Autism support

Working together to improve the university experience for students with Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC).

We believe that autistic students should be respected and valued for these positive qualities as well as being supported in the areas they find difficult. Therefore we are committed to supporting and developing every aspect of you through innovative, research driven support.

We strongly feel that support should be as individual as you are, so you are at the centre of our support.

The Autism Support Team

There is a range of support available for autistic students including:

  • a school based Disability Officer
  • in-house & external one-to-one support
  • exam arrangements
  • social activities, including a weekly lunch club
  • transition support for applicants

Your Disability Officer

We have a Disability Officer dedicated to working with students with an autism spectrum condition. They will be your key point of contact while studying at NTU, and can support you to get an Access Statement in place – as well as arranging your support needs.

Advice sessions

Our Disability Officers offer advice sessions for students who want to get their support set up or to discuss support and help at university. They can also help with matters such as:

  • applying for Disabled Students Allowances (DSAs)
  • orientation and accessing your course
  • getting your access statement and exam arrangements in place
  • academic liaison

Specialist DSA funded one-to-one support

As a student with a disability, you may be eligible for a Disabled Students Allowance (DSA). DSAs are intended to cover any extra costs or expense that arise because of your disability while studying, as well as recommending any non-medical helper support you might need.

Specialist one-to-one support

One-to-one support can develop your organisational, research and time management skills, as well as your independence.

Specialist mentoring

Mentors work with our students on a one-to-one basis, addressing the barriers to learning created by autism spectrum conditions. Examples of these barriers include anxiety and stress, concentration difficulties, time management issues, and establishing an appropriate work-life balance. A mentor’s role is to promote independent learning, as well as empowering the student to manage their work-load.

Specialist DSA funded support is provided through a mix of internal support and external agency support.

Access statements and exam arrangements

Your access statement details any reasonable adjustment that we have recommended for you to support your studies and will be shared with your academic school and the exams team at NTU. Visit our webpage about access statements to find out more information.

Your disability officer can set up an access statement for you in an advice session if you have evidence of your diagnosis or referral for a diagnosis. Please book an advice session to set up your access statement and send in your evidence of a diagnosis.

If you do not have, or can not find evidence of your diagnosis, you can use this form to take to the doctors for them to complete.

Please be aware that if we have not had your medical evidence by the end of January, you may not get your arrangements put in place for the end of year exams.


Neurodiverse lunch clubs

Join in with one of our “JAM” lunch clubs. A friendly and relaxed space in a quiet environment to make friends, share in a game or just come along to eat your lunch in a quiet and welcoming space.

Find out more on our Autism SharePoint site here


Diagnosis and screening

We are unable to provide screening or diagnostic assessments for autism spectrum conditions as these need to be done by a medical professional. Instead, you should discuss this with your GP, who may then refer you to a specialist. Please inform us if you are on a waiting list for diagnosis so we can look at what support you may need.


Get in Touch

What do our students say about the support they have received?

Watch our podcast episode, focusing on the benefits of engaging with NTU Disability & Inclusion Support Services, Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA), strategies for managing stress, and more.

Student life

Sometimes students starting university can find it very different to what their experiences were like at school or college. This can mean that there are a lot of new rules to learn about the way universities work. This general guide will try to help you understand what is expected of you at university as well as the support that is available.

These pages are an introduction to ease you into university life so might not cover everything that you may experience. Should a problem arise which is not covered here, you should get in touch with your disability officer or/ alternatively contact Disability Support Services via email or telephone +44 (0)115 848 2085.

We hope that the following content helps you to settle into your exciting new university life. Click on the links below to get you started and remember there are lots of people here to support you so if you have any questions or concerns then please ask.

Get sorted – life at university

Academic

  • Course inductions – course induction sessions run throughout the first few weeks of the term
  • Library – floor plans, search facilities and opening hours
  • NOW system – emails, timetables and course content
  • Study skills development - support available for you to develop skills associated with your studies
  • Term dates – showing term dates and university closure days for the coming years
  • Examinations – all the information you need to know about exams

Social and wellbeing

External links

FAQs for students

How can I prepare for university?

The most important thing you can do is get in touch with us as soon as possible so that we can discuss your support needs. You should also apply for the Disabled Students’ Allowances as soon as possible. We recommend visiting the campus more than once before the start of term so that you can familiarise yourself with the environment and find your way around.

What are Disabled Students Allowances and how could they help me?What are Disabled Students Allowances and how could they help me?

DSAs help pay towards extra costs you may have when studying on your course as a direct result of your autism spectrum condition.

This might include paying for one-to-one mentoring support or study support, note-taking support or IT equipment.

These are just a few examples of what it might pay for. Applications are made to your student funding authority e.g. Student Finance England, Student Finance Wales, Student Finance NI, the Student Awards Agency for Scotland.

If you said on your main student finance application that you would like to apply for the DSAs, your student funding authority should send you out a DSA application form automatically.

Otherwise, forms are downloadable from the DSAs section of the Government website.

How do I arrange my support?

After you have applied for the Disabled Students’ Allowances, your student funding authority will write to you to invite you to attend a needs assessment. The person assessing your needs will work with you to decide what support you will find most helpful and write this in a report.

Once you and the student funding authority have said that you agree with what the report says, you will be sent detailed instructions on how to arrange your support. NTU will also receive instructions telling us what we need to put in place for you. Find out more about needs assessment .

Should I be worried about living in shared accommodation?Should I be worried about living in shared accommodation?

Sharing accommodation is very much part of the student experience, but it is not without its challenges. We advise you to think very carefully and talk to us and / or your parents before making a decision about where you will live during your studies.

Sharing a kitchen and living area means that you will be sharing a space with people who may think very differently to you about how and where to store food, how often to wash up, how tidy a room should be, how early or late to play loud music and how many visitors to have.

If you would find this difficult, we can advise you about other options that you may find preferable.

What should I do if I have any problems? What should I do if I have any problems?

Please tell one of the Autism Support Team and we will do our best to help you. That is what we are here for, and no worry is too big or too small.

Just get in touch by either completing this form to get in touch or booking an advice session

I haven't disclosed that I have Autism on UCAS or to the university so no one has been in touch with me about my support - what should I do?I haven't disclosed that I have Autism on UCAS or to the university so no one has been in touch with me about my support - what should I do?

It is never too late to get in touch with us to tell us about your support needs. If you feel you would benefit from additional support – or if you aren't sure whether you need support or not - please get in touch with us as soon as possible. You can apply for DSAs at any time during your programme of study, but the application process takes quite a long time so you should send your application as soon as possible.

We can help you with this, just get in touch by either completing this form or booking an advice session

  • Last updated: 18/08/2023