Access and Disability

Close up of hands on a piano keyboard.

The Academy is a diverse community that values inclusivity, actively identifying and removing barriers so that all staff, students, and visitors can fulfil their potential.

If you require this information in an alternative format, please email disability@ram.ac.uk.

The Academy is informed by the social model in its understanding of disability.

Disclosure and Confidentiality

We strongly encourage you to disclose any disability or access requirements as early as possible so that adjustments can be agreed and put in place. All information is treated in strict confidence. You will be asked to sign a Confidentiality/Disclosure Consent Form, giving us explicit permission to share support requirements with relevant staff via a Personal Learning Plan (PLP). No information is shared without your written consent.

Applying and Auditioning

Candidates are selected purely on musical ability and potential. The Academy ensures that applicants with disabilities are not disadvantaged during the admissions process:

  • Discovery Events: For access support during open days, contact the relevant departmental administrator or the Disability Advisor.
  • Applications: Disclose any requirements on your UCAS Conservatoires online form, or contact the Admissions Team (020 7873 7393 | admissions@ram.ac.uk).
  • Auditions: Reasonable adjustments (such as 25% extra time for paperwork tests for dyslexic candidates) will be agreed prior to your audition. Contact the Disability Advisor to arrange this.

Support During Your Course

If you disclosed a disability during your application, the Disability Advisor will contact you before term starts. If you did not disclose initially, you can reach out to the team at any point during your studies.

Welfare & Support Staff

  • Heads of Year (Undergraduates) & Tutors (Postgraduates): Oversee academic progress and general pastoral care.
  • Senior Tutor in Undergraduate Pastoral Support: Ruth Byrchmore works alongside the Dean of Students and the welfare team. Email Ruth Byrchmore.
  • Disability Advisor: Angel Perez provides specialized advice and coordinates reasonable adjustments. Available Tuesday & Thursday, 9:30am to 5pm. Email Angel Perez.
  • Additional Support Tutor: James Fullegar offers study skills and academic support. Available Thursday & Friday, 9:30am to 5pm. Email James Fullegar.

Screening, Assessments, and PLPs

If you suspect you have an undiagnosed condition (such as dyslexia, ADHD, or autism), the Disability Advisor can refer you to a qualified educational psychologist for a formal diagnostic assessment. The Academy may be able to contribute toward the assessment cost.

Verified adjustments are formalized in a Personal Learning Plan (PLP). Common adjustments include:

  • 25% extra time in written exams, aural, and sight-reading tests
  • Use of a laptop or a separate room for written exams
  • Enlarged print scripts or coloured paper exam scripts

Additional Learning Support

James Fullegar (Additional Support Tutor) provides confidential, 1-to-1 academic coaching sessions (in-person or via Microsoft Teams) open to all students. Priority booking is given to students with a PLP or mental health condition. Support includes:

  • Time Management: Scheduling, prioritising tasks, and setting structural goals.
  • Study Skills: Research techniques, essay planning, and project writing.
  • Symptom Strategies: Developing targeted study routines to manage learning profiles or health conditions.

Psychological Support Service

The Student Support Team includes professionally trained, in-house counsellors operating under the BACP Ethical Framework. Confidential sessions are free and available in-person or remotely. Contact the Counselling Team directly through the Student Support network to book an appointment.

Financial Help: Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)

UK home students (and those with settled status for 3+ years) can apply for government-funded, non-repayable Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs) to cover disability-related study costs:

  • Specialist Equipment Allowance: Funds computers and assistive software (requires a £200 student contribution).
  • Non-Medical Helpers' Allowance: Covers specialist tuition, sign language interpreters, or mental health mentors.
  • General Allowance: Covers ongoing costs like photocopying, or extra accommodation costs (e.g. an en-suite room).

Apply online via your regional funding body: Student Finance England, SAAS (Scotland), Student Finance Wales, or Student Finance NI. International students are not eligible for DSA but should consult the Disability Advisor regarding alternative funding routes.

Hardship Fund: For unexpected financial crises, discretionary emergency awards are available via the Dean of Students. Contact Sarah Low at slow@ram.ac.uk to apply.

Campus Access & Facilities

Prospective students can contact disability@ram.ac.uk to book a personal access tour of our buildings.

  • Main Building (Marylebone Road): Features a step-free entrance with an immediate vehicle drop-off slip road. Lifts provide step-free access to major floors and the Sound Bites canteen (lower ground level), which features an accessible toilet.
  • York Gate Building: Step-free access is via a ramped side entrance with a voice intercom, located 100m to the left of the main entrance (adjacent to the David Josefowitz Recital Hall). Lifts inside provide full access to all levels and accessible toilets.
  • Interconnecting Basement: An enclosed platform lift connects the lower level of York Gate to the basement corridor of the Main Building, allowing seamless step-free travel between buildings, the canteen, and the bar.

Emergency Evacuation

The York Gate Building contains designated disabled refuge areas. In an emergency evacuation, dedicated marshals check these spaces to assist individuals safely out of the building. Where necessary, the Academy will design an individual Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) for you. For queries, contact safetyadvisor@ram.ac.uk.

Accommodation & Local Transport

Detailed accessibility layouts for housing can be found on our main Accommodation Page. Academy students are also entitled to free private sector housing advice from the University of London Housing Services (ULHS).

Driving and Parking

  • Blue Badges: Blue Badge holders can park free of charge in designated disabled bays within the City of Westminster, and receive one extra hour free at standard meters.
  • White Badges: The City of Westminster operates a White Badge scheme, allowing unrestricted parking in residential and pay-and-display bays. Learn more on the Westminster Council website.
  • Congestion Charge: Registered Blue Badge holders are eligible for a 100% discount on London’s Congestion Charge (applies to the badge holder, covering up to two designated vehicles). Register details via Transport for London (TfL).

Council Tax Exemption

Full-time students are exempt from Council Tax. While student halls arrange this automatically, students in private accommodation must apply directly to their local council. Once your enrolment is complete, log into the Academy Sharepoint and go to Services > Registry to request an official Council Tax Exemption Letter. Properties shared with non-students are not fully exempt; check guidelines on GOV.UK.

External Specialist Resources

For independent support, advice networks, and guidance tailored to specific learning profiles or disabilities, please visit the following national organisations: