Information for Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) Needs Assessors

Wellbeing Services at Arden University

Wellbeing Services are committed to reducing barriers to student studies and providing the best possible support along their Arden journey!  They encourage students to get in touch with any concerns so that they can ensure they have the right support in place and can access the resources they need. 

Wellbeing services provides specialist guidance and support for students at Arden in the following areas: 

  • Disability
  • Mental Health and Wellbeing
  • Financial Support and Welfare

They are dedicated to enabling an accessible learning environment in which all Arden students can thrive. 

Services Offered:  

  • Help to access exam adjustments.
  • Support students when applying for funding, such as Hardship Funding or Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA).
  • Discuss reasonable adjustments for teaching and learning.
  • Arrange a screening and possible referral if students think they may have a Specific Learning Difference such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia or AD(H)D.
  • Provide advice and guidance about the potential impact of a student’s disability or mental health difficulty on their studies and how this can be accommodated within a student’s course.
  • Signpost students to support services, including psychological support.
  • Provide information and advice if students are considering an interruption of study for health or wellbeing reasons.
  • Support students returning to study following an interruption due to health or wellbeing reasons.

Assistive Technology 

There is a built-in tool in iLearn for reading difficulties accessible for everyone. 

Students can find more Assistive Technology information on the wellbeing portal once they enrol. 

Microsoft 365  

Students at the university can download Microsoft Office 365 once they have received their student email address at https://www.office.com

Lecture Capture 

Lecture capture is not currently available at the university. However, the university does have some licences for the CaptionEd software available. Further details can be found by contacting Wellbeing Services: wellbeing@arden.ac.uk.  

Online reading resources  

Arden University provides access to Ebook Central and EBSCO free of charge, so students can find and read e-books, journals and articles to support them in their studies.  

Togetherall 

All Arden University students have access to Togetherall, which includes free online welfare, as well as advice for students and wellbeing support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 

Financial Support Bursary Scheme 

Students can find details of bursaries and financial support on the wellbeing portal once they enrol. Eligible students can receive support with the £200 DSA computer contribution.

Non-medical help (NMH) support 

Some interim support can be put in place for students awaiting DSA assessments. 

The University preferred suppliers for NMH support are: 

Band One – Support Assistants 

Band Two – Enhanced Support Assistants 

Band Three – Specialist Enabling Support 

Cosmic People Limited 

Cosmic House, 
Main Street, 
Walton on Trent, 
Swadlincote, 
South Derbyshire 
DE12 8LZ 

mandy@cosmic.co.uk 

01283 716333 

Band Four – Specialist Access and Learning Support 

Specialist One to One Study Skills Support 

Optimum Student Support Ltd 

Montpellier House, 
47 Rodney Road Cheltenham, 
Gloucestershire GL50 1HX 

info@optimumstudentsupport.co.uk 

01242 300270 

Needs Assessment Reports should be sent to:

Email: wellbeing@arden.ac.uk 

Contact details for Needs assessment reports: 

Wellbeing Services

Arden University 

Arden House, 

Middlemarch Park, 

Coventry, 

CV3 4FJ 

Telephone: 0800 268 7737