Barriers and challenges for disabled students when engaging with non-compulsory placements: A systematic literature review

William, Laura; Lowe, Hilary

Abstract

The literature on the barriers and challenges faced by disabled students in accessing and undertaking placements remains limited and fragmented. This systematic literature review addresses this gap by identifying key obstacles encountered by disabled students seeking, or on placement. The review maps current knowledge, highlights areas of under-exploration, and proposes a future research agenda. Four primary barriers emerged: organisational processes and systems, low expectations, bio-social factors, and the nature of the placement itself. Our analysis demonstrates that the medical model of disability manifests across all four domains, with interactions between each domain, highlighting the fluid and linked nature of barriers and challenges within placement settings.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 30, 2025
• Online Publication Date: Aug 19, 2025
• Deposit Date: Aug 19, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 19, 2025
• Journal: Studies in Higher Education
• Print ISSN: 0307-5079
• Electronic ISSN: 1470-174X
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2025.2543435
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/14829262
• Additional Information: Peer Review Statement: The publishing and review policy for this title is described in its Aims & Scope.; Aim & Scope: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=cshe20; Received: 2025-01-08; Accepted: 2025-07-30; Published: 2025-08-19