Diagnostic screening and assessment
If you think that you may have a neurodivergent condition (such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, or autism) see information below around the steps in the screening and assessment process.
How to apply
Screening will re-open on Saturday 23rd August 2025. From this date, you can complete our Neurodiversity Pre-Screener Form.
Complete the Neurodiversity Pre-Screener Form
This form will determine the quickest route for you to access support, either via a full neurodivergence screener or by other means.
The screening period will close on Friday 12th December 2025.
Next steps
If it is recommended that you complete the screener, you will be provided with a direct link. Upon completion, you would immediately have access to a report (hosted within the platform itself) which would flag any indicators of neurodivergence, as well as your areas of strength. The report would also include an individually tailored study skills guide with resources, so that you can begin to work on areas for development straight away.
DDS would also review your report and contact you within 10 working days with a number of support options. This might include a formal assessment (with advice on the process given at that point), but please be aware that any subsequent diagnosis of ADHD as a specific learning difference would not entitle you to medical care such as medication or CBT; if you are seeking this, you are recommended to seek a medical diagnosis via your GP.
Final year students can find information specific to them at the bottom of this page.
The diagnostic assessment
Paying for the assessment
The cost of the diagnostic assessment will be paid for by the university. As we have a contract with a specified provider it is not possible for us to pay for diagnostic assessments with any other assessor. If you would like to have an appointment with us before being referred to the diagnostic assessor you can request one, although please be advised that this will delay your eventual appointment with the diagnostician.
Where the assessment takes place
Your diagnostic assessment will be carried out remotely by the Halcyon Centre. They have a service level agreement with us to offer you an appointment within 20 working days (i.e. not weekends or Bank Holidays) and to return your ensuing assessment report to us within 5 working days but these are the longest dates you will have to wait and you will usually find that everything moves quite quickly.
The assessment will be conducted remotely and takes around 3 hours, during which you will be screened for dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD and assessed as appropriate. The assessment will include an interview and various tasks related to reading, writing, memory and information processing.
Receiving your report
Following your assessment, your assessor will produce a diagnostic report which will state which, if any, SpLDs you have and will contain recommendations for support from the university and any other organisations the assessor feels would be helpful.
Please see our FAQ section for further details on the diagnostic assessment process.
Follow-up discussion
Following your assessment with a diagnostician, you will be invited to discuss next steps, including appropriate support, with a member of the Disability and Dyslexia Service.
Please see our FAQ section for further details on what happens following your diagnostic assessment.
Please contact us for more information. All enquiries will be treated in absolute confidence.
Additional information
Final year undergraduate students
If you are a final year undergraduate student in AY 2025/26 seeking support after 16th February, we will be unable to refer you for a full diagnostic assessment as it would likely be too late for you to apply for Disabled Students' Allowance.
However, should your screener show indicators of a neurodivergent condition, we could still implement Examination Access Arrangements (see deadlines for applying here) and some internal support from the university.
Final Year Postgraduate Students
If you are a final year final year postgraduate student (AY 2025/26) seeking support with less than 12 weeks of your academic programme remaining, you can still complete a screener but we will be unable to refer you for and fund a diagnostic assessment as it would likely be too late for you to apply for Disabled Students' Allowance.
However, should your screener show indicators of a neurodivergent condition, we could still implement Examination Access Arrangements (see deadlines for applying here) and some internal support from the university.