Information for students with disabilities
We aim to make central Faculty information available in a variety of formats. For example, student handbooks, reading lists, past examination papers and examiners’ reports are all mounted on the Faculty's Canvas platform. Faculty staff are happy to arrange to provide these in alternative formats (for example, Large Print; Coloured paper; Braille; Computer disk; Recording).
We encourage all our teaching staff to make reading lists and essay questions available in advance in paper and flexible electronic formats. Faculty administrative staff will arrange for the conversion of material to alternative formats on request.
All elements of a philosophy degree should be accessible to all our students. Students with a wide range of disabilities have successfully completed undergraduate and graduate courses of study in philosophy.
Logic presents certain difficulties for those with print-disabilities. Introduction to Logic is optional for the majority of philosophy courses, but for those who wish to take it, set material has been recorded, and examination papers can also be embrailled. Similarly, adjustments are possible for those taking the joint schools of Mathematics and Philosophy and Physics and Philosophy. For further information and advice, please contact the Faculty's Disability Officer or the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Associate Professor Alex Kaiserman.
The majority of Philosophy lectures and classes are held at the Philosophy Centre or the Examination Schools.
For access information about the Philosophy Centre, visit the building's Access Guide. Hearing loops are installed in most teaching rooms. Lectures there are not normally amplified, but this could be arranged on request. Please contact the Disability Officer for further guidance.
For access information about the Examination Schools, visit the building's Access Guide. Hearing loops are available in the Examination Schools, and lectures can be amplified in a number of rooms. For more specific information, please contact Tom Mitchell.
Some lectures are held in colleges. For information on access to these, or if there are access difficulties for any series you wish to attend, please contact the Administrative Assistant to discuss your needs.
The Philosophy Faculty offers a wide range of lectures, and there is flexibility about which lectures you attend in which term. Therefore, even if you have a declared disability, the lecturer may not be aware that you have chosen to attend a particular lecture series. All our lecturers are informed of the University’s guidelines on making lectures inclusive but it may be helpful for a lecturer to be reminded, for example, that a student who lip-reads intends to attend the lecture series. If you do not wish to discuss your needs with the individual lecturer, you may like to flag them to the Disability Officer, who will try to ensure that the lecture is presented in a way that meets your needs.
Where handouts are available for individual lecture series, we can arrange for them to be available in advance or produced in alternative formats. It is also possible for lectures to be recorded, or for some students to use note-takers, by putting in place a Student Support Plan. Students wishing to discuss their needs should contact the Disability Advisory Service for further information.
In the collegiate University, tutorials are the responsibility of your college, who will endeavour to support your needs. If tutorials are arranged for you at another college, your college will try to ensure that necessary adjustments are made there. However, if you have any concerns relating to tutorial support, you may also contact the Faculty's Disability Officer, the Undergraduate Administrator or the Disability Advisory Service.
The Disability Advisory Service website is the best place to find out more about support for specific conditions and funding.
Special provision in examinations (such as the use of a computer for students with mobility disabilities, a reader for blind students, or extra time for students with dyslexia) may be made by arrangement between your college and the University Proctors. Students wishing to discuss their needs should contact the Disability Advisory Service for further information.
The Bodleian Libraries is committed to a high level of service to all its users. Provision is made for disabled users on an anticipatory basis. However, we welcome requests and suggestions from individuals and wherever possible will endeavour to respond in a flexible and constructive manner.
In Philosophy, one strand of our provision for disabled users is the development of a virtual library for Philosophy texts and other electronic resources which are available throughout the University network. For further information, see the Philosophy and Theology Faculties Library (PTFL) website and the Bodleian Libraries website. The University’s Access Guide also covers libraries. The Bodleian Disabilities Librarian is Teresa Pedroso and the PTFL Librarian and Disability contact is Hilla Wait.
Page last reviewed March 2024
