Supporting documents

We might ask you to show us supporting documents for your disability. This helps us to understand the impact and what support would be suitable.

Examples of supporting documents 

Examples of supporting documents you can include in your study support request include:

  • a letter or statement from a GP or other health professional, confirming the diagnosis and impact of a disability or condition
  • diagnostic assessment/report from a psychologist, educational psychologist, or specialist teacher
  • a JCQ ‘form 8’ from a secondary school or further education college about a specific learning difference
  • an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or other Special Educational Needs (SEN) plan
  • a confirmation of referral for a diagnostic assessment or test for a condition such as:
    • ADHD
    • Autism
  • results of recognised self-screening tools such as:
  • a Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA) study needs assessment report.

This is not a complete list of acceptable supporting documents. You should provide us with any supporting documents you have.

We may contact you to ask for specific supporting documents. For example, if:

  • you have requested support that requires unique adjustments
  • you need funded support, specialist equipment or assistive software.

We can also give advice on how to get more supporting documents if you do not have them.

How to send us your supporting documents

You can:

  • upload supporting documents when you submit a study support request
  • add supporting documents to a study support request you have submitted before
    • use the 'upload supporting documents’ option
  • email electronic copies to disability-services@bristol.ac.uk
    • use your University of Bristol email address and make sure file sizes are not larger than 24MB
  • post photocopies to:
    • "Disability Services, University of Bristol, Lower Ground Floor Hampton House Cotham Hill, Bristol, BS6 6JS".

Supporting documents for Disabled Students’ Allowances (for UK home students only)

You will need supporting documents to apply for Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs). The documents must show that your condition meets the definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010.

Your condition must have a sizable and long-term effect on your day-to-day life or studies. Long-term means lasting, or likely to last, 12 months or more.

There will be different kinds of supporting documents needed for different conditions. You should only submit copies of documents not the originals.

You can show your GP or other health professional our guidance on providing supporting documents (Office document, 65kB). This can help make sure they give the information needed for the DSA application.

Be aware that the DSA application process may use the term ‘medical evidence’ rather than ‘supporting documents’.

If you are unsure if you have the right supporting documents

We can offer advice if:

  • you are unsure whether your supporting documents are acceptable
  • your DSA application has not accepted your supporting documents.

E-mail disability-services@bristol.ac.uk copies of your supporting documents and explain what you need help with.

If you do not have acceptable evidence

If you do not have supporting documents because you haven't had a formal diagnosis, our ‘Getting a diagnosis’ page has advice.

You should still submit a study support request. There are some adjustments that we can arrange from self-declaration without supporting documents.

Supporting documents in a language other than English

Documents in a language other than English must include a translation into English. If possible, this should be from a certified translator.

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