Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

University accommodation options for mature undergraduates, including neurodiversity support

8 replies

Scaffoldinplace · 18/03/2026 09:38

Does anyone have any knowledge of university accommodation for mature undergraduate students, even better if any experience of neurodiversity.
I’m not sure whether my DC will cope in Halls with lots of under 20’s, but don’t think they will manage a private rent where they have to deal with bills independently.
Any advice welcome.

OP posts:
ParmaVioletTea · 18/03/2026 10:14

Why do you think your DC won't "cope" with a particular age group? That is an odd assumption about the behaviour of First year students - many of whom work very hard. And actually, a lot of "under 20s" as Second year students will be in private rentals and coping perfectly with bills etc, which you think your DC wouldn't be able to do. So they will be more competent than you think your own DC is - so don't make lazy assumptions about all undergrads.

It's the behaviour, not the age, that is the issue, I suspect.

The constructive (rather than prejudiced) thing to do is to look for a university that offers a "quiet" hall, or offers a choice of shared flat within the hall with other students who want a quiet flat. This is a pretty normal choice available, and your DC should ask about that at Open Days when talking to the Accommodation Office. Accommodation colleagues attend Open Days & will be used to this question. It's not an unusual ask - a lot of Muslim undergrads don't want to be in "party" or drinking flats/halls, for example.

If your DC is diagnosed with a specific cognitive/learning disability, they should note this on the UCAS form, and fully disclose to whichever university they attend. THey should make contact with the Disability services at that university, keep in touch with those services, as well as their Personal Tutor,. They should attend whatever personal tutorials are offered, as well as actively seek out extra-curricular support groups - often run by students with similar disabilities.

Your DC can research all these things on the websites of universities they're interested in. I would recommend your DC do all this, rather than you. The ability to be independent, and advocate for oneself is really important at university.

LewisFerrux · 18/03/2026 10:28

The Disability Advisory service for the uni they are interested in would be the people to talk to. Bath, for example, has a building of self contained studios that they do not include as something a student can apply for, but which are allocated by DAS if there is a need. Most unis have "quiet" flats, although I'm not convinced of the benefits of putting 8 ND students together - it might be quiet but possibly not very sociable and they can end up winding each other up. Some unis have accommodation for mature students, a lot have studios on campus too, although that's definitely something you can get in a private hall.

Scaffoldinplace · 18/03/2026 10:31

ParmaVioletTea
Thank you for your constructive advice. I probably haven’t worded it very well.
It’s more about this DC’s anxieties and expectations that I am trying to support, rather than a criticism of other students.
As you point out, most of those will be more competent than my DC, which is why I am asking for advice regarding neurodivergent students.

OP posts:
Scaffoldinplace · 18/03/2026 10:38

LewisFerrux

Yes, it’s the ‘winding each other up’ that I am thinking about!

OP posts:
Octavia64 · 18/03/2026 11:06

My dc is physically disabled as well as AuDHD.

she had a studio flat within halls with own kitchenette and bathroom. It was specifically for disabled students.

that was Newcastle but I believe other unis have similar.

Hellometime · 18/03/2026 12:59

If they contact accommodation services they will have options for students with disabilities inc quiet flats, studios.
Private uni residences are an option inc studios. Often favoured by international or postgraduate students.

NotMyCatLady · 18/03/2026 13:49

If they're renting in a HMO then all bills are often included so just the one rent payment to manage and likely fewer people sharing the accommodation.

Scaffoldinplace · 18/03/2026 23:02

Thank you all for your suggestions.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page