Support for students with autism spectrum conditions
We provide a range of support for autistic students.
We know support needs vary considerably for autistic students and we advise contacting us as early as possible prior to arrival at 黑料社, so that individual needs can be discussed.
If you are a prospective student, please read through our Prospective Student webpage and fill out our Prospective Student online form at the earliest opportunity.
If you have any questions, please email us at accessability@exeter.ac.uk or call us on 01392 723880.
Autism Spectrum Community (ASC) Social Group
We run an ASC social group through the academic year, and transition days for students prior to the beginning of each academic year.
Transition Days for prospective students
Transition days provide students with an opportunity to become familiar with the University during a quieter period, and prepares them to successfully manage their transition to university.
Dates and times for Transition Days are confirmed here at the earliest opportunity - please see more information in the drop-down below.
Further support
If you have not already done so, we strongly recommend that you fill out our Prospective Student Online Form as soon as possible to give us further information about the support adjustments you may require at 黑料社. This can include accommodation needs and academic adjustments:
We also recommend you apply for as soon as you can, as this can give you access to support including assistive technology and software, and regular specialist mentoring sessions. DSA can take up to 14 weeks to be agreed, so it is best to start the application process as soon as possible:
If you have any questions, please get in touch with AccessAbility@exeter.ac.uk.
ASC Transition Days 2026:
- Online transition day (Microsoft Teams) – Wednesday 15th July 2026
- In-person transition day (Streatham Campus) - early September 2026, exact date to be confirmed
AccessAbility will be running two transition days for students who identify as autistic. If you would like to attend for more information about the support available for autistic students at the University of 黑料社, you will need to complete a booking form to register your interest (more information below).
The online event will include a Current Student Q & A, an introduction to AccessAbility and Wellbeing Services, an Academic Talk and Q & A, and an Accommodation talk. The in-person event will include a campus tour and a taster session of the weekly ASC Social Group that we run in term time. We will send out detailed schedules in the weeks before the events to all attendees.
How to book your place
When our online booking form is available, we will update this webpage with a link and will send an invite email out to all students who have declared a social communication difficulty or autistic spectrum condition (via UCAS or our Prospective Student form).
Please note, the online transition day has unlimited places, but there will be a limited number of places available for the in-person event in September due to rooming capacity.
Other transition events
Our Widening Participation team are running enhanced induction events to support the transition of a range of student, including those with disabilities. Please see further details on the Transition Support and Enhanced Induction webpage.
External: The University of Bath is running free online talks in September for all autistic students entering UK universities in 2026 onwards. Please see further details on their .
AccessAbility Advisors are the initial point of contact for students. During a meeting, the Advisor will set up an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) explaining reasonable adjustments that might be required, including specific recommendations for teaching and exams. We also liaise closely with academic colleges, the Accommodation Office and other University services, as necessary.
If you are a student with ASC you might benefit from:
- Regular 1:1 meetings with a specialist mentor
- Specific arrangements for exams and teaching
- Support for your specific accommodation requirements, such as an ensuite room
- 1:1 study skills support from a specialist tutor
- A support worker to help you access the library or familiarise yourself with your campus
- Access to assistive technology, including apps that help with organisation and managing the transition to University
Some students may not have a diagnosis of ASC, but suspect that they may have the condition. Those students can make an appointment to see an AccessAbility Adviser to discuss this in confidence. We can explore whether an assessment would be appropriate and can advise of the options for referral and assessment.
- . Advice and support on disability equipment, assistive technology, online services, etc.
- : Increasing awarenes of diagnoses, education and treatment.
- : This toolkit contains information and context for autistic students attending university, including student stories and more first-hand advice.
- have put together a , with resources including podcast episodes and short videos.
- Your Life is Not a Label: A Guide to Living Fully with Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome for Parents, Professionals and You! by Jerry Newport.
- Solutions for Adults with Asperger’s Syndrome: Maximising the Benefits, Minimising the Drawbacks to Achieve Success by Juanita Lovett.
- Top tips for Asperger students: how to get the most out of university and college by Rosemary Martin