FAQs

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• How do I contact Disability Services? 

  Please contact us by email at disability.office@qub.ac.uk. Please provide your full name, student number (if applicable) and provide us with some information about the reason for your contact. This will help us respond appropriately. At peak times it may take a few days to receive a response. 

  A Drop-In Service is available daily during term-time from 11.00am - 3.00pm. At present all drop in queries are being dealt with remotely via telephone on 07387 545123.  
  

• How do I register for support? 

  To register with our service please ensure you complete a pre-registration questionnaire and provide relevant medical evidence. You can find an overview of this process including guidance and checklists here.

  Once this is completed, we will be in touch to arrange a meeting with one of the Disability Officers, who will discuss the supports that may be available to you when studying at Queen’s. Please do not be nervous before the appointment; we are here to help you.

• Should I disclose my disability or long-term condition? 

  Deciding to disclose your disability or long-term condition is a personal decision. However, we strongly recommend that you inform us at application stage to enable us to address your individual support requirements.  It is best to put support in place as soon as possible so that your university experience is the best it can be, however, you can disclose at any point during your course of study. Disclosing your disability or medical condition could allow you to receive support that you may not have realised is available.   

  All information will be treated in strict confidence in line with GDPR regulations. 

• What types of support are available?

  During your registration appointment with Disability Services, a Disability Officer will discuss and agree appropriate reasonable adjustments for you in the academic environment (in-course support). For example, support during lectures, tutorials, assessments, exams and the library. 

  Your Disability Officer will consider what support you found beneficial in the past and assess the information contained in your medical evidence before making recommendations.

  Support recommendations will be tailored to your individual needs.

  Disability Services may also refer you to other services within the University if appropriate. For example, the Student Wellbeing Service, Students' Union or Learning Development Service. 

• Is there any funded support available? 

  There may be funds available from your home Education Authority / Student Finance for you to access equipment and one to one support. For further information, please refer to our guidance on funded support.

• Does the University have a policy on students with disabilities? 

  Queen's is committed to equality of opportunity for all students and will, therefore, strive to facilitate students with disabilities as an integral part of the Queen's community.   

  You can read the policy here. (Link not currently available)

• Are there social groups for students where they can meet other students? 

  We recognise that it can be hard to start university in a new, busy campus and that it can feel daunting until you settle in.  We have several social groups where you can meet other students regularly. You can find out more about these Groups on our Additional Information page under 'Peer Support'.

• How can I check what support was agreed when I registered with Disability Services? 

  After your initial meeting with a Disability Officer, an Individual Student Support Agreement (ISSA) will be completed outlining the details of your support. This will be sent to your School and you will also receive a copy. It is a good idea to keep a copy of your ISSA so you know your support details and can follow any guidance provided within it.  

• What if my support needs change or I have a new condition? 

  If you need to review your support or tell us about a new condition, please contact us to arrange review appointment at disability.office@qub.ac.uk  

• I have been recommended flexibility with deadlines. How do I arrange an extension? 

  If you are experiencing difficulties with submitting work on time as a direct result of your disability, you should contact the academic member of staff responsible for setting the assessment in advance of the deadline to request an extension. Please note that flexibility with deadlines is a recommendation and not an automatic entitlement and therefore you must liaise directly with your School to arrange any extensions. You do not need to provide medical evidence of your disability nor apply for Exceptional Circumstances if the reason for your request for an extension is related directly to your registered disability/long-term condition.  

• How long of an extension am I entitled to? 

  Extensions are not automatic and there is no set amount of additional time recommended on your ISSA. This is because each request will depend on factors such as your individual circumstances, how long you have had to complete the assessment, when feedback needs to be provided to other students and exam board deadlines. Academic members of staff must take these factors into account before granting an extension or providing a new deadline.  

• I have already had a DSA Needs assessment, why do I need an appointment with a Disability Officer? 

  Most students will have two appointments with us. One with a Disability Officer to discuss in-course support needs such as flexibility with deadlines, exam support and library support. Your Disability Officer is your first point of contact throughout your course.  The other is with a Needs Assessor who will assess your DSA funding needs e.g. specialist equipment, non-medical helper support, general allowances etc. The assessor will conduct a Needs Assessment and write a report outlining their recommendations which is sent to your funding body for consideration.

• What happens to my information?

  If you have a disability we strongly recommend that you register with Disability Services as early as possible.  

  Queen’s University holds any personal information which you provide to us in accordance with data protection regulations (GDPR).  Your information will only be shared with those who require it in order to make any adjustments necessary to enable you to participate in your course and the many opportunities Queen’s has to offer.  Disclosure will only take place with your consent, and your right to confidentiality will be respected at all times.  As most students are aged over 18 years, we are not allowed to share your information with third parties eg your parents, without your written consent.    

  Rarely, it may be necessary for us to share information with relevant third parties eg health and social care professionals, parents and/or next of kin if there is a known or suspected risk of harm to yourself or others.  There may also be occasions where we have a legal obligation to share information.  We will always advise you when this is the case.  If you wish to view more details about how and when we will use your data, please refer to the University’s Student Privacy Notice 

  You have the right to withdraw your consent to disclose information at any time. You can do this by informing us in writing or emailing studentwellbeing@qub.ac.uk .