that you wish to study, it may be useful for you to compare the course content at different universities, as it may vary. You will also need to find out the entry requirements for the course.  Information regarding entry requirements can be found in university prospectuses, from careers directories (usually available from the library or local careers service), or from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) (www.ucas.ac.uk).

If you find a course that you would like to study but you feel you are unable to meet the entry requirements, you could:

• contact the university offering the course to enquire if it would still be worth your applying
• ask the university if there is a similar or related course that they offer with lower entry requirements
• look for similar courses at alternative universities with different entry requirements.

Which university should I choose to study at?

Perhaps most importantly, you need to decide whether to stay at home and study close to where you live or move away. There is a lot to consider when making this decision.  

Many students with an ASD find that living at home while studying at university is the most suitable option. Because going to university brings with it some significant changes, the option of living at home may be preferable to help keep a sense of routine. This, of course, very much depends on the support network that you have at home; if you have a good network of friends, family and professionals, this may influence your decision. However, there will be the opportunity to create a new support network if you do decide to move away from home. 

If you choose to stay at home, this will limit the number of universities that you can apply to as you will be restricted to those that you can reasonably travel to.  You will need to work out how long it will take you to travel to the universities that you are considering, and think about the means of transport to get you there.  Although a 30-minute train journey may sound a reasonable amount of time for you to travel each day, you should ask yourself if you could do this on a regular basis, perhaps four times a week. It is also highly likely that you will need to travel during rush hour which can be highly stressful and may cause you a lot of anxiety. You should also consider the cost of travel. You may be eligible for help with travel costs; this will be discussed later in this information sheet.

If you decide to live away from home, you may find it useful to consider the following questions. It may also be useful to talk these through with someone who knows you well.

Will I want to come home from university at weekends or fairly regularly?  

This may influence your choice of university, depending on how far you would be prepared and happy to travel home on a regular basis. It could be very tiring and time-consuming travelling home every weekend if your university is far away. If you are studying away from home, your family may want to visit you to see where you are studying and what the area is like. This can take the pressure off you having to do all the travelling. Ask your family or someone else who knows you well for advice on what they think will be a reasonable distance from the university to home. 

Is the university located in a city or busy town, or in a more rural setting?

The geographical situation may be important; the majority of universities are located in larger towns and cities but there are some located in more rural settings or in purpose-built sites outside of towns and cities. Some students may prefer a rural setting as it tends to be a lot quieter. Look carefully at the location and consider if it is within easy reach of the transport network and other facilities. 

Where will I live if I go away to university?

This is very important and there are a number of options available to you. When you look through university prospectuses, you will find a section on accommodation. Look carefully through this information as it will provide you with details of the university's accommodation and where this is located. Depending on the size of the campus, the accommodation (halls of residence) may be located on the campus, where the lectures and seminars are held, or off campus. 

As a first year student, it is likely that you will be offered accommodation in the halls of residence; however, this is not guaranteed. If you live in halls of residence for the first year of university, it doesn't necessarily mean that that you will have this accommodation for the duration of your university course. Ask the prospective universities for their policy on this. Also contact the disabled students officer for further advice on accommodation. Universities will also have student support officers or accommodation services who will be able to provide you with information on housing options available to you.

If you are to live in halls of residence or share a house with other students, you will need to consider the social aspect of this and the level of support you may need. You may prefer to rent a room in a landlords home (for example with a family). Most universities will have a list of recommended landlords. You will need to consider the cost of the accommodation you choose and what you will be expected to contribute towards utility bills.

What facilities will I find on a university campus?

This varies depending on the university; you will need to refer to the prospectuses. You are likely to find that on a larger campus there will be facilities such as a launderette, a grocery store, a book shop, café, sports facilities and various other facilities. Open days are a good way to visit campuses, talk to staff and see what facilities are on offer. You can ask about clubs and societies that the university runs and find out if they offer any social groups for students who have disabilities (see also under 'What support can I expect to receive when at university?' below).

When looking through the prospectuses or university websites check to see whether the university is on one campus or spread over a number of sites. If the university is spread over a number of sites, ask which campus or campuses you would be expected to go to, to attend lectures and seminars for your choice of study. Many people find it quite stressful travelling to and from different campuses, so if you have to do this, ask if the university offers their own bus service between campuses or find out how you could get to and from the campus yourself. If you feel that this would cause you too much anxiety, perhaps look at universities that are based on one main campus. 

