The latest UCAS data reveals that the number of accepted UK applicants sharing a disability increased to 103,000 in 2023, up from 77,000 in 2022 (+33.8%) and 58,000 in 2019 (+77.5%).

Those sharing a mental health condition rose to 36,000 in 2023 compared to 22,000 the previous year (+63.6%) and 16,000 in 2019 (+125%).

The proportion of students reporting a social or communication impairment more than trebled from 0.1% to 0.5% of all undergraduate students between 2010-2017. 

The true figures may be much higher, due to some students not wanting to disclose their status, or not being aware that their condition is considered to be a disability.