- What is evidence?
- What should my evidence include?
- What evidence do I need to provide?
- Common questions about evidence
What is evidence?
What should my evidence include?
- be completed by a relevant professional;
- follow sector standards where appropriate e.g. Dyslexia/Specific learning difficulties;
- state the name of your disability, impairment or long-term health condition;
- state whether it is temporary, long-term or permanent;
- be up-to-date and where relevant, provide a prognosis and (expected) duration of the condition;
- state how the disability/impairment affects you;
- indicate wherever possible what study-related support or adjustments you may require.
What evidence do I need to provide?
- Autistic spectrum condition
- Dyslexia and specific learning difficulties (SpLDs)
- Physical and sensory impairments and long-term medical conditions (including enduring mental health difficulties)
Evidence should be in the form of a letter from your GP or consultant, or a report from a psychiatrist or psychologist. If you were diagnosed when you were much younger, the Disability Advisory Service may ask you to have an assessment with a psychologist once you begin your studies at Imperial, to ensure your support needs are fully identified.
Assessment reports must be completed by a qualified psychologist, or an assessor holding a PATOSS qualification. The report structure must follow the SpLD Assessment Standards Committee (SASC) guidance and reports must also have been carried out after your 14th birthday. If your report does not meet SASC guidance and/or was completed when you were younger than 14, the Disability Advisory Service can advise you on how to get an updated report completed and how to fund this.
Evidence must come from your GP surgery, doctor or consultant at your hospital or outpatient clinic, your psychiatrist, or with some more minor conditions, a qualified nurse. Your evidence must be dated, on headed paper and include the address, signature and qualification of the practitioner.
Common questions about evidence
When should I provide evidence?
I had additional exam arrangements at school. What should I do to get this at Imperial?
If your evidence meets our criteria (as indicated above: 'What should my evidence include?' and 'What evidence do I need to provide?'), please email this to DAS and make an appointment with a disability advisor.
If you don’t have full valid evidence for your disability or specific learning difficulty, one of the best ways to get initial temporary exam arrangements at Imperial College is by providing either the DAS or your departmental disability officer with a Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) Form 8.
This is the official form which schools/sixth form colleges use to apply to the JCQ for ‘A’ Level examination arrangements. Practice varies widely as some schools share Form 8s with their pupils and others do not. The forms are kept on school file and past pupils can request a copy by contacting their school/sixth form college directly.
Please note that a Form 8 does not constitute confirmation of a disability and is intended to provide temporary arrangements until a full diagnostic assessment with DAS can be arranged or other medical/disability evidence can be secured to make arrangements permanent.
Should an SpLD assessment be completed before coming to Imperial?
What should I do if my evidence is not in English?
Can I disclose my disability without providing evidence?
Can Imperial help me get evidence?
I don’t know what evidence I need to provide
No evidence for a physical, sensory or mental impairment?
If you do not have any formal evidence of your e.g. hearing impairment, restricted mobility, diabetes, anxiety, you can download the form below and take it to your local doctor (GP), consultant, psychiatrist etc, and ask them to complete it.