Diagnosis & evidence

Evidence requirements for reasonable adjustments.

Reasonable adjustments for a specific learning difference include adjustments in lectures and during exams (e.g. extra time during written exams).

If you have a formal diagnostic report, confirming your diagnosis, then that is ideal, but if you do not, then you can request access to QuickScreen, our online dyslexia screening tool.

Depending on the results from QuickScreen, we may be able to agree reasonable adjustments with you, without the need for a formal diagnostic assessment. Please email us to request access to QuickScreen.

Please note: Form 8 exam access documents from a school or college are unsuitable as evidence for a specific learning difference. Students who only have a Form 8 will need to complete QuickScreen, or have a full diagnostic assessment before we can consider reasonable adjustments. 

Please note: Automatic extensions to assignment deadlines are not provided as a reasonable adjustment, but students are always able to submit a mitigating circumstances application if it is applicable to their circumstances.

Evidence requirements when applying for Disabled Students Allowance (DSA).

DSA will only accept a full diagnostic report as evidence of a specific learning difference.

A diagnostic report written following the 2005 SpLD Working Group Guidelines, can be from either: 

• An Educational Psychologist or 
• A suitably qualified specialist teacher, holding a SpLD Assessment Practising Certificate. 

Please note: Form 8 exam access documents from a school or college are not suitable evidence. Students who only have a Form 8 will need a full diagnostic assessment to be able to apply for DSA. 

Information on how to obtain a diagnostic assessment is available here 

If you have successfully applied for DSA for a specific learning difference then the Needs Assessment Report produced during the application is also suitable as evidence for reasonable adjustments. 

A letter or report from a GP, hospital consultant or other appropriately qualified health professional which includes the following information: 

• The name of the diagnosed condition. 
• Confirmation that the condition is long-term. 
• A brief description of how the condition impacts daily life and study. 

Students applying for Disabled Students Allowance can ask their GP to complete a Disability Evidence Form instead of writing a letter if this is easier. Evidence forms can be obtained from the website of your funding body e.g. Student Finance England. 

Do you have a confirmed diagnosis?

If you have a confirmed diagnosis of either ASC or ADHD, then the best evidence is your original diagnostic report.

If you have just had your assessment and received a diagnosis, you may not have your report yet. In this case, a letter confirming the diagnosis and its impact on you, written by the professional who assessed you, is suitable as evidence and is normally provided by your assessor while they write the full report.

Evidence can be submitted as a scan of an original document (in .pdf format) or as a picture (in .jpeg format) provided we can see each page of the evidence and that the whole of each page is visible, and still clearly readable. 

Have you been referred for assessment/have a 'working diagnosis'?

The waiting time for an ASC or ADHD assessment can be long. During the referral period, both DSA and reasonable adjustments can be put in place if you can provide evidence of a 'working diagnosis'.

To get evidence of a working diagnosis, please ask the GP who referred you to complete this evidence form.

Please note: Your GP is likely to charge you for completing the working diagnosis evidence form.

Evidence required for a DSA application.

DSA will only accept a diagnostic report, a letter from your GP/Assessor confirming your ASC or ADHD diagnosis, or a completed working diagnosis evidence form.

Evidence required for reasonable adjustments.

In addition to the evidence accepted by DSA, the University will also accept the following as evidence:

• A DSA Needs Assessment Report that states DSA is being provided for ASC or ADHD.
• A letter confirming that you have been accepted for an ASC or ADHD assessment by your local NHS trust, even if they haven't been able to confirm a date for the assessment.

Information about autism in adults can be found here.

Information about ADHD in adults can be found here.