The size of the university is important regardless of whether you want to stay at home or move away to study. Larger universities may have more to offer in terms of facilities, but this also means that there will be more students there. It is important that the universities you choose provide the facilities and support that are important to you. This will help make your university experience a positive one. 

How do I apply to university?

UCAS is responsible for applications for places on all full-time higher education courses that lead to a:

• first degree
• foundation degree
• Higher National Diploma or Certificate (HND/HNC)
• Diploma or Certificate of Higher Education (DipHE/CertHE)
• postgraduate degree or diploma in social work.

UCAS handles applications for these courses that are offered at the 325 universities and colleges listed on the UCAS website (www.ucas.com). UCAS no longer accepts paper applications so you will need to apply online. If you dont have access to a computer at home or school, the UCAS website provides details of an online centre which has partnered with UCAS to provide internet access for students to work on their application.

For further information on applying to university, please refer to www.ucas.com. Skill also has a booklet titled Applying to university - guidance for disabled people. This can be downloaded from their website (www.skill.org.uk) and provides a very clear timetable for undergraduate applications.

Do I have to disclose my disability when applying to university?

Many people worry that disclosing their disability when applying to university may lead to discrimination against them. However, Part IV (Special Educational Needs and Disability Act) of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 says that it is unlawful to discriminate against people with disabilities. It states that responsible bodies (colleges and universities, etc) must not discriminate against disabled people in:

• admission and enrolment
• the provision of student services
• exclusions.

On the UCAS application form there will be a question relating to disability; it is your choice whether or not you disclose this information at this stage. It is important to remember that disclosing your disability will hopefully mean that any additional support you require will be put in place, and that you should be protected under the DDA. Visit www.skill.org.uk for more information on disclosing your disability and the DDA.

"After I disclosed my disability, my tutors had training on the difficulties that people with Asperger syndrome can have, and they made sure that I understood things that were discussed in group sessions. I was able to go to university before term started to get used to the site, and the staff in the disability office made sure that there was a member of staff I could contact if I had any worries. One of the difficulties I have is when my routine changes, like at exam time, so I need lots of preparation for this, which my tutors and the disability office helped me with." (UCAS, 2005) 
 

What support can I expect to receive when at university?

You will need to contact the disability support staff at the university to find out about support services they offer and for a chance to talk about the support that you feel you may need whilst at university. It is useful to make contact with the support services before starting at university so that the support is in place from the beginning of the course.  

The Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (SENDA) came into force in 2002. It provides a legal framework for students with disabilities accessing Higher Education. Under the Act, universities have a duty to make 'reasonable adjustments', if deemed necessary, for a student who has a disability to enable them to access education. An example of a 'reasonable adjustment' could be to provide a student who finds note taking during lectures difficult with copies of the lecture notes. 

It would be useful for staff at the university to have received awareness training about ASDs, so that they can fully understand your support needs. It is important for staff to understand your strengths to help you reach your full potential. Staff can help you settle into university life by making sure you are familiar with your new surroundings and providing you with clear information about where to go for further help. 

You may benefit from having a mentor at university who can provide you with support. Mentors provide different levels of support depending on the needs of the student. A mentor may be a member of staff or a fellow student. It would be beneficial for the mentor to have received mentoring training and also to have in-depth knowledge of your disability and how it affects you in terms of the support you need. If you do have a mentor, it is important to establish what their role is in helping you. Together, you may have to set clear rules about when to contact your mentor and arrange in advance the times and dates when you will meet. Some universities, such as University College London (UCL), will have specific mentoring schemes in place.

Disabled Students' Allowance

Students taking a higher education course may be eligible for a Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA). These grants are available to students to help with costs that they may incur as a direct result of their disability. For further information, go to www.direct.gov.uk/DisabledPeople/EducationAndTraining/HigherEducation/
HigherEducationArticles/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=10034898&chk=/TVu79 

Unlike a loan, these do not have to be paid back and are provided from public funds. 

