Support for Degree Apprenticeship students

Before you start your course, or as you register in your first term, you may want to know the advice, information and support available to you if you experience any of the following: 

• Specific learning differences and neurodivergence;
• Mental health difficulty;
• Physical disability;
• Sensory impairments;
• A long term medical condition.

Prospective students can arrange support by completing our Online prospective student form (Prospective Student Downloadable Form), attaching supporting evidence.

Current students, we ask that you complete the initial form, then select Disability Support. Choose the 'Setting up an ILP' option to continue with your request. Following review by an Advisor, an ILP will be set up and stored on the Student Record System.

Wellbeing Services support students through an Individual Learning Plan (ILP).

An ILP removes barriers that may prevent a student from participating at university, and minimises the impact that your health condition or disability may have on your ability to study.

It is a collection of adjustments to your learning, accommodation, exams, etc. that is agreed with your Wellbeing advisor, and put in place for the entire time you are on your programme.

If you are a prospective student, complete our prospective student form.

If you are a current student and have a disability and would like support please complete the initial form, then select Disability Support. Choose the 'Setting up an ILP' option to continue with your request. Following review by an Advisor, an ILP will be set up and stored on the Student Record System.

You should complete this form even if your health condition or injury is short-term (e.g. a broken leg), by selecting 'Any other disability advice and support' which includes temporary injuries/conditions. You should fill it out even if your health condition or injury is short-term (e.g. a broken leg). 

If you already have an Individual Learning Plan and want to update it or discuss further disability support, please select 'Updating or discussing an existing ILP'.

Exam Adjustments

Please be aware that exam adjustments on your ILP will only apply to exams organised by the University. For professional exams or End Point Assessments which are organised by external bodies, please discuss the process for obtaining academic adjustments for these exams with your academic mentor. You are welcome to discuss this further with AccessAbility if needed.

For details on exam adjustments you may find it helpful to visit this page.

If you would like to discuss an Apprenticeship Needs Assessment, following completing your ILP request form, an advisor will be happy to discuss this with you further at your ILP appointment. Where appropriate, we can then arrange where appropriate a separate ANA appointment with an assessor.

The ANA process supports students to access Department for Education (DfE) funded support that, depending on disability evidence, can include regular one-on-one study skills or mentoring sessions, assistive technology and software, and/or ergonomic equipment.

If you have concerns around your academic studies or progress, your Academic Mentor or Degree Apprenticeship Team can provide information and advice on various areas related to your studies, initial signposting, including onward referral to specialist support - including the Education Welfare Team - if needed. 

Following a referral for Education Welfare Support from your Academic Mentor, Degree Apprenticeship Hub Team or Wellbeing Practitioner, your Education Welfare Team can talk to you in a confidential and non-judgemental way about any impact your health and wellbeing may be having on your academic progress and provide ongoing support through the Health, Wellbeing and Support for Study (HWSS) process if needed.

Wellbeing support & groups

Information on Wellbeing support available to you throughout your studies can be found here.

Emotional and mental health support

For information on support for your mental health, including how to access an Initial Consultation appointment visit our Emotional and mental health support page.

Mitigation

For information on how the mitigation process and related Frequently Asked Questions please see the mitigation webpage.

We  encourage you to discuss your support requirements with your employer, as you may be eligible for support via Access to Work.

If you wish to discuss recommendations for Assistive technology/Ergonomic items/VI/HI support, you can book an appointment with AccessAbility, who can guide you through some options and assist you to obtain quotes, for which you may wish to  discuss with your workplace whether they will fund the support. 

If funding is not available, you will still receive some support through free assistive technology resources and internal University of Exeter Study Skills support: 

Find information on Exam adjustments and Individual Learning Plans.

This is a programme where students typically progress from a Postgraduate Diploma and are taking additional modules to ‘top-up’ their award to a full Masters’ programme. These top-up programmes are not an apprenticeship and are therefore not eligible to receive DfE funding for Learner Support. 

Students on a Top-Up programme may be eligible for a Study Needs Assessment, where appropriate. 

Funding for Top-Up Programme Students 

If your programme is eligible, you can apply for Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) without applying for Student Finance:   

If you are not eligible to receive DSA, we  encourage you to discuss your support requirements with your employer, as you may be eligible for support via Access to Work.

If funding is not available, you will still receive support through free assistive technology resources and internal University of Exeter Study Skills support: 

Find information on Exam adjustments and Individual Learning Plans.

No, apprentices who are on a Break in Learning have their funding paused until their return to work and study. Therefore, support will also pause until study is resumed. 

If support is required during your repeat study, but you will be on a formal break in learning from your apprenticeship, you will not be eligible to receive funding. In the first instance, please discuss with your employer whether they are willing to cover the cost of the support required during this period. If they are unable to support you, please contact apprenticeships.supportpathways@exeter.ac.uk to discuss.

This will be dependent on the type of support received and how this is being funded. If your employer is funding the support, you will need to have a conversation with them as to whether you can continue accessing your support whilst you are not currently studying 

This will be dependent on the type of support received and how this is being funded. If your employer is funding the support, you will need to have a conversation with them as to whether you can continue accessing your support whilst you are not currently studying 

This will be dependent on the type of support received and how this is being funded. If your employer is funding the support, you will need to have a conversation with them as to whether you can continue accessing your support whilst you are not currently studying.