Navigating Postgrad Life as Disabled Student
Published: 2 April 2026
Our postgraduate student Jernie from Canada offers five empowering tips for navigating postgraduate life as a disabled student, highlighting the support and resources available at the University of Glasgow.
Author: Jernie Friesen, MSc Criminology & Criminal Justice student
Being a student isn’t easy, and disabled students face extra barriers that can make graduate studies even more challenging than they are for non-disabled peers. There is still much work to be done in removing societal barriers that disadvantage disabled students, but I can offer some tips on how to get the support you need to make the most of your postgraduate studies at the U of G. Here are 5 tips to help your postgraduate studies go as smoothly as possible as a disabled student!
1. Familiarise yourself with official supports offered by the UofG
Disability support offered by the University can have a major impact on how well you are able to engage with your studies and other extra-curricular activities. The main avenue for engaging formal support is the Disability Service which provides support in many ways for all types of disabilities. If you are a disabled student coming to Glasgow, they are a great source of information and advice, and I recommend registering with the Disability Service as early as possible to ensure you get support in place for when you need it.
If you’re looking to add an element of fun and exercise to your student experience, you can get support from the Glasgow University Sport Association (GUSA). If you are interested to join (or just try out) one of the many sports clubs offered by GUSA but you feel like you would benefit from some extra support in doing so, you can fill out their Disabled Students' Accessibility Form and GUSA will work with you to put in place the adjustments you need. There are so many ways sports can be adapted for all types of disabilities, so don’t hesitate to get the support you need to participate in sport!
2. Plan ahead
This one isn’t easy, but a bit of advance planning around your disability can make your student life easier. One part of this is budgeting and planning your finances around your needs. This might look like setting aside extra money for Ubers or taxis on days you feel too exhausted or overwhelmed to walk or take public transit to campus, or budgeting for spending an extra couple of pounds on grocery delivery so that your food is delivered directly to your flat. Additionally, if there are any mobility aids, sensory tools, assistive technology, or other disability-related items that you need that you have to pay for out-of-pocket, make sure you factor these in as well (but always check whether there is funding available for these first, and if you are not sure where to look, ask the Disability Service).
On top of financial planning, it can be very helpful to plan your time. If there are particular days or weeks when you know you will be very busy or tired, it can be helpful to plan your studies around that and move some work onto the days or weeks that you are less busy or when you think you will have more energy. Scheduling your work around when you have the most capacity can help ensure that you are taking care of your mental and physical health and submitting your best work. Planning for these things can be complicated, so don’t hesitate to reach out to family, friends, or the disability service to get assistance with doing this.
3. Give yourself grace
It is also extremely important to give yourself grace in your studies. Everyone has good days and bad days, but when studying as a disabled student, it can be even more difficult to consistently keep on top of schoolwork and other tasks. However, beating yourself up about not being as productive as you would like to be won’t help. No matter how much planning ahead you do, there will be days or weeks that are unexpectedly difficult where you won’t get as much done as you hoped, and that’s okay! Properly resting without guilt during the more difficult times can help you recover more quickly, which can help you stay on top of your schoolwork in the long run.
4. Find small ways to make your day-to-day easier
Small changes to everyday tasks can make a big impact on the amount of time and energy you have to focus on your studies. For example, this might look like sharing household tasks with flatmates or coming up with ways to ‘support swap’ so that they help you with the things that are difficult for you and vice versa. This may also look like weekly schedules where a different household task gets done each day instead of trying to do them multiple times throughout the week, or using apps to help you keep track of bills, meeting times, and other important information. If you find cooking difficult, you might join the meal plan at the U of G to ensure you have nutritious food available to you during term times, or you could meal prep on the weekends so that you only need to reheat your meals during the week.
5. Find community!
Connecting with others who have similar experiences of living with a disability as you do can be helpful in a lot of ways. Others with similar experiences may be able to give you tips or suggestions you’ve never thought of before or point you towards new sources of support, and just having that community can also help you remember that you’re not alone. A great way to connect with other disabled students is by joining the Glasgow University Disabled Students’ Society which welcomes students with any kind of disability or long-term condition.
Being a student can be difficult, and being a disabled student is even harder, but there are some ways disabled students can accommodate themselves to help them feel their best and make the most of their postgraduate studies. I hope these 5 tips for studying as a disabled student are helpful, and I hope you enjoy your studies at the UofG!
First published: 2 April 2026