A set of guiding principles has been developed by the Disabled Students’ Commission (DSC) to ensure the needs of disabled applicants are taken into account in a policy change aimed at making the university admissions system fairer.
Based on research conducted independently by the DSC, the eight principles are designed to help the higher education sector understand the complex requirements of disabled applicants during the proposed move to post-qualification admissions (PQA). Under a PQA system, applications to study in higher education would not be made based on predicted grades but on the actual grades received at A-Level or equivalent.
A Department for Education consultation on moving to a PQA system in England closed on 13 May. The DSC, an independent and strategic group funded by the Office for Students, is part of the taskforce on PQA but has not taken a view on the preferred form of PQA. Instead, the Commission has designed a guide which highlights to the sector that whatever system is used in future, it must ensure that disabled students have access to the right advice and guidance during their admissions journey, taking into account the timeframes associated with implementing reasonable adjustments and support to allow a successful transition into higher education.
The guiding principles set out by the Disabled Students Commission aim to ensure the disabled student journey into higher education is considerably better in the future.
“These principles indicate that the admissions process should be seen as a journey and each stage of the journey needs to have appropriate and tailored guidance. UCAS, the Office for Students and the higher education sector as a whole need to work together to make sure that our disabled students have time, information and guidance in order to make the right decision, access the support they need and to have it all in place before they start their studies.”
Geoff Layer, Chair of the Disabled Students’ Commission and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton
Download the PQA Guiding Principles by the Disabled Students’ Commission
Advance HE has responsibility for providing secretariat support, as well as overseeing the management, coordination and dissemination of research and other DSC outcomes.
Find out more about the Disabled Students’ Commission
Disability Colloquium: Improving support for disabled staff in higher education on 15 June will offer will offer insights and solutions into supporting students and staff with a disability in HE.