General Advice for Studying Abroad for Students with Disabilities
Introduction
Studying abroad can be a great experience. In recent times, many opportunities are available for students who have disabilities. The section below describes the application process and scholarship opportunities available for students who have disabilities.
Useful links to check out:
If you are interested in applying to the US:
If you are interested in applying to the UK:
General information:
The Application Process
If you have a disability, then there are a few additional steps in the application process that you will need to take.
Selecting a Country
When selecting a country for future study there are a number of things you need to consider. Firstly, as is the case for all students, you will need to consider factors such as costs of study and living, visa requirements, etc. (you should read the country profiles we have made for information on these and more). Additionally, however, you will need to consider the kind of treatment countries give to students with disabilities. Different countries have different disability laws and regulations, and you should be aware of these before applying to the country. For applications to the US, you will also need to check the disability laws and regulations for the state you are applying to.
For the USA:
The US has strict equal opportunities laws, that apply for international disabled students too. US universities do not get financial aid if they do not have facilities for students with disabilities.
For the UK:
The UK has strict legislation regarding the equal rights/treatment of students — this means that students with disabilities (whether they are UK citizens or international students) cannot be discriminated against in any way. Higher education institutions are required, by law, to make all facilities on campus available for everyone (including disabled students). Universities are also legally required to have experts specialized in supporting disabled students. For more information on the kind of support you can get in the UK, please click here.
For Europe:
Please check out the links provided. Note that this is not an exhaustive list of resources.
France:
Germany:
Netherlands:
Australia:
Selecting a University
The next step to studying abroad is shortlisting universities you would like to attend in your selected country. In addition to all the academic and career-related factors you will need to consider (for example, the kind of programs you would like to apply to, the location, the rankings of the department, the faculty, etc.), as is the case will all students, you will also need to keep a few additional things in mind. The kind of things you have to keep a lookout for largely depends on the kind of disability you have. You will need to make sure that the university/s that you are considering applying to are accommodating and are willing to make arrangements for you. Note that this is also applicable to countries where it is the legal responsibility of institutions to provide support or to accommodate disabled students (such as the UK) — you should still contact and confirm with the university/s about whether they have or can make arrangements according to your personal/specific requirements. For this, you will need to contact the relevant university/s. Universities often have an Office for Students with Disabilities or a Disability Resource Center (the name will vary depending on the country and institution), so you should contact them and ask them about any such queries you have — they will know about all the facilities the university has for disabled students, so it is useful to consult them when short-listing universities. If they do not have dedicated departments for disabled students, then you can contact the university help service or any other department responsible for answering student queries – contact details of these should be available on the university page.
Also note that many universities publish student guides, which describe the student life and more in that university (these are usually available on the university pages). You should read these closely so you are well-informed about what to expect at the university. Additionally, these can contain important information relevant to students with disabilities alongside resources you should consult.
The following are some of the things you may need to consider (depending on the kind of disability you have):
Note that this is not an exhaustive list.
- Wheelchair access, ramps
- Whether the library is accessible
- The level of emotional support the university provides
- Counseling support
- Types of public transport – whether they will match your needs
- Accommodation (elaborated below)
Note that when considering universities, you should first consider your academic needs and then take your disability into account. Most universities in the US and UK have the resources to accommodate students with disabilities, as per equal access laws (explained in the section above on ‘Selecting a Country’). Otherwise, many countries approve of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities or have disability laws, which give rights to you as a person with a disability. So first consider the things all students consider when selecting universities, and then inquire about whether they can accommodate you in terms of disability arrangements. On this, however, Rob Crawford, the CEO of the Life Development Institute (LDI), remarks that although laws are in place to assist students with disabilities, these aren’t “a blanket measure of assistance”. This means that universities may provide certain types of assistance – but you should carefully consider what you need and then confirm with your selected universities whether they will be able to accommodate you with these.
Informing the University about your disability/s
According to the US and UK disability laws, you are not required to disclose information about your disability. However, if you need the university to accommodate you in any way or make any arrangements for you, then it is recommended that you inform them beforehand. If you contact the Office for Students with Disabilities or the Disability Resource Center and tell them about your disability, they will be able to give you information relevant to your needs. The information you disclose will be kept private.
If you decide to keep your disability private (i.e. not tell the university or relevant people about it), then that is your right. However, as mentioned above, then you can not expect the university to fulfill any special needs you may have.
Selecting a course/program
When deciding on a course/program, you will need to consider most of the things that all students have to think about when applying for courses/programs (for example, academic and career goals, etc. as mentioned above). Additionally, however, you will need to keep your disability in mind and think about whether you will be able to meet the demands of the courses you are considering. That said, you shouldn’t use other people’s assumptions about your disability – many courses and universities can accommodate your needs. So inquire and think realistically about what you can manage. Some courses have a large lab component, others rely significantly on visual skills (such as art courses). So make sure to read the course structure closely when shortlisting programs and consider whether you can fulfill the requirements.
