How to Create an Accessible Applications Portal

The application portal is one of the first touchpoints a prospective student has with your university — and first impressions matter.

Thanks to digital innovation, applying to university has become more intuitive, efficient and student-friendly. Paper-based forms are giving way to online platforms that allow candidates to apply, upload documents and track their progress with just a few clicks. But for all the benefits of digital transformation, it’s essential we recognise that not all students interact with technology in the same way.

Creating an accessible applications portal isn’t just about compliance. It’s about equity — and ensuring every student has a fair and supportive admissions experience.

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Why Accessibility Matters in Higher Education

A growing number of students disclose a disability when they enter higher education — and that number is rising.

According to House of Commons, over 332,000 UK-domiciled students disclosed a disability, representing 17.3% of the student population.

That includes a broad range of needs, from physical and sensory impairments to learning difficulties and long-term mental health conditions.

Making sure your application portal is accessible to all students sends a clear message: you care about inclusion from day one. It’s also an essential step toward building a more diverse, representative student body.

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What Does Accessibility Look Like?

Accessibility in digital systems starts with universal design — an approach that removes barriers and creates flexible, user-friendly experiences for the widest range of people possible.

In practice, this means designing platforms that are:

• Compatible with assistive technologies.
• Easy to use across devices and browsers.
• Flexible enough to adapt to different user needs and preferences.
• More cost-effective to maintain, because they’re accessible by design, not retrofitted later.

Three Essential Features of an Accessible Application Portal

1. Keyboard Navigation

Not everyone uses a mouse. For many users — including people with mobility impairments — the keyboard is their primary way of navigating the web.

That’s why your application portal must support full keyboard functionality. This means:

• Users can tab through all interactive elements in a logical order.
• Buttons, menus, and form fields are accessible via keyboard shortcuts.
• Focus indicators clearly show where the user is on the page.

If you can’t complete the application from start to finish using just a keyboard, your portal isn’t accessible yet.

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2. Compatibility with Screen Readers

Screen readers are assistive tools that convert text into speech, helping users with visual impairments to access content. For this to work properly:

• Use clear, semantic HTML (e.g. headings, lists, form labels).
• Add descriptive alternative text for images.
• Avoid using text within graphics, or PDFs that can’t be read aloud.

Most importantly, ensure your portal is compatible with popular screen readers like JAWS, NVDA or VoiceOver.

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3. Support for Assistive Hardware

Many students rely on hardware such as Braille displays, voice control tools or sip-and-puff devices. Make sure your application portal:

• Follows WCAG 2.2 standards (the latest version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines).
• Avoids flashing animations or colour combinations that can trigger photosensitive responses.
• Enables flexible form completion — with options to save progress, revisit sections and extend timeouts where needed.

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Building a Better Experience for Everyone

Accessibility benefits everyone. When a digital system is easy to navigate, clearly structured and free from unnecessary friction, all users enjoy a better experience.

And for prospective students navigating one of life’s biggest decisions, that makes a real difference.

A truly inclusive applications portal:

• Builds trust with students from the very first interaction.
• Supports wider institutional goals around access and participation.
• Improves conversion rates by reducing abandonment caused by poor usability.

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Final Thoughts

Creating an accessible application portal isn’t just a technical exercise. It’s a reflection of your university’s values — and a signal to students that they’re supported, welcome and respected.

At Full Fabric, we believe the application experience should be seamless and inclusive for everyone. That’s why our platform is designed with accessibility at its core, so institutions can provide a student experience that’s modern, intuitive and equitable.

Want to see how it works in practice? Book a personalised demo and discover how Full Fabric can support your accessibility goals.