Disclosing your needs to the Disability Team
We encourage all students to disclose a potentially disabling condition or impairment as soon as possible. Any information you provide in relation to disability will be treated sensitively and in confidence. You may do this on your course application or by contacting us directly.
Disclose when applying
We encourage all students to disclose a potentially disabling condition or impairment at the point of applying to study at Glasgow Caledonian University. You can do this:
- On your UCAS form
- On a Glasgow Caledonian course application form
- Or you can complete the self-assessment questionnaire and return it to the Disability Team.
This means that the Disability Team is alerted to your possible enrolment and can ensure that you receive appropriate advice, support, and information for your studies.
The process:
1) Self-assessment questionnaire
Complete a self-assessment questionnaire and return it to the Disability Team.
2) Supporting documentation
Provide any supporting documents related to your disability, such as a GP letter or specialist report. You can also request your medical records from your GP free of charge. If you don't have any supporting documents or can't access them, please let us know so we can advise on the next steps. Students who do not have a diagnosis but have received support in school or college can provide documentation of that support.
3) Recommended adjustments Page (RAP)
A disability advisor will review your documents and prepare a draft Recommended Adjustments Page (RAP), which offers recommendations for support to Glasgow Caledonian teaching staff and provides additional information and awareness. This information will only be shared once you have given your consent to the draft and are registered for a course at Glasgow Caledonian. The RAP can be reviewed and updated at any time during your studies if your circumstances change. The draft RAP will be sent to you in an intake email, along with useful information about the support available at Glasgow Caledonian.
4) Needs assessment
In the intake email, you will also be asked if you would like to schedule an appointment with a Disability Adviser to discuss your support needs. These appointments are informal and confidential, conducted one-on-one either online or in person. During the appointment, the adviser will assess whether any additional adjustments, services, or facilities may benefit you.
5) Disabled Students Allowance
Much of the support at Glasgow Caledonian is inclusive, meaning it is available to all students without the need for external funding. When a student’s needs cannot be met by the University’s inclusive provision, support will need to be funded through the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) scheme. This scheme only covers home (UK resident) students, and an application can only be submitted by a disability advisor following a needs assessment. Temporary loan equipment can be made available to students while an application for equipment is being processed
Please contact us at disability@gcu.ac.uk if you have any questions about disability support at Glasgow Caledonian.