St John’s is a supportive collegiate community that offers a warm welcome for disabled students. We work with you to enable you to thrive and take advantage of all the opportunities Cambridge has to offer.
The College works closely with the University’s Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre (ADRC) to make sure our students can access all the assistance they need while living and studying here.
It’s good to tell us about any disabilities you have as soon as you are thinking of applying to St John’s, even if you are not sure if you will require support immediately, so we know how we can best support you.
If you are applying for an undergraduate course, let us know about your disability on your UCAS form. You can also inform us at the end of the My Cambridge Application and in your extenuating circumstances information.
If you are offered an interview or College admission test, we will ask you to complete a Disability Adjustments form so we can support you through the application process.
The University’s Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre (ADRC) will also be in touch with you if you have recorded your disability in your UCAS application and you’ve been made an offer from the College.
Find out more on the University website about applying as a disabled student.
Each student at St John’s is assigned a Director of Studies, course director, research supervisor or equivalent, who will oversee your academic work.
When we know of your assistance requirements arising from a disability, medical condition, or specific learning difficulty, arrangements can be made in College and in the wider collegiate University to support you in your teaching, research and examinations.
The types of support on offer include holding teaching sessions in accessible rooms; access to computing equipment or assistive technology software; providing a reader or transcriber for lectures, supervisions or exams; extended deadlines for course work, and extra time and/or rest breaks during exams.
Every St John’s student has a personal Tutor who can help with any issues that affect your time at Cambridge and make sure that your welfare and general well being are being provided for.
Your Tutor can liaise on your behalf with other departments within the College and theUniversity to enable an assessment of your needs and to help coordinate specific support arrangements.
Our two College Nurses and College Counsellor support our students’ health and welfare and, together with the Chaplain, provide professional and practical pastoral support to members of the St John’s community.
Our College Porters are available 24/7 and are always happy to chat and to provide help and advice where they can. The are all First Aid and Mental Health First Aid trained.
The College Nurse is our Disability Liaison Officer and works alongside the University’s ADRC to make sure our students can access all the support they need, including with regards to accommodation (see below).
Students with a disability or a long-term medical condition can obtain information, advice and support from the ADRC. It also provides assistance regarding eligibility and claims for benefits, including the Disabled Students’ Allowance.
If you think you may be eligible for ADRC support, contact the team directly as early as possible, or get in touch with the College Nurse via St John’s Health & Wellbeing Centre for advice and support.
The Junior Common Room (JCR) Committee represents all undergraduates at St John’s and has Disabilities and Welfare Officers to provide peer support and advice, and the Samuel Butler Room (SBR) – the equivalent for our postgraduate community – also has Welfare Officers.
The Cambridge University Student Union (CUSU) Disabled Students' Campaign has several online communities, and other resources, for students with disabilities.
St John’s has four spacious ground-floor student accommodation rooms for wheelchair users. They typically have access to private kitchens and bathrooms. A number of additional accommodation rooms across the College are located on the ground floor and provide step-free access suitable for ambulant disabled non-wheelchair users. Live-in assistants and assistance dogs are possible.
Many rooms on the College site are en-suite and further adaptations can be made. Do discuss your requirements with us in advance to help us work with you to ensure all suitable adaptions are in place.
We work closely with the ADRC to make sure accommodation requirements due to a disability are fulfilled. Costs associated with disability-related accommodation adjustments are met by the College.
The College can also assist in the provision of ergonomic equipment and furniture, such as height-adjustable desks. Your personal Tutor can support you with making these arrangements.
The Deputy Head Porter coordinates Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) for individual students, advised by the College Nurse and the Academic Administrators within the College’s Senior Tutor’s Office. If you know you might require assistance in an emergency, you will need to inform the Deputy Head Porter on arrival in College.
Our recently refurbished Buttery Dining Room, Café, and Bar are ramped and fully accessible and are all open daily for freshly cooked meals, hot drinks, pastries, sandwiches, snacks, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
Undergraduate students can also enjoy Formal Hall – a magical tradition – six nights a week during term time. The Catering team takes care of all the practical arrangements to make sure disabled students are fully included in the special Cambridge experience.
St John’s can accommodate most dietary requirements. The College has a Food Allergy Policy and all Catering staff are fully and regularly trained. All diners with a food allergy should inform serving staff each time they eat in College.
Dietary requirements can be specified at the time of booking for Hall. If you have a diagnosed serious or life-threatening allergy, including one that can cause anaphylaxis, do contact the College Nurse for information and support before your arrival.
See our Food and drink FAQS for further information
All students have access to kitchen facilities at St John’s. Some bedrooms are equipped with individual fridges and they can be specially provided when there is a medical need.
If you’d like to discuss medical issues such as cross-contamination in shared kitchen facilities, you can talk to the College Nurse, Accommodation Office or your personal Tutor.
How do I find out more about University and College support for disabled students applying for undergraduate study?
Learn more about applying for undergraduate study at St John’s and Cambridge as a disabled student on the University website
Who do I contact about accommodation for disabled students?
Email St John’s Accommodation Office in the first instance if you have any questions or concerns relating to accommodation arrangements for disabled students.
Where do I find more information about disability support at Cambridge?
Visit the University of Cambridge Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre (ADRC) and Support for Disabled students page on the University website.
