Friendly ND small universities

[Mangosorbetrocks]

Hi
Not sure of how to start my search but I’m looking for small neuro-diverse friendly universities, ideally campus universities please.
My DC is potentially interested in accounting/ Business Management degrees. Not RG unis, he doesn’t have the grades for those.
Any help or tips would be greatly received.

St Marys Uni, Twickenham.
It is small, very cosy. More like a big school. The staff are lovely and student satisfaction in student surveys is very high.
The campus is pretty, their grounds include Strawberry Hill House.
It is a London university but very leafy, green and safe.

Chichester is lovely, my DDs checked it out for Music, she didn’t ultimately end up there but it couldn’t have been friendlier, very supportive.

Northampton? Don't know about business but the subjects we looked at had very small groups for subjects - it felt more like a further education college than a university.

UEA (Norwich) - smaller than many, very friendly and supportive. Lovely campus

Lincoln? Not a campus uni per se buts everything is together in a small city. First years can be out of bed into lectures within 15 mins

The Royal Agricultural Uni has business management courses and is small and supportive

Lancaster - but the A Level ask might be too high. But the college systemthere is great for pastoral care. Absolutely lovely campus in a perfect little city.

Bishops Grosseste (in Lincoln) is small (tiny campus - like Lampeter!) but it's teacher training - not sure about Business.

Lincoln itself - a lovely university - not sure about the quality of its Business degree. Lincoln, like Lancaster, is a perfect little city.

If grades are an issue, you probably need to look mostly at ex-polys (post-92 universities), but their quality is variable. Is it worth going to university for a generalist degree at a mediocre place? What about a degree apprenticeship?

Lancaster.. all the way!

BGU very small campus and does well in league tables for student support. Has halls on campus

Royal Holloway, lovely campus

Sussex University seemed really good with their support for ND students when we visited and spoke to Disability Services, students and staff. The campus isn’t tiny but it’s not huge either and is self/contained. I thought it seemed a nurturing place for students.

Keele University is a lovely uni, quite small in terms of student size, but with a gorgeous big campus. They also do Foundation Year route if your DS doesn't have the grades for direct first year entrance.

Definitely agree with the others who've suggested Lancaster. Absolutely lovely peaceful campus, very compact despite the number of students. Easy to get around. It's not RG but highly regarded and scores higher than some RGs in the league tables. Very highly rated management school. Published grade requirement is typically AAB, but through clearing usually much lower, i.e. B's and C's.

@Mangosorbetrocks what are your DS's predicted/actual grades? It would help to know, because if he doesn't have the grades for RG universities, he won't be thinking about Royal Holloway, Sussex, UEA and probably Lancaster.

Thanks for your reply. He is predicted a MMM in his BTEC Level 3. I think that totals 96 points. He is hoping to get a DMM which will give him 112 points.

Stirling, a lovely campus uni with a castle, cinema/ arts centre, sporting centre and a massive duck pond in the centre.

My DD has just graduated and she has had a huge amount of support with her ND? mental health.

Hmmm - we take BTECs in the degree I teach at a RG university ( it's not Business, though) but we require DDD, and preferably an A Level. And in their first year, BTEC students find the analytical & written aspects of the programme (in the arts & humanities) to be quite challenging.

Is he really set on university? I still think a degree apprenticeship might be better for him.

Good suggestions so far .

I would add Worcester - not really a campus but a very small city that students seem to like.

Also Edge Hill - very good uni I have mainly come across through sport but which students I have spoken to say is small and supportive. It's on the edge of Liverpool, campus uni. DMM in BTEC for its BSc in business and accountancy.

Many thanks for all of your replies. I’ve heard great things about Lancaster uni but I’m not sure whether my DC will achieve the grades.
I’ve booked to go to Worcester uni open for next weekend.
Does anyone know whether the number of students attending lectures, seminars etc are available online? Or will this information can only be given at the open day?

I’m also considering visiting either Bournemouth or Kent University this Saturday. Apparently Bournemouth is great for the ND students but I just can’t get the image of party town out of my head 🙈

Thanks for the feedback. He is also considering apprenticeships. But this appears to be much harder to secure than a university place!

Sorry, I should’ve said in my post that we are in the South East and be wants to be a maximum of 3-4hrs away from home.

Thank you, I do have Keele on my list but I’m worried that it’s too far for him. I’ll check out their open days.

De Montfort

Lovely small campus and absolutely top notch for ND students, we have a lot!

Kent? Just because I teach there but coming on to say the degree apprenticeships for school leavers are really hard to get. Also they are quite stressful for students -some thrive on this stress some really struggle

University Centre Weston (UCW) is amazing for support. One message or just knock on their door someone always to help.