Starting college or university

Starting college or university can be an exciting but daunting challenge that requires a lot of early planning. Read about choosing a college or university, making your application, funding, mental health aspects, and further help from our charity.

Choosing a place of study

Colleges offer a range of courses, including AS/A Levels, vocational courses, diplomas (often involving both practical and work experience), foundation skills and life skills.

Higher education is study at degree level or above. It’s usually at a university but can also be by distance learning, and sometimes through a Further Education college.

As well as choosing the right level of study, it’s important to think about other aspects of the place of study – the location, environment, social opportunities and support.

Location

Is the young person happy to live away from home, or would they prefer to study locally? If living away from home, are there good transport links? Think about whether transport would be affordable for a student wanting to visit home regularly.

Environment and surroundings

Do they have any sensory needs that might affect how they would cope with different environments? Consider the accommodation, eating and social facilities, seminar or lecture rooms, workshops and/or laboratories.

They should talk about any potential difficulties with people at the college or university. That might be a course tutor, disability adviser or the SEN or learning support team.

Social opportunities

Making friends and meeting new people can be difficult for all students. However, autistic people may find this more of a challenge, and may benefit from additional support.

In some ways, it’s easier to meet people and make friends than in school. Other students will be keen to make new friends also, particularly if they are living away from home. Colleges and universities usually have a large number of students with diverse interests, and so fitting in may not be as difficult as anticipated. Universities have many clubs and societies that students can join, offering social opportunities in a more structured way. 

Support

In Northern Ireland, any education plans, statement of special educational needs or coordinated support plan will not be maintained at college or university.

College and universities can sometimes arrange additional support and adjustments for autistic students, eg individual note-taking, mentoring or study skills support with a specialist tutor. If a student feels they need time in exams, or other support such as access to either a word processor or scribe, they can apply for adjustments through the Additional Needs team, disability adviser or SEN support team

These staff may not pick up on information about the young person’s needs from the UCAS or college application, and so may not initiate contact. The young person, or their parent, can contact staff by phone or email, or at a disability information stand at a university or college open day. They can:

ask what knowledge and understanding the education staff have of autism and related conditions
ask what learning resources are available
ask what support or extra equipment or resources are available to autistic students
talk about their own strengths and difficulties.

Applying

University and some college course applications are made through the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS). Admissions procedures will differ depending on the university and course, and some applicants may be asked to sit exams or attend interviews.

Applications for some courses at further education colleges are made directly to the college.

Autism is considered to be a disability under the  Disability Discrimination Act 1995 in Northern Ireland meaning that colleges and universities have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to their admissions procedure so that it’s more accessible to autistic applicants.

Funding

Funding arrangements will differ depending whether the young person decides to go to a further education college or to university.

Find out about funding for further education in Northern Ireland.

Find out about funding for university in Northern Ireland.

Those doing a higher education course, whether at a university or at a college, can apply for can apply for  Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA). This can be used to pay for extra support, equipment or travel costs. The student will need a letter from their GP that states when they were diagnosed and the impact that autism will have in their everyday life during their course. A simple letter from a GP stating their diagnosis or a diagnostic report is no longer acceptable.

Young people and their families may be entitled to claim some benefits while studying.

Transition and mental health

Starting college or university can be a particularly anxious time for autistic young adults.

They may find it useful to talk through their concerns with someone other than family and friends, such as a counsellor, or to other autistic people in our online community.

Having appropriate tools such as the Brain in Hand digital self-management support system, can also help to lessen anxiety. 

Our managing money online learning module may also help autistic students to feel less worried about going to college or university by helping them to plan better financially.