If you apply for a DSA, the amount that you will be awarded will be dependent on your needs. There are four allowances:

• a specialist equipment allowance
• a non-medical helpers' allowance
• a general disabled students' allowance
• an allowance for travel costs.

DSAs are not means tested so when being assessed for a DSA your or your familys income will not be taken into account. If you receive a DSA, this will not affect any other benefits you receive.

There are maximum amounts that you can receive for each allowance, and what you receive will depend on an assessment of your specific needs. For example, the allowance may cover the cost of a computer or tape recorder, or fund a note taker or a specific support worker. 

Skill has an information sheet on applying for a DSA. Visit the following web page for more details: www.skill.org.uk/info/infosheets/dsa.doc

The Autism Helpline has a factsheet which looks at the needs of students with autism or Asperger syndrome in Further and Higher Education and pinpoints the type of support they may need. This information can support a student's application for a DSA. You can contact the helpline on 0845 070 4004 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm).

Community care services

You may be entitled to help and support with community care services. This help would normally be provided by your local authority social services department.  For example, you could receive practical assistance in your home or the help of a support worker. The Autism Helpline has an information sheet titled Community care which explains how to get assessed by your local authority and about the type of support you can receive. This can be viewed through the following website link:
www.autism.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=296&a=3273

Your own local authority will usually assess your need of services rather than the local authority where the university is located.

Support groups

You could find out if there are any support groups at the university for students with disabilities. You may prefer to attend a local group specifically for adults who have an ASD. You can search for social groups by location by using the following website link: www.info.autism.org.uk

If there are not any groups in your area, you could talk to the disability support staff at the university regarding setting up a new social or support group. Harpur, Lawlor and Fitzgerald (2004) write about establishing an Asperger syndrome support group with suggestions of what you would need to consider to enable you to do this.  

Counselling

Understandably, preparing for and starting university can be a particularly anxious time. For some individuals, seeing a counsellor can help with managing these feelings, and some students find that, once at university, they experience problems that they are unable to manage without some outside support. If you find yourself suffering from high levels of anxiety or problems that you find hard to cope with, you may find it helpful to talk to a counsellor.

Most universities will have a student counselling service that you can access on a regular basis. However, you may find that some student counsellors do not have experience of counselling students with an ASD. The Autism Helpline has a database of counsellors with experience of - or specific training on - ASD. There is also further information on counselling on The National Autistic Society's website: www.autism.org.uk/counselling

What help can I get towards funding for university?

Once you have applied to go to university, you will need to start arranging the funding. The financial help you can receive falls mainly into the following categories:

• financial support towards the cost of tuition fees
• grants
• student loans
• other welfare benefits.

A brief explanation of how you can access these is provided below. For more detailed information, visit the Skill or DfES websites (see under 'References, useful reading and sources of help' below for the website addresses). You can also download a Guide to financial support for Higher Education students in 2006/2007 by following this website link:   www.studentsupportdirect.co.uk/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/SPIPG001/
SPIPS001/SPIPS008/S_FSHE_V6.PDF

Tuition fees

Students entering university will be required to make a means tested contribution towards their tuition fees. Information about tuition fees can be found on the following websites:

www.direct.gov.uk/EducationAndLearning/fs/en
www.aimhigher.ac.uk/student_finance/tuition_fees.cfm

To assess how much you are expected to pay towards your tuition fees, the awarding authority will look at the income of your parents (if you are considered a dependent of your parents). If you are considered to have 'independent status', your own income will be assessed. For further information on this, see the Skill information sheet on Funding for disabled students in Higher Education:
www.skill.org.uk/info/infosheets/HE%20Funding.doc

Student loans

Student loans are low interest loans arranged by the government and are provided towards the cost of tuition fees and the cost of living.
Please note that student loans are only available for students on full-time courses. A grant for part-time courses is available, but you would need to ask the university directly about this as the rates are dependent on how intensive the course of study is.

