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Access Arrangements Survey

Information and Consent

Information sheet

You are being invited to take part in an online survey about the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh’s access arrangements policy and practice.

Before you decide whether to take part, please take some time to read this information sheet to understand why the survey is being conducted and what it will involve.

If there is anything that is not clear or you would like more information, please contact Katherine Dorman-Jackson, Research & Training Manager, K.Dorman-Jackson@rcsed.ac.uk

The definition of reasonable & discretionary adjustments:

Reasonable adjustments:

Under the Equality Act 2010, organisations have a responsibility to implement reasonable adjustments when a person with a disability is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person. These adjustments are intended to remove or reduce barriers to participation.

If neurodiversity, a Specific Learning Difficulty, disability and/or long-term condition has an adverse impact on accessing assessments, candidates are encouraged to apply for reasonable adjustments.

More information on reasonable adjustments can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reasonable-adjustments-a-legal-duty/reasonable-adjustments-a-legal-duty

Discretionary adjustments:

Discretionary adjustments may be offered to candidates with temporary medical conditions that do not meet the legal definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010 but may still affect their ability to sit an examination. Examples include temporary injuries or pregnancy.

More information on the College's approach to both reasonable and discretionary adjustments can be found in our Access Arrangement Policy document.


About the research:

A 2025 report from the British Medical Association highlighted the need for increased support for medical professionals who are neurodivergent and/or have a Specific Learning Difficulty, other disability or other long-term health condition. The report found many postgraduate medical examination candidates continue to find the reasonable adjustment process “unclear, slow-moving, and time consuming”, leaving individuals feeling “exhausted and stigmatised”.

At the College, we want everyone to feel welcome. We are committed to providing support and fair opportunity to all. We particularly hope this research will improve the process of applying for access arrangements.
You will be asked to complete an anonymous survey hosted by SurveyMonkey.

The survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. It will ask questions about the training and examination support available to members and candidates, including the application for and implementation of access arrangements.

To complete this survey, it is not required that you have previously utilised access arrangements with the College. We seek to better understand everyone’s opinions and experiences.

If you decide to take part, you will be asked to tick boxes to confirm consent. You are free to withdraw at any time up to the point that you submit your online response. It will not be possible to remove your data from the project once you have submitted your responses as they are collected anonymously, and we will not be able to identify your specific data.


For detailed information about how we plan to use and store information that you share with us, please read the College’s Data Protection Policy: https://www.rcsed.ac.uk/media/tznbwmo4/data-protection-policy-2025.pdf
Consent questions
1.I confirm that I have read and have understood the information sheet or it has been read to me. I have had the opportunity to consider the information, ask questions and have had these answered satisfactorily.(Required.)
2.I understand that taking part in this survey includes the anonymised collection of data on temporary health conditions, neurodivergence, Specific Learning Difficulty, other disability or other long-term health condition in relation to access arrangements during examinations.(Required.)
3.I understand that my participation in this survey is voluntary and I am free to stop taking part and can withdraw from the survey without giving any reason and without my rights being affected. I understand that, after I have submitted the survey, it will not be possible to remove my data from the project as all responses are collected anonymously, and it will not be possible to identify my specific data.(Required.)
4.I understand that the information I provide will be held anonymously and securely, in line with data protection requirements, to be used for research purposes and to support the implementation of access arrangements and wellbeing measures at the College.(Required.)