Frequently asked questions

  • Accessing our service

  • We support students who have a specific learning difficulty, for example; Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder (ADD or ADHD) or dyscalculia.

    For more information about registering for support and the information that you need to provide in relation to your specific learning difficulty, please read the information for new students.

    Evidence that you have had exams arrangements before does not qualify you for exam arrangements at Brookes. In order to be eligible for exam adjustments, you will need to provide us with a full report of your diagnostic assessment which was conducted by a suitably qualified professional with a practicing certificate. For more details, please read the information for new students.

    We must receive this well in advance of the Exams Office’s deadlines.

    In order to access support or adjustments to your studies, you must first provide us with a full diagnostic assessment and sign our disclosure statement. Please contact us to book an appointment with a Dyslexia/SpLD Adviser. If you have never had an assessment before, you will need to book an appointment for a dyslexia/SpLD screening.

    Have you noticed that you have difficulties with the following:

    • Producing written work of a similar standard to oral work

    • Spelling, even with easy or common words

    • Comprehension or slow reading speed

    • Organisation, classification and categorisation

    • Getting notes down in lectures; remembering what has been said and writing simultaneously

    • Getting information down in the right order; for example, spelling or numbers

    • Handwriting, especially when writing under pressure

    • Finding the right words when writing and sometimes when speaking too

    • Pronouncing certain words

    • Concentration

    • Coordination

    • Basic number concepts

    We offer screening appointments to Brookes students who think they might have dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties.

    Funding is available through our hardship fund.  For the academic year 2018-19, students on eligible courses whose family income has been means-tested by the Student Loans Company for undergraduate funding as below £42,875  are eligible for a £375 award to fund the full cost of a dyslexia assessment with an Assessor recommended by the Dyslexia/SpLD Service. This is subject to an assessment being recommended by a member of the Dyslexia/SpLD Team.
    Students who do not meet the above criteria can apply to be means tested by Financial Aid. 

  • Support

  • See our dyslexia/SpLD support poster for more information about the services we offer.

    The standard arrangement for students registered with the Dyslexia/SpLD Service is:

    • 25% extra time
    • a smaller room
    • rough paper
    • use of the blue marking card
    • use of your coloured overlay
    • use of non-electronic ear plugs, supplied by the student

    Some students may also be recommended additional exam arrangements.

    Applying for the DSA is the way to get extra support for your studies. Most UK students are eligible to apply. 

    Please apply for the DSA as soon as you can. This will speed up the process of getting the support you need once you are at Brookes.

    For information on how to apply and links to the main funding bodies, please read the information about DSAs. 

    At a needs assessment, you can discuss your support requirements for your Specific Learning Difficulty. The assessment is paid for by the DSA, and must be agreed by your funding body. 

    There are assessment centres (Disabled Students' Allowances Quality Assurance Group website) across the UK.

    To claim for printing costs, please request a statement of your print account by raise a request with OBIS - you'll need to be clear about the period you would like the statement to cover (e.g. from the start of September to today).

    You can either do this through the online web portal or at one of the service desk points- /it/
    As part of an over-arching approach, Brookes’ academic staff is aware of the need to make the teaching and learning experience accessible to all students.   It is for this reason that tutors make resources available in digital format on Moodle and facilitate lecture recording so that students can focus on understanding rather than extensive note-taking.  Where possible, the use of video and audio explanations are also offered along with different types of assessment and assignment types such as presentations, posters, case studies and essays.
    Specific learning difficulties are not normally considered as a disability that requires reasonable adjustments to accommodation provision. For more information, see the Accommodation allocation policy.