How do different London universities currently support students with ADHD?
This list is ordered alphabetically to assist you in finding specific universities easily. Last updated: May 2021
Birkbeck College
Location: Camden (Bloomsbury)
Number of students: 13,000
Name of disability/support service: Disability and Dyslexia Service
Webpage: www.bbk.ac.uk/student-services/disability-service and http://www.bbk.ac.uk/student-services/mental-health-advisory-service
ADHD: Not mentioned on webpage or in linked documents, apart from being described as a SpLD eligible for DSA.
Designated contact for ADHD enquiries: No known contact
Email: The mental health advisory service email address (this is the closest we could get) is mentalhealth@bbk.ac.uk
Other notes: There is an exciting sounding ‘Ability Programme’ which provides a course of advice to neurodivergent students on career progression. More information here: https://www.bbk.ac.uk/student-services/careers-service/ability-programme
Brunel University
Location: Uxbridge
Number of students: 12,900
Name of disability/support service: Disability & Dyslexia Service
Webpage: www.brunel.ac.uk/life/supporting-you/disability-and-dyslexia
ADHD: Mentioned in handbook, but it contains no info about medical support or treatment. Furthermore, it states that ‘medical evidence’ is required before exam adjustments can be made, indicating that you may not be able to get support if you are on an NHS waiting list.
Designated contact for ADHD enquiries: No known contact
Email: studentsupport@brunel.ac.uk
City, University of London
Location: Islington, Central London
Number of students: 19,400
Name of disability/support service: Disability support team / Neurodiversity support
Webpage: https://studenthub.city.ac.uk/help-and-support/disability-support/faq
ADHD: https://studenthub.city.ac.uk/help-and-support/neurodiversity – they group ADHD with SpLDs, and it looks like support for ADHD is only available from the ‘neurodiversity’ team, with no provision from the disability team or mental health team. They do not provide screening for ADHD and do not provide any support for ADHD unless you have an adult ADHD NHS diagnosis. They state that “If ADHD is your only concern, we recommend that you contact your GP to request a referral for medical assessment.” They have strict lateness and cancellation policies.
Designated contact for ADHD enquiries: No known contact
Email: neurodiversity@city.ac.uk
Goldsmiths, University of London
Location: New Cross
Number of students: 9,300
Name of disability/support service: Disability support
Webpage: www.gold.ac.uk/students/disability-support
ADHD: not mentioned on webpage
Designated contact for ADHD enquiries: No known contact
Email: studentcentre@gold.ac.uk
Imperial College London
Location: South Kensington, Hammersmith
Number of students: 17,600
Name of disability/support service: Disability Advisory Service
Webpage: www.imperial.ac.uk/disability-advisory-service
ADHD: not mentioned on webpage or in SpLD/Mental Health leaflets. Their content only describes SpLD and ASD. However, ADHD is mentioned in their training on understanding SpLD for staff, which is promising!
Designated contact for ADHD enquiries: No known contact
Email: disabilities@imperial.ac.uk
Other notes: They also have a section on the social model of disability on their website, and seem active on Twitter.
King’s College London
Location: Central London, Denmark Hill
Number of students: 30,600
Name of disability/support service: Disability Advisory Service
Webpage: www.kcl.ac.uk/campuslife/services/disability/onlineresources/disabilitytypes.aspx
ADHD: Routine screening with ASRS as part of research project on ADHD in students. A factsheet on their website about ADHD which is OK if quite outdated and which just provides a reduced version of what they advise for dyslexia in terms of how the disability may impact on academic engagement. Excellent webpage on Neurodiversity, very mixed adherence to guidelines depending on the department. A good place for staff with ADHD.
Designated contact for ADHD enquiries: TBC (this does exist!)
Email: disability@kcl.ac.uk
Other notes: There is a student-run ADHD peer support network on Facebook.
Kingston University
Location: Kingston upon Thames, Roehampton
Number of students: 19,500
Name of disability/support service: Student Life Centre / Disability and Mental Health Support
Webpage: www.kingston.ac.uk/disability
ADHD: not mentioned on webpage
Designated contact for ADHD enquiries: No known contact
Email: disability@kingston.ac.uk
London Metropolitan University
Location: City of London, Islington
Number of students: 12,100
Name of disability/support service: Disability and dyslexia support
Webpage: www.londonmet.ac.uk/services-and-facilities/disability-support
ADHD: No mention of ADHD
Designated contact for ADHD enquiries: No known contact
Email: dds.studentservices@londonmet.ac.uk
London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE)
Location: Westminster
Number of students: 11,200
Name of disability/support service: Disability and Wellbeing Service
Webpage: https://info.lse.ac.uk/current-students/student-services/disability-and-wellbeing-service
ADHD: A good information sheet on inclusive teaching for students with ADHD: https://info.lse.ac.uk/staff/divisions/academic-registrars-division/student-services/assets/documents/inclusive-teaching-for-students-with-ADHD.pdf
Designated contact for ADHD enquiries: No known contact
Email: disability-dyslexia@lse.ac.uk
London South Bank University
Location: Southwark
Number of students: 18,000
Name of disability/support service: Disability and dyslexia support
Webpage: https://my.lsbu.ac.uk/my/applicant/Current-Applicants/Student-Support/Disability-Dyslexia-Support
ADHD: described as an SpLD on their webpage, no information on what support is available.
