Top degrees for students with disabilities in the UK by Clara Holm

Today, education has become much more accessible and inclusive than it used to be in the past. Employment opportunities have also become more attainable. Universities in the UK aim to provide students with disabilities an accessible higher education, help them gain academic skills, and prepare them to transition into the workplace. Campuses in the UK are welcoming, accommodating, and accessible to all students.

Students with disabilities in the UK can choose any degree they prefer, especially considering that UK universities prioritise creating the best possible conditions for students who have a disability. Adaptive technology, remote work, or office work, ensure that each person has the choice of creating their career and succeeding at it. The following sections will include top degrees for students with disabilities in the UK, mainly on mobility or hearing and vision impairment.

Students can apply for personalised arrangements at any UK university, which means the university makes adjustments to fully meet the students’ needs, regardless of their disability. The most common is the option to study and get your degree through distance learning. Other adjustments may include college documents in the preferred format, financial support, additional time for coursework, accommodation arrangements, technical support, assistant (reader) for assessments, etc.

Here are the top degrees for students with disabilities in the UK:

Computer Science Degrees

Studying computer science in the UK can be a pretty convenient degree choice, especially for students with mobility impairment. Upon graduation, most career opportunities require office work; where the job is done through a computer screen.

A few computer science career options for students with disabilities:

• Computer Science Researcher: This position will require students to invent and design new approaches to computing technology and find innovative uses for existing technologies. Computer science researchers study and solve complex computing challenges.
• Data Scientist: Data scientists help organisations and companies solve problems and make objective decisions by combining computer science, modelling, statistical analysis, maths, etc.
• Business Analyst: The aim is to help businesses improve their processes and systems. Business analysts conduct research and analysis to find practical solutions to business problems.
• Web Developer: Essentially, web developers are responsible for creating and maintaining websites. They deal with technical aspects of certain websites, such as performance, capacity, traffic, etc.
• Software Developer: A software developer works to identify, design, install, and test software. This role aims to design solutions for enterprise organisations, such as developing software for all kinds of industries.
• Full-Stack Developer: A full-stack developer’s role is front and back-end web development. A good full-stack developer will typically understand several languages and databases, such as PHP, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and others.

Humanities Degrees

A degree in humanities is a popular choice among students, not only within the UK but also internationally. Considering universities offer the necessary conditions and adjustments for learning, students with a physical disability can find themselves quite at home with a humanities degree.

A few humanities career options for students with disabilities:

• Digital Copywriter: Digital copywriters engage the audience through persuasive and accurate writing. They are responsible for creating written content for website pages, either in full-time employment or freelance.
• Speech Writer: Speechwriters are hired to prepare and write speeches that will be delivered by someone else. It can either be elected officials, government executives, or anyone in the private sector or on an individual basis.
• Public Relations Representative: A PR representative will assist in the planning and executing PR activities. They are responsible for generating positive publicity for their client or organisation and keep the public informed.
• Graphic Designer: A graphic designer will create visual concepts, through computer software or hand, to communicate ideas aesthetically. They design web pages, logos, books, signs, brochures, advertisements, or others.

Social Sciences Degrees

Studying the social sciences means choosing a programme in economics, geography, history, law, linguistics, etc. Degrees in business programmes can be incredibly convenient, considering career possibilities and roles.

A few career options for students with disabilities:

• Call Centre / Customer Service Representative: Someone in this role is responsible for interacting with customers to provide information, handle complaints, and process orders, usually through phone or other digital means.
• Financial Officer: Financial officers oversee an organisation’s financial resources to achieve revenue and budget goals. They should know accounting and tax regulations.

In Conclusion

In today’s labour market, students with disabilities have the opportunity to obtain any type of degree they want and manage to find employment. Many individuals with disabilities opt for self-employment, meaning they own and operate their businesses, either brick-and-mortar or online. Some might hold law offices, serve as business consultants, teach online courses, and work as freelancers in numerous industries. Typically, a business degree is quite convenient to own a business, but not a necessity.

Students with disabilities who have a degree in English may work as freelance writers, proofreaders, or editors for individuals or companies, while some might decide to tutor online. Others with degrees in communications might choose to join an online customer service team or become virtual assistants. Those who are self-employed or freelancers usually work from home or in co-working spaces, depending on preferences.