Uni or work harder than it should be? It could be dyslexia

“I just thought I was bad at exams.”

You got through school. Maybe you were the one who always ran out of time, or rewrote notes three times and still couldn’t remember them. Maybe a teacher once mentioned dyslexia, but nobody followed it up.

Now you’re at university, starting an apprenticeship or in your first job, and the workload has just gone up a gear. Longer reading lists. Emails that take an hour to write. Meetings where everyone else seems to take notes without trying.

This Dyslexia Awareness Week, the spotlight is on life after school. Around 1 in 10 people are dyslexic, and plenty of them don’t find out until they’re older. If that might be you, or your teenager, this post is for you.

The short version: finding out isn’t about a label. It’s about understanding how your brain works and getting support you may be entitled to.

Does this sound like you?

Dyslexia in older students and young adults often looks different from the classic picture of a child struggling to read. You might recognise some of these:

• You can read, but it’s slow and tiring, and you often reread the same paragraph
• You know the answer but run out of time in exams
• Your spoken ideas are miles ahead of what ends up on paper
• Spelling, grammar and punctuation take huge effort, especially under pressure
• Note-taking in lectures or meetings feels impossible while listening at the same time
• You lose track of deadlines, tasks or long instructions
• You’ve worked out clever workarounds that cost you hours every week

None of these on their own means you’re dyslexic. But if several feel familiar, and they’ve been there since school, it’s worth finding out.

At university: what a diagnosis can unlock

This is where a diagnosis can make the biggest practical difference.

Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA). DSA is extra funding for undergraduate and postgraduate students in the UK. To apply on the grounds of dyslexia, Student Finance England asks for a diagnostic assessment from a practitioner psychologist or a suitably qualified specialist teacher, which is exactly the kind of assessment I carry out. Some useful things to know:

• You don’t pay it back, and it’s based on your needs, not your household income.
• It can pay for things like specialist software, equipment and study skills support.
• If you’re assessed as needing a new computer, you pay the first £200.
• It isn’t available for degree apprenticeships, so check with your employer instead (see below).

Support from your university. With evidence of dyslexia, your university’s disability or student support team can put adjustments in place. These can include extra time in exams, lecture recordings or access to assistive technology. Each university decides its own arrangements, so it’s worth contacting them early.

One University of Bath student wrote about her experience: after her diagnosis, she received specialist software, a laptop and regular one-to-one study skills sessions, and her grades rose from a 2:2 to a First. Not everyone’s story will be that dramatic, but it shows what the right support can do.

At work: knowing your rights

Whether you’re starting an apprenticeship, a graduate job or your first full-time role, here’s what’s worth knowing.

The Equality Act 2010. Dyslexia can count as a disability under the Equality Act when it has a substantial, long-term effect on everyday activities, and for many people it does. If so, your employer has a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments so you’re not at a disadvantage.

Adjustments for dyslexia are often simple and cheap, for example:

• Extra time for reading-heavy tasks
• Instructions given both in writing and out loud
• Text-to-speech or other assistive software
• Permission to record meetings instead of taking notes

Access to Work. This government grant can pay for support such as assistive software, specialist equipment or a job coach. It’s for people aged 16 or over in paid work, including apprenticeships and internships, and you don’t pay it back. You don’t need a diagnosis to apply.

So why get assessed for work? You don’t legally need a diagnosis to ask for help at work. But a diagnostic report gives you clear, professional evidence of how dyslexia affects you and what helps. That makes it much easier to explain your needs confidently, rather than feeling like you’re asking for favours. You also don’t have to tell an employer you’re dyslexic. That’s your choice, and a report helps you make it on your own terms.

Is it worth the money?

Let’s be honest: a full diagnostic assessment is a real cost, and you should know what you’re paying for. Here’s how to think about it.

What it can open up. For a university student, a diagnosis is the key evidence for DSA. DSA funding doesn’t have to be paid back and can cover software, equipment and study support for the length of your course. The maximum is up to £27,783 a year. Most students won’t need anywhere near that, but even modest support adds up over a three- or four-year degree.

What it gives you for life. A diagnostic report doesn’t expire. It explains your strengths as well as your difficulties, with practical recommendations you can take into university, an apprenticeship or a job.

Ways to reduce the cost.

• Ask your university. Some universities have hardship funds or schemes that help students with the cost of a diagnostic assessment. Contact the disability or student support team before you book.
• Check what you already have. If you had an assessment at school, check with Student Finance or your university whether that report meets their current requirements before paying for a new one.

When it might not be worth it. If you’re not planning to study and your employer is already supportive, you might not need a full assessment straight away. Access to Work and reasonable adjustments don’t require one. For questions about support at work, Access to Work and your employer’s HR team are the best places to start.

What the assessment is like for older students

If you haven’t done anything like this since school, here’s what to expect.

• It’s one-to-one and relaxed. We work together in a calm, private space in Leigh-on-Sea, and it takes 2–4 hours with plenty of breaks.
• It’s not an exam you can fail. The tasks look at reading, writing, spelling, memory and how quickly you process information. There are no right or wrong outcomes, just a clearer picture of you.
• You get a full written report. It explains whether you’re dyslexic, what your strengths are, and practical recommendations for study and work.
• If you’d like to talk it through, you can request a 20-minute follow-up call to ask questions and decide on next steps.

I assess young people and adults aged 16 to 25, as well as children from age 8. Parents are welcome to get in touch on behalf of their teenager. For anyone 18 or over, I’ll also want to hear from you directly, as it’s your assessment.

Over to you

Were you diagnosed later in life, at college, university or work? Or are you still wondering? Share your experience in the comments. What do you wish you’d known sooner?

Ready to find out?

Whether you’re heading to university, already there, or starting out at work, I’m happy to have a no-pressure chat about whether an assessment makes sense for you.

Email rosie@dyslexiadiscovery.org or send an enquiry here.

Parents, if this sounds like your son or daughter, please share this post with them.

Rosie Stokes, Specialist Dyslexia Teacher and Assessor (PG Cert, APC), Dyslexia Discovery, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex

Useful links

• Disabled Students’ Allowance (GOV.UK)
• DSA eligibility and evidence (GOV.UK)
• Access to Work (GOV.UK)
• Disability rights at work (GOV.UK)
• Helpline Q&A on dyslexia at work and university (British Dyslexia Association)
• Dyslexia support for employers (British Dyslexia Association)

This post gives general information, not legal or financial advice. Funding rules can change, so always check the latest details with Student Finance, your university or GOV.UK.