Designated contact for ADHD enquiries: Rosie Holden (Head of Wellbeing)
Email: disability@lsbu.ac.uk
Middlesex University London
Location: Barnet (Hendon)
Number of students: 19,500
Name of disability/support service: Disability and dyslexia service
Webpage: www.mdx.ac.uk/life-at-middlesex/support-services/disability-support
ADHD: not mentioned on webpage, however anecdotal reports are reasonably good
Designated contact for ADHD enquiries: Ann Grant (Acting Manager)
Email: disability@mdx.ac.uk
Other notes: The disability building is in a sweet building to the side of campus. They have ‘canine teaching assistants’, meaning you can go and spend time with dogs if you’re feeling overwhelmed.
Queen Mary University of London
Location: Mile End, E1 4NS
Number of students: 25,000
Name of disability/support service: Disability and Dyslexia Service
Webpage: http://dds.qmul.ac.uk/disability/
ADHD: Used to be mentioned briefly as “another SpLD” on their dyspraxia page, now not mentioned at all
Designated contact for ADHD enquiries: No known contact
Email: dds@qmul.ac.uk
Royal Holloway, University of London
Location: Egham, Surrey
Number of students: 10,000
Name of disability/support service: Disability and Dyslexia Services
Webpage: www.royalholloway.ac.uk/students/help-support/disabilities-and-dyslexia/support-packages/home.aspx
ADHD: Not mentioned, also the support available for dyslexia and dyspraxia seems vague.
Designated contact for ADHD enquiries: No known contact
Email: disability-dyslexia@royalholloway.ac.uk
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)
Location: Room SL48, North Block building, Russell Square.
Number of students: 4,000
Name of disability/support service: Disability and Dyslexia Service.
Webpage: https://www.soas.ac.uk/disability/
ADHD: Some resources for students with ADHD on their website but it is always described as an SpLD. Some guidance on ‘inclusive teaching’ for ADHD found on this page: https://www.soas.ac.uk/studentadviceandwellbeing/information-for-staff/disabledstudents/learningdifficulties/ – seems fairly based on an old fashioned understanding of ADHD (e.g. primarily to do with fidgeting and being impulsive), however this is much better than nothing and better than most other universities on this list!
Designated contact for ADHD enquiries: No known contact
Email: studentadviceandwellbeing@soas.ac.uk
St George’s, University of London
Location: Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 0RE
Number of students: 5,000
Name of disability/support service: Disability Service
Webpage: https://www.sgul.ac.uk/study/student-life-home/support-services
ADHD: No mention of ADHD on website
Designated contact for ADHD enquiries: No known contact
Email: disability@sgul.ac.uk
Other notes: The training for staff appears to only focus on dyslexia. However, this webpage sets out a good disability policy: https://www.sgul.ac.uk/about/governance/policies/Student-Disability-Policy
St Mary’s University, Twickenham
Location: Strawberry Hill, Twickenham
Number of students: 5,535
Name of disability/support service: Disability and Dyslexia Service
Webpage: www.stmarys.ac.uk/student-support/wellbeing/dyslexia-and-disability/registering.aspx and www.stmarys.ac.uk/student-support/wellbeing/mental-health/mental-health.aspx
ADHD: They offer ADHD screening for £100 (‘SpLD screening’).
Designated contact for ADHD enquiries: No known contact
Email: wellbeing@stmarys.ac.uk
Other notes: They use the Sunflower Scheme (wearing lanyards with sunflowers on to indicate that you have a hidden condition)
University College London (UCL)
Location: Central London (Holborn)
Number of students: 38,000
Name of disability/support service: UCL Student Support & Wellbeing / Disability Support
Webpage: www.ucl.ac.uk/students/support-and-wellbeing/disability-support
ADHD: Mentioned in handbook and on website, however the information is just a copy of the page on dyspraxia & dyslexia with sections removed where SpLD support exists but there’s no such support for ADHD. Nonetheless the adjustments they recommend are a good start.