You will need to contact your awarding authority who will determine your entitlement to any loan/grant, its size, and how much you will have to contribute towards your tuition fees. Once the size of the loan has been calculated, you will need to apply for it through the Students Loan Company (SLC). The application form is available from your local authority or via the following websites:

www.student-support-saas.gov.uk  (for students living in Scotland)
www.studentfinanceni.co.uk (for students living in Northern Ireland)
www.studentsupportdirect.co.uk (for students living in England)
www.studentfinancewales.co.uk (for students living in Wales)

Full-time undergraduate students eligible for a student loan no longer have to pay fees before they begin university or while they are studying; the fees will be paid direct to their university or college on the students behalf. Students are required to repay these loans once they have left university and are earning over £15,000 gross per annum.

Other grants and allowances

For information on the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA), please see under What support can I expect to receive when at university? above.
For information on the Disability Living Allowance, visit the following web page:
www.autism.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=300&a=7788

If you are starting a new course, you may be entitled to the new non-repayable maintenance grant which is worth up to £2,700. This is for students from families with a low income, and eligibility for the grant will be assessed according to the the income of the household. A full or partial grant is available, and it is awarded in substitution for part of the student loan for maintenance.

If you are a student from Scotland, you may be entitled to financial help towards the cost of travel. This will depend on your term-time address not being within easy walking distance of where your seminars or lectures are held; or if you live away from your permanent home during term-time. 
There are a number of other grants available depending on individual circumstances. For further information about these, please refer to the list of references, useful reading and sources of help below.

You could also make contact with a local Citizens Advice Bureau who may offer specialist advice on welfare benefits. The Autism Helpline has produced an information sheet titled Financial support for adults that you can request on 0845 070 4004 (Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm).

References, useful reading and sources of help 

Some of the information provided in this information sheet has been sourced from the useful books below.

A reference marked with * is available from NAS publications www.autism.org.uk/pubs

A reference marked with ** is available from the NAS Information Centre www.autism.org.uk/infocentre

*Attwood, T. (1998). Asperger syndrome: a guide for parents and professionals. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

*Brown, M. and Miller, A. (2003). Aspects of Asperger's success in the teens and twenties. Bristol: Lucky Duck Publishing Ltd.

*Harpur, J., Lawlor, M., and Fitzgerald, M. (2003). Succeeding in college with Asperger syndrome. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

*Jamieson, J. and Jamieson, C. (2004). Managing Asperger syndrome at college and university. London: David Fulton Publishers.

**Martin, N. (2005). Asperger's syndrome in the workplace. Potential difficulties and straightforward solutions. The Skill Journal, 81, pp30-33.

*Pike, R. (2005). Supporting students with Asperger syndrome in higher education. London: The National Autistic Society
Skill (2004). Into higher education 2005. London: Skill.

Useful organisations

Aim Higher
www.aimhigher.ac.uk/home/index.cfm
This website has a wealth of information relating to higher education.

Department for Education and Skills (DFES) has a lot of useful information on their website about higher education and student support. Visit: www.dfes.gov.uk

Directgov
www.direct.gov.uk/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/fs/en
This website also has a wealth of information on higher education and student finance.

Skill is the national bureau for students with disabilities. It is a national charity promoting opportunities for young people and adults with any kind of disability in post-16 education, training and employment across the UK. As well as a range of very useful information sheets on entering higher education and about the DDA, they also have a free information service:
Skill's Information Service:
Open Tuesday 11.30am to 1.30pm, and Thursday 1.30pm to 3.30pm
Tel: 0800 328 5050 or 020 7657 2337
Email: info@skill.org.uk
Website: www.skill.org.uk

UCAS is the central organisation that processes applications for full-time undergraduate courses at UK universities and colleges. Visit their website www.ucas.com or use the following contact details:
Tel: 0870 11 222 11 (Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm)
Email: enquiries@ucas.ac.uk
Write to: Customer Service Unit
UCAS
PO Box 28
Cheltenham
GL52 3LZ

University Students With Autism And Asperger's Syndrome
www.users.dircon.co.uk/~cns/index.html
This website is aimed at university students who have an ASD. There is a lot of very useful information, including information on study skills and tips on surviving the university environment. There are also first-person accounts about the experience of university by individuals who have an ASD:

The following is a link to information written by Lynne Moxon regarding supporting students with an ASD in Further and Higher Education:
www.autism.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1011&a=12205

The National Autistic Society, January 2007
Please note: the website links are current as of the publication date of this information sheet.