Future and New Students with Disabilities

Are you thinking of applying or are you applying to Queen's? Have you accepted an offer or already here at Queen's?

As a new student you will be facing many challenges and changes at the beginning of your university life. The Accessibility Hub has gathered information on supports and services to make this transition a little easier.

IMPORTANT

If you believe you may require academic accommodations, both new and returning students, on campus or distance students, should contact the Queen's Student Accessibility Services (QSAS). The QSAS can assist to determine accommodations needed and connect you with those services, supports, and resources within the Queen's community.

Register with QSAS

High-school Students

Transition Programs from high-school to university

Regional Assessment and Resource Centre (RARC) offers:

  • On-line to Success which is primarily a web-based course developed by teams from Queen's University and Loyalist College. It was designed specifically to target and address areas that research has shown are problematic for students with learning disabilities as they make the transition to post-secondary education.

Other Resources for high-school students

RARC has developed a comprehensive resource guide for students transitioning to post-secondary education. This guide is meant as a starting point as you search for the best post-secondary institution for you.

  • Provides students with disabilities the information needed to choose a post-secondary institution that best meets their needs.
  • Outlines the services available, the key contact information, and the documentation requirements for each post-secondary institution in Ontario.
  • Assists students in making an informed decision regarding their choice of post-secondary institution.
a large group of people taking a university tour with sandwich board in foreground

Visiting Campus

If you are planning to visit campus or take a tour to discover what Queen's can offer you, please go to the "for Visitors" section for more specific information.

First-year Queen's Students

Transitioning to a new town, school and new people can be challenging for most students. Many programs and services are available to ease that transition, provide social connections and offer ways to improve skills for the long-term.

Start-UP Transition Support Service for Students With Disabilities

Start-UP is a great opportunity for first year students who are registered with QSAS to receive individualized support on any aspect of their transition to university. The university learning environment can be very different from a high school environment and figuring out how you work best in this environment can at times be a process. When you meet with Gail (our Start-UP co-ordinator), she will help you figure out how to use your strengths to work through the aspects of the transition you are finding the most challenging in this new environment. You may have found that strategies related to studying, time management, advocacy, focus and concentration and organization that worked well in high school don't seem to work as well in university.

Information on Start-Up

Student Experience Office

QSuccess - A First Year Experience Program: Q Success is a transition program to help first year students develop knowledge, attitudes, and skills to support their personal and academic success at Queen's. Trained upper year peers and professional staff run a series of interactive sessions for small groups of about 25 first year students.

QSuccess website

Admissions

All students, those with and those without disabilities, must meet the same criteria for admission, and once admitted are assumed to be academically qualified to participate in the educational process of the University. Recent data indicate that 91% of students admitted to Queen's do in fact graduate, so the entrance criteria seem to be effectively selecting those who can succeed. This includes students with disabilities, although specific information about retention of students with disabilities is not yet available.

Queen's Undergraduate Admission

Awards, Scholarships and Bursaries

Queen's University’s financial assistance consists of merit-based scholarships, need-based bursaries, and awards based on academic achievement. There is a range of financial assistance and services available to students with disabilities at Queen's. Students are strongly encouraged to contact the Student Awards Office for complete information.

Student Awards - Students with Disabilities

Queen’s University offers The Queen's General Bursary which is available to all students in all years of study who have a demonstrated financial need.

The Queen's General Bursary

Bursary for Students with Disabilities (BSWD)

For full-time and part-time students who:

  • self-identify as having either a permanent or temporary disability,
  • have disability-related educational costs for services or equipment that are not covered by another agency or service, and
  • require these services/equipment to participate in postsecondary studies.

More info on the BSWD

The ATF Bursaries for the Disabled

  • are awarded to students with disabilities who are registered with the Disability Services Office.

The Beatrice (Steuer) Cohen Award

  • is awarded on the basis of financial need and academic achievement to students in any faculty who are challenged with a physical disability. Preference will be given to students with an impaired mobility. Students must be registered with the Disability Services Office.

The Disabled Students’ Bursaries

  • are awarded to students with disabilities based on financial need.

Rehab Therapy Society Sesquicentennial Bursary

  • is awarded on the basis of financial need to undergraduate and/or graduate students in any faculty who are challenged with a physical disability.

Scotiabank Group Accessibility Bursaries

  • are awarded on the basis of financial need to students in any school or faculty who have a disability and who are enrolled in a minimum of one credit per term (40% course load). Students must be registered with Disability Services Office.

Joubin/Selig Scholarship

  • established a Scholarship Award at the Toronto Community Foundation to provide financial assistance to post-secondary students in Ontario, with permanent physical (mobility) disabilities, who wish to pursue an education in their chosen field of study.

Joubin/Selig Scholarship