New research hopes to improve the experiences of autistic university students

Researchers in Portsmouth are seeking student volunteers to participate in two new studies aiming to explore autism support at universities.

The first study will provide an in-depth look into the impact of family support on autistic students’ experiences, while the second will help develop an assessment tool that identifies their support needs.

This follows on from research carried out by Dr Emine Gurbuz, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Portsmouth, which highlighted an increased number of students with autism, and how critical it is for autistic students to have access to sufficient support so that they are able to thrive at university.

Currently in the UK there are over 20,000 diagnosed autistic students within a Higher Education setting, which excludes those who have not disclosed or have self-identified to universities that only accept a formal diagnosis. This number is expected to increase, therefore the upcoming studies will further investigate the support autistic students receive, potential challenges they face and how their overall experience can be improved. This new research aims to support current and future students in reaching their full potential.

Researcher Elinor Lim, from the University’s School of Psychology, Sport and Health Sciences, said: “Our research follows a ‘nothing about us, without us’ approach, meaning that the research is informed by the autism community, rather than excluding them from the process. For my study, autistic students, family members of autistic students, and specialist autism mentors chose the research topic and helped to refine the study questions.”

Dr. Emine Gurbuz, also from the University’s School of Psychology, Sport and Health Sciences, added: “The research is the first step in developing an assessment tool aimed at improving the experiences of autistic students and is crucial to identifying existing challenges. We co-developed this tool with autistic students and university support providers.”

Each study requires participants to undertake an online survey.

Eligibility Criteria

• Autistic students aged 18+
• Must have completed at least one term full time on campus as an undergraduate or on a taught Master’s course at a UK university
• For family support study only: Graduates/ex-students must complete the survey within one calendar year of leaving university

If you are interested in participating or would like some more information, please contact PhD student Elinor Lim at elinor.lim@port.ac.uk or Senior Lecturer Emine Gurbuz at emine.gurbuz@port.ac.uk.