An autistic student-led project redesigns postgraduate interviews

Updated Sep 07, 2026

student voice

Who defines the problem in a student partnership project? Kate Coldrick and Lili Ly describe a postgraduate interview redesign initiated and led by an autistic student, supported through UCL ChangeMakers.

Their 2025 Beyond voice article concerns UCL and Anna Freud postgraduate provision. The student shaped the agenda, survey and interpretation; staff adapted planning and administrative support around the collaboration.

What changed

The survey explored interview experiences using scaled and open questions. The authors report preferences for advance questions, written-response options and interviewer preparation among both neurodivergent and neurotypical respondents.

A workshop involved 15 postgraduate staff. Their reflections contributed to a guidance leaflet reported as in use in relevant departments. Recommendations included clearer prompts, explicit expectations, options for notes or written responses, and reduced sensory pressure where possible.

The paper presents a case and an argument about sharing authority. It does not provide a controlled comparison showing how much applicant inclusion or admissions outcomes improved. Read the full paper.

Questions for participation design

As an editorial application, review one existing feedback route with students who might find its format difficult. Ask who chooses the questions, what preparation participants receive, which response formats are possible and who decides what follows.

Avoid assuming that adding a written box makes a process representative. Examine who used it, who did not and whether the resulting accounts can be interpreted safely. Specify the resources and responsibilities for student partners so that leadership does not mean carrying every administrative task.

These questions can be documented in a governance checklist and tested within the particular process being redesigned.

Review update, 7 September 2026: This summary now distinguishes the reported redesign from proven improvements in inclusion and avoids guarantees about what written feedback or co-creation will achieve.

DOI: 10.66561/sehej.v7i1.1399