Disabled students' rights

This content applies to Scotland only.

Housing laws vary between Scotland and England. This page applies to Scotland only. Get advice relating to England

This page looks at the rights of disabled students to access suitable accommodation whilst studying at college or university.

What kind of accommodation will be available to me?

Most students live in either:

  • university owned accommodation such as halls of residence or shared flats or houses
  • private rented accommodation.

Read the page on finding student accommodation for more information on what these different kinds of accommodation offer.

Will university owned accommodation be suitable for me?

All colleges and universities should have a disability adviser (sometimes called a learning support co-ordinator, a disability officer or a special needs adviser). Before you apply for a course, it's a good idea to get in touch with the disability adviser to discuss your support needs for studying, getting about campus and accommodation. You can find contact details for advisers:

Most universities will have accommodation designed to meet the needs of disabled people, so talk to the disability adviser about any adaptations you need.

What are my rights in university owned accommodation?

Read the page on your rights in student accommodation to find out more about your tenancy rights if you live in university owned accommodation.

In addition, you also have rights under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). Under this Act, colleges and universities have a responsibility to make reasonable adjustments to their services and premises to ensure that you aren't at a disadvantage compared to non-disabled students. This covers all services provided by the college or university, including accommodation. This means that:

  • the university or college cannot refuse you accommodation because you are disabled
  • the university or college must make every reasonable attempt to provide you with accommodation that is accessible and suited to your needs
  • your accommodation must be of the same standard as that of non-disabled students.
You can find out more about the DDA in our section on disability discrimination, and also from Skill.

What if my student accommodation isn't suitable?

If your accommodation isn't suitable, speak to the accommodation service, the disability adviser or a Student Union welfare officer. They may be able to solve the problem for you, for example by arranging for you to move to different accommodation or for adaptations to be made to your current accommodation.

If you think the college or university is discriminating against you, you can:

Skill produce a useful leaflet about making a complaint, which you can download from their website. You can also use their five step test to help you work out whether you are being discriminated against under the DDA.

What about private rented accommodation?

Many students rent accommodation through a private landlord or letting agent. Read the page on disabled people's rights to find out more.

How will I pay for my accommodation?

Most students are not eligible to claim Housing Benefit. However, if you are disabled and have a low income, you may be eligible even if you live in university owned accommodation.

You may be able to claim other benefits to help you with your living costs or be entitled to financial support for students. You could also be entitled to help with paying for any care and support if it is required.

Find out more

  • For more information about accessible housing, contact your local independent living centre or support centre. You can find these listed at the National Council for Independent Living (NCIL) website.
  • Visit the Skill website for information on all aspects of studying.
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