Application Components
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Component
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Notes
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Personal Statement and Interview
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If you plan on disclosing information about your disability, then you can use the personal statement and/or interview as an opportunity to describe your disability/health condition in a positive way. You can write or talk about how it has built your character/strengths and how it has led to or impacted certain achievements in your life. You can use the disability as a way to portray your strength and motivation — you can discuss skills and qualities that have come about as a consequence of the disability. The personal statement in particular is supposed to be written in such a way to show that you are a good fit for the program. You can write about how your disability-related experiences, skills and motivation make you a good candidate for the program. Consider the kind of insights or character development it has brought about in you and link that to the kind of applicants/requirements the program has. Make yourself stand out from the pool of candidates by highlighting unique and relevant traits or experiences you have had.
Note that you are not required to talk about the disability in either of these components. It is entirely up to you — you can disclose information here or in any other application component, or you can contact the university directly.
Also note, if you require any additional assistance for the interview (for example accessibility, translators etc.) then you should contact the university and inform them beforehand. This will give them time to make the arrangements.
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Letters of Recommendation
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Useful links:
- Writing LORs for students with disabilities (Note that this resource is for the referee. Also note that it has been uploaded by a US-based university and so the content may be specific to the US)
- Tips for talking with professors (Note that this is a resource you should consult when you are planning on approaching a professor for a LOR. Also note that this resource has been uploaded by a US-based university and so the content may be specific to the US)
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Finding Supporting Organizations
There are a number of organizations supporting people (or even specifically students) with disabilities, many of which are country-specific. When you decide which country you wish to apply to, you should contact the organizations that support people with your kind of disability. These organizations can offer advice, counseling services, and general support – they can help ease the challenging process of shifting to a new country. For example, for the US, you can check out the National Centre on Disability and Journalism (provides links to disability organizations in the US). If you connect with such organizations, you may be able to interact with people who have experienced similar things. You may even meet mentors who can guide you in the process of applying, adjusting in the US and the university, and more.
Accommodation
You should research into the kind of student accommodations available in the country/s and area/s you are planning on applying in. The kind of things you should consider, include the following:
- Are the rooms/facilities suitable for you and your needs?
- Do they have lifts/elevators/ramps (if applicable to you)? Do they have any restrictions?
Ask as many questions as you need to the accommodation provider as you need. Try to ensure that the accommodation fits all your requirements. Also, make sure that it is close enough to the university so that you can take part in university life to the fullest of your abilities.
Scholarships
The table below contains information on a number of country-specific scholarships that may be relevant to you:
Note that this is not an exhaustive list of scholarships available.
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Country-wise Scholarships
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US
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AG Bell College Scholarship Program
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This scholarship is for high achieving students, applying for 4-year undergraduate or graduate degrees, who have hearing bilateral hearing loss that was diagnosed before the age of 4. The applicants must be using Listening and Spoken Language as their main mode of communication.
The number of scholarship opportunities for undergraduate programs at mainstream colleges and universities are more so than those for graduate programs (i.e. there are only a limited number of scholarship opportunities for graduate programs.
Note that it is advised to not use this scholarship if you are applying to graduate programs in Law or Public Administration. For these programs, the Nofer Scholarship is more applicable. |
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George H. Nofer Scholarship for Law and Public Policy
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This scholarship targets students who have pre-lingual bilateral hearing loss in the moderately-severe to profound range. The applicants must be using Listening and Spoken Language as their main mode of communication. It is specifically for such students, who are attending mainstream and accredited Law school or graduate school, and are applying to graduate (Master’s or Doctoral) Law or Public Policy programs.
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Microsoft Disability Scholarship
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This is for students (with disabilities) who are going to pursue a career in the technology industry. There are no restrictions on the type of disability (it can be visual, hearing, mobility, cognitive, speech or any other disability), but the applicant needs to have a financial need for the funding. It is more so for undergraduate applications, and the major you will need to declare will have to be Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, Law, Business, or a related field (e.g. Paralegal, Pre-law, Finance, Business Administration, or Marketing). Your application will need to show that you have a demonstrable passion for technology and have some experience playing a leadership role in your previous schools. For more information about eligibility requirements and how to apply, click here.
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Google Lime Scholarship
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This scholarship is applicable to students who are currently a freshman/first-year student in an undergraduate program, or are applying for graduate school (particularly Ph.D.). The scholarship is only relevant for students pursuing Computer Science or Computer Engineering degrees, or any degree related to a technical field (e.g. software engineering; or electrical engineering with a heavy computer science course load). Applicants with any disability (whether it is visible or invisible) are encouraged to apply. The strength of your application depends on your academic standing and your demonstrable passion for Computer Science.
This scholarship is also applicable to students applying to Canadian programs.
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To find out about more scholarship opportunities in the US, click here.
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Canada
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Google Lime Scholarship
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Please refer to the section (with the same name) above.
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UK
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Snowdon Trust – Investing in students with physical disabilities
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This scholarship targets students who are currently in further or higher education in the UK, who have a physical or sensory disability. It covers costs related to the disability, i.e. it does not cover expenses that all students have to pay. In some cases, they may cover some of the other expenses, if it can be proven that the disability is reducing your ability to cover these expenses.
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Additionally, some universities offer disabled applicants scholarships (specific to that university), so you should contact them and ask whether they do so.
Contributors
These tips were compiled with the valuable help of SHAHEEN volunteers. The contributors to this tip-sheet include the following people:
- Aqil Sajjad, Harvard University
We thank our volunteers for their contribution, and hope their tips and advice help you in your application.
Furthermore, the following sources were also consulted in developing this tip-sheet:
For US:
For UK:
Other:
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