Figure 13: How, if at all, do you think your disability or condition will affect your life at university? Figure 14: Which, if any, of the following best describe any mental health issues you have experienced in the last two years. Comparison of 2023 and 2024 data 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% I will need additional support or adjustments for assessments 0% 37% I will need additional support or adjustments for learning 29% I will need additional support or adjustments for day to day life 28% I do not think it will affect my life at university 23% Other / don’t know 10% 2023 2024 Base = 798 (applicants with a disability or health condition) Mental health Separately from the disability questions, all applicants were asked about their experience of mental health issues over the last two years. As was the case last year, there are more applicants who consider themselves to have experienced one or more mental health condition over the last two years than those who consider they have a mental health condition in the context of a question about disability. The pattern of mental health issues experienced is similar to last year, with over a third (37%) experiencing anxiety and about quarter (24%) experiencing depression. The prevalence of personality disorders within the cohort has more than doubled from 2023 to 2024, rising to 5%. The rate of eating disorders (12%) has also increased this year and is more common among female applicants and those who are LGB+. Neurodivergent applicants are more likely to experience a mental health issue than average, with only 11% reporting they have not experienced any mental health issues. Anxiety and depression are particularly elevated within this population, but there are also higher rates of eating disorder and OCD. 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% Anxiety Depression Eating disorder Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 0% Personality disorder Bipolar Schizophrenia / psychosis Other I have not experienced any of these issues 38% 37% 23% 24% 10% 12% 6% 7% 5% 5% 2 5% 2 3% 2 2 1 1 40% 38% Applicants with a disability were asked how they thought it would affect their life at university. Over a third (37%) will need additional support or adjustments for assessment, equating to 13% of the applicant population. Unite Students | Applicant Index Report 26 INTRODUCTION THEMATIC ANALYSIS WELLBEING METHODOLOGY TOPICAL ISSUES BACK TO THEMES