Designated contact for ADHD enquiries: No known contact
Email: student.wellbeing@ucl.ac.uk
Other notes: They also use the Sunflower Scheme (wearing lanyards with sunflowers on to indicate that you have a hidden condition)
University of East London
Location: East London (Docklands and Stratford)
Number of students: 13,630
Name of disability/support service: Disability and Dyslexia Service
Webpage: https://www.uel.ac.uk/undergraduate/student-support
ADHD: Not mentioned
Contact (not ADHD specific): ‘You can book an appointment at the Student Support hubs either in person (at either our Docklands or Stratford campuses) or by phone on +44 (0)20 8223 4444. You’re also welcome to ring us if you’re a prospective student seeking more information about the Disability and Dyslexia Service.’
Email: None given
Other notes: Require medical evidence to be dated within the last 3 months. Recommend that you have a diagnosis before attending the university (in reference to SpLD, but presumably applies to ADHD too).
University of Greenwich
Location: Greenwich, London
Number of students: 20,645
Name of disability/support service: Disability & Dyslexia team, Student Wellbeing Service
Webpage: www.gre.ac.uk/student-services/support/disability/contacting-us-and-visiting-information
ADHD: Only mentioned to state that they do not assess or screen for ADHD and that students concerned they may have ADHD will need to speak to their GP.
Designated contact for ADHD enquiries: No known contact
Email: wellbeing@gre.ac.uk
University of Roehampton
Location: South West London (SW15 5PJ)
Number of students: 8,535
Name of disability/support service: Disability Services
Webpage: https://www.roehampton.ac.uk/disability-services/support-services/
ADHD: Mentioned once, described as an SpLD, however the support available seems useful.
Designated contact for ADHD enquiries: No known contact
Email: dyslexia@roehampton.ac.uk
University of the Arts London
Location: All over London (mainly North – see map here: http://www.arts.ac.uk/about-ual/contact-ual/)
Number of students: 19,000. They also say the following: “over 4,000 students (24% of the student population) at the University are in contact with the Disability Service.”
Name of disability/support service: the Disability Service
Webpage: http://www.arts.ac.uk/study-at-ual/student-services/disability–dyslexia/
ADHD: “Our assessors cannot formally diagnose ADHD. However, they are qualified to diagnose the indicators of ADHD as a specific learning difference. This is what is needed in order to access support in education. If you wish to seek a formal medical diagnosis after being assessed at UAL, your Disability Adviser can give some guidance on this.” – This is excellent practice and avoids the risk of NHS waiting times preventing reasonable adjustments at university. For more information see https://www.arts.ac.uk/students/student-services/disability-and-dyslexia/dyslexia-screening-and-assessment
Designated contact for ADHD enquiries: No known contact
Email: disability@arts.ac.uk
Other notes: You can request adjustments to your interviews during the application process, for example breaks if you will need them. More information here: https://www.arts.ac.uk/students/student-services/disability-and-dyslexia/applying-for-a-course-and-joining-ual
University of West London
Location: West London
Number of students: 16,892
Name of disability/support service: Wellbeing Team (Disability & Mental Health)
Webpage: https://www.uwl.ac.uk/students/support-services-for-students/disability-and-mental-health-support
ADHD: Mentioned once, described as an SpLD
Designated contact for ADHD enquiries: No known contact
Email: disability@uwl.ac.uk
University of Westminster
Location: City of Westminster, Marylebone, Harrow
Number of students: 19,700
Name of support/disability service: Disability Learning Support team
Webpage: www.westminster.ac.uk/study/current-students/support-and-facilities/disability-learning-support
ADHD: Listed under ‘SpLD’ on main page, but recognised on the SpLD sub-page as being ‘a neurological condition that might also occur with SpLDs’. It generally looks fairly good, there is a leaflet on ADHD (slightly weird and outdated but still good compared to most places), available here: https://www.westminster.ac.uk/sites/default/public-files/general-documents/attention-deficit-disorder-and-attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-guide.pdf
Contact: Alexandra Stanton
Email: a.stanton@westminster.ac.uk
Disability services of Specialised and Private Universities and Higher Education Colleges:
City of Westminster College
Location: Westminster (Paddington, Maida Vale)
Number of students: 7,000
Name of disability/support service: Care & Support / Learning Difficulties
Webpage: https://www.cwc.ac.uk/student-support/additional-support/additional-support-in-higher-education
ADHD: not mentioned on webpage
Contact: Philip Bunce, Head of School for Special Learning Difficulties & Disabilities (SLDD)
Email: philip.bunce@cwc.ac.uk
Will you pay #AttentionUK ? 
virtually NONE of these places have any support for it! POINTLESS! no one will help!