At school and university
You don’t have to tell your school, college, or university about your HIV status. And if you do, they must keep this information secure and confidential. They would only be able to tell others if you specifically allowed them to share the information.
Also, under the Equality Act, education institutions are not allowed to treat people negatively or deny them a place because they have HIV. You have a right to an education.
Disabled Students Allowance (DSA)
When you attend university, you could be entitled to Disabled Students Allowance (DSA), and support from student services during your study. But if you didn’t list any health conditions on your original UCAS form, this can be more complicated to arrange later on. This is something to consider when applying.
Speak to your health team about this, as they may have experience supporting young people through this process. Some clinics have good relationships with the welfare teams at local universities. Find out more about DSA here. If you have a UCAS account you can read their FAQs relating to support for disabled students here.
Moving away for university
If you’re moving somewhere else to start university, talk to your doctor or nurse so they can help you arrange new care plans. You may decide to keep being treated at your current hospital, or move to a new one near university. This will depend on what works best for you, and what options are available in the relevant clinics.
