PIP Cuts Will Hurt Disabled Students – How You Can Take Action
03/04/2025Disabled Students UK has today published the results of the Annual Disabled Student Survey 2025, the largest national survey of disabled students’ experiences of higher education in the UK.
Based on responses from over 1,100 disabled students across more than 110 higher education providers, the report shows that while disabled students’ overall satisfaction with university continues to improve, significant access barriers remain and continue to disrupt students’ studies.
The findings reveal that one in five disabled students has switched course, interrupted their studies, or left their institution in the past specifically due to inaccessibility. Support from Disability Services remains highly valued when accessible, but a smaller proportion of disabled students are now accessing formal, personalised support, with a decline in the proportion of students with support plans compared to previous years.
Progress in anticipatory accessibility is uneven. The report highlights gradual improvements in inclusive course design and digital accessibility, alongside persistent barriers in assessment, physical access, and distance access to teaching. Weak escalation routes and fragmented responsibility mean that many access failures go unresolved, placing the burden on disabled students to chase support or absorb harm.
The report is being formally launched today at a DSUK event bringing together disabled students, university leaders, policymakers, funders, and media representatives to discuss the findings and their implications for the sector.
The survey is independent and led by disabled students, and forms part of DSUK’s wider work to ensure disabled students’ lived experiences inform policy, regulation, and institutional practice across the sector.
Alongside the UK-wide findings, the report includes long-term goals for 2033 and institution-level snapshots where sufficient data is available, supporting universities to understand their position and identify priorities for action.