Admissions Policy
3.71. The University is committed to
considering applications for students with a range of disabilities.
Applicants are advised to indicate special requirements on their
application forms and are encouraged to seek advice on the
suitability of the course, University accommodation and other
matters. Applications to University courses will be assessed purely
on academic grounds.
3.72. All applicants to the University
are considered equally. Where an applicant declares an impairment
we will try to ensure that any support needs are identified at an
early stage, but this should not involve unreasonable delays in
processing such applications. Nor does it involve withholding an
offer to an otherwise qualified applicant on the grounds of his or
her impairment, except in the following cases:
- Risk to health and safety:
certain conditions may present safety risks, despite all reasonable
adjustments being made.
Any less favourable treatment would be unusual
and would only arise in limited circumstances.
- The need for specially adapted
accommodation: the availability of such accommodation cannot be
guaranteed to all potential applicants.
- Physical access issues. It may be
the case that, despite all reasonable adjustments having been made,
some key locations remain inaccessible to students with
certain disabilities.
3.73. SENDA normally makes it illegal to reject an
applicant on the grounds of disability. Under current legislation,
however, there are only three instances in which a university can
reject a disabled applicant if they have the entry criteria
necessary, these are:
- overriding health and safety concerns;
- barriers resulting from professional
requirements;
- necessary reasonable adjustments cannot be
made
3.74. The University will be proactive in encouraging
disclosure at all stages of the application process