Non-Medical Help is support provided to you by a specialist who is qualified and experienced in a particular area of disability, for example Mental Health, Specific Learning Difficulties or Autistic Spectrum Conditions. It is specific to your learning and experience as a student in Higher Education. The term 'Non-Medical Help' is used in relation to Disabled Students' Allowance, in order to differentiate it from any support that you might need that is not connected to being a student.
Non-medical help
Mentoring is a specialist confidential support service for students with mental health difficulties or students who are diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum.
Mentoring focuses on resourcing you to manage your studies and mitigate the impact of your condition on your experience of university, so that you can work towards your full potential during your time here at Brookes. With your Mentor you will set goals and regularly review your progress to help you keep on track of your objectives.
Specialist Mentors are appropriately trained and experienced and have knowledge of processes and services at Oxford Brookes. Mentoring appointments take place online and on campus.
Specialist Mentoring is typically funded by Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA).
If you are already have DSA funding in place, please complete the Specialist Mentoring & Study Skills Support - Referral Form. If you do not have funding in place, contact the Inclusive Support Service for advice.
Oxford Brookes Mentoring provision is registered with the Department of Education (DfE) and as such we are bound by their standards for Non-Medical Help Providers. If we are not in a position to book you in with a Mentor after 2 weeks we will advise you about referring you to another provider. Your Needs Assessor will recommend a number of sessions per week (for example 30 hours/year for one per week or 60 hours/year for 2 per week). We are unable to accommodate more than 2 sessions per week and will support any students who require more than 2 sessions per week to find an alternative supplier.
“My mentor is very supportive and is really helping me manage my workload.”
Student
Specialist Tutoring is study skills support for neurodiverse students, such as those with dyslexia, dyspraxia (Developmental Coordination Disorder), Attention Deficit (hyperactivity) Disorder or Austistic Spectrum Conditions.
Tutoring focuses on supporting you to enhance your independent study skills so that you can work towards your full potential during your time here at Brookes. With your Tutor you will set goals and regularly review your progress to help you keep on track of your objectives.
Specialist Tutors have postgraduate qualifications related to neurodiversity and undertake ongoing professional development. They also have knowledge of processes and services at Oxford Brookes. Tutoring appointments take place online and on campus.
Specialist Tutoring is typically funded by Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA).
If you are already have DSA funding in place, please complete the Specialist Mentoring & Study Skills Support - Referral Form AY. If you do not have funding in place, contact the Inclusive Support Service for advice.
Oxford Brookes Tutoring provision is registered with the Department of Education (DfE) and as such we are bound by their standards for Non-Medical Help Providers. If we are not in a position to book you in with a Tutor after 2 weeks we will advise you about referring you to another provider. Your Needs Assessor will recommend a number of sessions per week (for example 30 hours/year for one per week or 60 hours/year for 2 per week). We are unable to accommodate more than 2 sessions per week and will support any students who require more than 2 sessions per week to find an alternative supplier.
Our Booking and cancellation policy applies to all mentoring and Tutoring sessions.
If any student has a concern about this provision they can contact us. The standard complaints procedure applies.
“My tutor was absolutely amazing. Throughout my two years of her she taught me how to develop my skills…so when it came to my third year I was working a lot more independently, and I understood what was needed with assignments.”
Student
The non-medical help support (NMHS) scheme provides a variety of support services to disabled students via a team of Non-Medical Help Support Workers. The NMHS scheme works closely with the Inclusive Support Service to ensure we know what your needs are and to provide you with the most appropriate support. This is determined via assessment of the supporting documents you provide us with, including a DSA Study Needs Assessment. If you have support provided through an external provider, for example a British Sign Language Interpreter or Specialist Notetaker we can help ensure they have access to your teaching.
Non-medical help is separate from and should not replace any support or care you already receive from counselling or NHS services. The university also offers general study skills advice that is open to anyone through the Centre for Academic Development. More information about these services can be found here: