Last updated 12-11-25   Disability Service Contact Information (for the ‘contacts’ section of the report).

Recommended NMH Providers.

IMPORTANT: RVC courses run over an extended academic year compared to many universities, typically up to 42 weeks but this can increase to 46. Do check the academic year length with the student (or contact the Disability Team) if recommending ongoing non-medical helper support.

BAND 4 – Specialist Access and Learning Support Providers.

RVC has worked closely with the following providers over several years to help ensure they can offer appropriate support for students on intensive veterinary medicine/animal sciences course:

Course-related information.

Please explore and consider the demands of placements and practical research activities during the needs assessment. Aids that might help with organisation, time management, accessing complex veterinary medicine information in practical settings could be helpful to explore. 

IMPORTANT: Students at RVC often take 'written' exams in off campus locations, details of possible locations are provided below. Please take this into account if recommending taxis, or any support specifically related to exams.  

Veterinary Medicine and related degrees can take 4 to 6 years to complete and include a large amount of time spent on placements and on hospital 'rotations' on and off the campuses. Typically, the first two years of the pre-clinical training are undertaken at the Camden campus and the last three years of clinical training undertaken at the Hawkshead campus, Potters Bar.

Students can choose to undertake placement-based study activities across the UK. The Veterinary Nursing degrees at the RVC follow a part-academic / part vocational route. Other BSc undergraduate degrees (including MSCi courses) can include a sandwich year and have a significant research element. Most courses have significant placement / research elements. Students will have the best chance of success if they have fully explored the range of strategies they can use during placements e.g. organisation aids, use of ongoing NMH support via remote methods, aids to executive functioning, study and research tools.  

Information for section "B-4 Higher Education Provider Support / Reasonable Adjustments". Location and Physical Access

The RVC is based on 2 campuses: Camden: Royal College Street London NW1 0TU and Hawkshead: Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield Hertfordshire AL9 7TA (includes Boltons Park Farm)

The Camden campus has a ramp at the main entrance (leading to a separate entrance door) but note that campus security currently require this entrance to monitored by a call system. Security say (13-03-24) "The ramp is not on a general access for security reasons, if this door is to be used by all then front of house security could be compromised due to the length of time the door would take to close (for wheelchair access). As there is on occasion only one person on the front desk monitoring access focusing on two separate entrances at busy times would be near to impossible. We have had several occasions where people have attempted to gain entry to campus by tailgating students. The call system is in place so that security know who the person is plus can provide assistance if required, at no point will security question or ask about any disability hidden or otherwise." Security also say the gate to the ramp is 'closed out of hours' due to security issues but will be left open if 'security are aware' anyone who might need to use the ramp are going to be on site during later hours. 

The Camden campus is located ‘within walking distance’ of Camden Road TFL overland station, Mornington Crescent TFL underground station and Kings Cross St Pancras national/TFL stations. Buses also run between these locations and the campus for example the 46 bus route, more information at https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/46/. For information about accessible routes via TFL check https://tfl.gov.uk/transport-accessibility/plan-anaccessible-journey  Students with additional support needs while travelling into or across London can try arranging support in advance via the passenger assist service https://booking.passengerassistance.com/

The RVC operates a shuttle bus between Potters Bar Rail Station and the Hawkshead Campus.

Assistive Technology. ClaroRead is available on all networked PCs on both campuses and on loan laptops available for temporary use.  Software available for demonstration and evaluation in the Disability Service includes Booost, Caption.Ed, EquatIO, Genio/Glean, Read & Write and TalkType.

Lecture Capture/Recording. The RVC uses Panopto for recording and delivery of lectures and other teaching/learning resources, delivered via the internal RVCLearn service. This appears to work well for many students with recordings being uploaded soon after lectures are complete. Information about accessibility features of Panopto can be found at https://support.panopto.com/s/article/Learn-About-Accessibility-Features

Examinations & Assessments. Students can contact the disability team to discuss reasonable adjustments in examinations/assessments. Examination periods can be particularly intensive because of the complex way courses are delivered.  All ‘written’ exams are taking on computer.  These are usually Windows PCs.  Exams are often delivered on the following off-campus locations:

·        The Royal National Hotel London WC1H 0DG 

·        Tobacco Docks, Wapping Lane London E1W 2SF

·        Emirates Stadium and Dial Square, London N7 7AJ

·        Thistle Hotel, Bryanston Street, London W1H 7EH

·        London Irish Centre, 50-52 Camden Square, London NW1 9XB

·        Grand Connaught Rooms, 61-65 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5DA

·        StoneX Stadium, Greenlands Lane, London NW4 1RL

·        Holiday Inn Bloomsbury, Coram Street, London WC1N 1HT

·        Hilton London Metropole, 225 Edgware Road, London W2 1JU

·        New locations may also be added.

Many courses require students to undertake assessed complex and specialist practical tasks involving clinical skills. Adjustments available for these may be subject to the competence being tested, but we will try to make reasonable adjustments in practical and clinical skills assessments wherever this might be possible.  RCVS information on ‘Reasonable Adjustments and Day One Competences’.  

Study Skills.

RVC provides general study skills support for all students, including help with time management, academic reading skills, research techniques, revision and examination skills. These study skills tutors often work with neurodivergent students and are very knowledgeable about the demands of the courses. These tutors do not provide specialist dyslexia or neurodivergence study skills support but are an invaluable resource for all students. More information can be found at https://www.rvc.ac.uk/study/support-for-students/getting-support/study-skills   

Student Advice and Wellbeing. Students can find out about the range of wellbeing, advice and support available at RVC by referring to https://www.rvc.ac.uk/study/support-for-students/getting-support/advice-centre/health-and-wellbeing  or by contacting advice@rvc.ac.uk

Further information about disability support at RVC can be found at https://www.rvc.ac.uk/study/support-for-students/getting-support/advice-centre/disabilities-dyslexia-and-long-term-health-differences  or by contacting the disability team on disability@rvc.ac.uk

Enrolled students can find more information via the RVC Learn Site. 

Planning for the needs assessment.

When researching for the needs assessment for an RVC students, needs assessors might find information in the following RCVS guides useful:

·        Reasonable Adjustments For Student Vets.

·        Reasonable Adjustments For Student Vet Nurses.