Disability, Learning differences, Mental health conditions and other long-term health conditions
This page has information about the application procedures for those with a disability, neurodiverse condition, mental health condition or other long-term health condition who are applying to Christ's College. It is part of our application support section.
The first step is to tell us. In all cases, we encourage you to disclose any disability, neurodiverse condition, or long-term heath condition (including mental health conditions) in your UCAS application. This information will be treated in confidence. It will be used to ensure that any support you need if you are selected for online interviews is arranged, and to help you in your studies if your application is successful.Your application won't be adversely affected - it'll be processed in exactly the same way as any other application, and considered on the same academic grounds as all other candidates.
There is additional paperwork that you will need to upload early in the application process, so please read this page carefully, especially the overview so that you know in advance what you will be asked for and can prepare.
What is a neurodiverse condition?
Examples are Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia, and Tourette Syndrome.
There is also a page the university website for disabled students applying to Cambridge.
Overview - what you need to do when
August or early Sept If your course requires a test that requires registration, and you need adjustments, there's normally an early registration deadline for modified papers.
15 October (18:00) UCAS application including disclosure of disability, neurodiverse condition or long-term health condition (including mental health conditions)
22 October (23:59) Candidates who declared a disability, neurodiverse condition or long-term health condition in their UCAS application / who receive any kind of adjustments for school exams (for any reason) are asked to upload > An Adjustments Form (you'll download this from our current applicants section) > Documentary evidence confirming the disability, neurodiverse condition, mental health condition or other long-term health condition and adjustments you receive in public exams (if relevant). Note that if you do not receive adjustments, we will still need you to upload an adjustments form and document confirming your disability, neurodiverse condition, mental health condition or long-term health condition.
After 22 Oct We will email you if we have any questions about your current adjustments (if will help us greatly if you provide full detail on your Adjustment form to avoid too much of this additional correspondence)
Second half of November You will find out if you have been selected for online interviews. If you have online interviews, note that we will not be able to provide information about adjustment arrangements at this stage (please do not be concerned).
Before College Assessments Individual emails are sent to students with a disability, neurodiverse condition or long-term health condition to confirm what adjustments will be made for your online College Assessment.
(Very) late November Individual emails are sent to students with a disability, Neurodiverse condition or long-term health condition to confirm what adjustments will be made on the day of online interviews (including adjustments for any pre-interview reading or exercises for your subject).
December Online interviews take place
End of January Decisions are sent to applicants
March - July The University Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre will be in touch with offer holders who declared a disability, neurodiverse condition, or long-term heath condition in their application about steps for your transition to student life at Cambridge. There will be advice, information about arrangements you may need, details of Disabled Students Allowances if relevant etc. Full detail will be in the email.
Late August College Living Arrangements Form completed by all offer holders starting that October. This includes a request that you set out any specific accommodation needs. It is essential that you provide this information on the College Living Arrangements Form if it is relevant.
Adjustments form and accompanying evidence document (22 Oct)
All candidates who declare a disability, neurodiverse condition, mental health condition or other long-term health condition are asked to upload an Adjustments form and accompanying evidence document by 22 October (23:59 UK time).
Even if you do not need adjustments for interviews etc., we still need confirmation of your disability, neurodiverse condition, mental heath condition or long-term health condition, and confirmation that you do not need adjustments, if that makes sense.
The form and how to send it will be part of the current applicants section published on 20 September (nothing to worry about).
The Adjustments Form should be completed fully even if there is some repetition of details that are already in your UCAS application or have been mentioned as extenuating circumstances by your referee.
The accompanying documentary evidence is normally provided by your school or college (but could be provided by a GP) and confirms your disability or neurodiverse condtition, mental health condition or long-term health condition and any allowances currently given in school or college if relevant e.g. a letter confirming previous assessment, dates undertaken, Local Authority Statement etc. You should NOT send a full Educational Psychologist report at this stage unless there is particular reference to the support that you require that will help us to make appropriate adjustments to our assessment and selection procedures.
If your education has been seriously disrupted or disadvantaged
If your disability, neurodiverse condition, mental health condition or long-term health condition has seriously disrupted or disadvantaged your education, we would also encourage your referee to mention this under the extenuating circumstances section of the UCAS reference. This provides additional context. To clarify, here is a comparison of what the information does
Adjustments form and accompanying document
UCAS reference including details of extenuating circumstances
This is needed for all candidates with a disability, neurodiverse condition, mental health condition or long-term health condition and provides
Confirmation of your disability, neurodiverse condition, mental health condition or long-term health condition
Practical information about adjustments that you receive OR confirmation that no adjustments are needed.
This is needed by some candidates (if relevant) and provides
Information about how the disability, neurodiverse condition, mental health condition or long-term health condition has lead to disruption or disadvantage in your education.
Some students will have extenuating circumstances mentioned in their reference as well as uploading the Adjustments form and accompanying document, others will only upload the Adjustments form and accompanying document. Details of how to include extenuating circumstances information in the reference will also be included in the current applicants section published on 20 September.
Managing the 22 October deadlines
Please bear in mind that there are quite a few deadlines on 22 October (including the My Cambridge Application form) - we will make it very clear in the current applicants section what you need to do (and how to do it!), but it will help you in this period if you:
Ensure that you have the relevant document ready and saved as a pdf on your computer (don't leave it until that week to get hold of the document)
Do not leave everything to the last minute. Once your UCAS application is submitted, you can start working on My Cambridge Application form, so students whose UCAS application is submitted a little earlier than 15 October have a few days extra to work on the MyCApp form and other 22 October deadliness.
Please be especially careful if you are applying for Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering or Natural Sciences as these subjects have their written assessment on 9-14 October. It would be a good idea to submit your application nice and early so that you can get your My Cambridge Application done and focus on your preparation.
The Cambridge Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre
The Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre (ADRC) is the university-wide centre that offers guidance, information and support. It is a useful contact for applicants with a disability, neurodiverse condition, mental health condition or other long-term health condition. Do feel free to get in touch with them if you want to.
When students arrive in Cambridge, the Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre works with your College and your university department to make appropriate arrangements for students.
Please bear in mind that there are quite a few deadlines on 22 October (including the My Cambridge Application form) - we will make it very clear in the current applicants section what you need to do (and how to do it!), but it will help you in this period if you: