Postgraduate

Students with disabilities

“The University's support service for students with disabilities really helped me settle into Durham and to get to grips with my academic work.”

Camilla W

If you have a disability, medical condition or specific learning difficulty, we can give you the support you need. We'll help you settle into university life quickly, and make the most of your time at Durham.

A service designed for you

Durham University Service for Students with Disabilities (DUSSD) provides advice on any aspects of student life you may need support with. We want to make sure this is appropriate for you and your chosen course, so please let us know about your needs when you complete your application form.

The kinds of support we offer include:

  • A full assessment of your academic needs, so your college and academic department know how best to help you
  • Communication support, such as note-taking in lectures
  • 1:1 dyslexia tuition and small group workshops on study skills
  • Physical support, perhaps to carry books or get photocopying done
  • Advice on specific sources of funding
  • Liaison with any other University services you need, such as counselling, careers advice or the University Health Centre.

Choosing your college

As our colleges are in different types of buildings and locations, you may want to discuss you choice of college with one of our DUSSD advisors. They can give you advice about which college may be best suited for your needs. If there is a particular college you want to state on your application, you are more than welcome to contact the college directly to discuss accommodation options. You'll find all the college contact details at www.durham.ac.uk/postgraduate/accommodation.

Whichever college you choose, we'll do our best to make reasonable adjustments and if you have mobility problems, we can advise on accessibility. Many of our buildings are modern and designed for accessibility - but a small number of the colleges and departments in Durham City are in very old, listed buildings, where getting around isn't always straightforward.

At Queen's Campus, the purpose-built environment provides easy access and there is an independent Infrared Transmission System available in some lecture rooms for hearing aid users.

You're welcome to contact us at any time, to talk about your needs and how we can help. You can also arrange to visit us, to get a real taste of life at Durham University. The DUSSD website is: www.durham.ac.uk/dussd

Call DUSSD on 0191 334 8115 (Voice/Minicom) or email disabilities.service@durham.ac.uk.

Or if you prefer, you can write to us at:
DUSSD
Pelaw House
Leazes Road
Durham
DH1 1TA