@cocoabeans - yes bipolar is a disability, but doesn't necessarily mean you are disabled. I declared my depression as a disability to my 1st Uni, and they couldn't care less with regards to additional support etc. It's supposed to make lecturers look move favourably on an extension request etc. Personally I tried to just get on with things as best as I could, but wading through the mud of depression meant that I ended up leaving the course. Maybe if they'd been more supportive I wouldn't have had to have done that? Who knows.

Some jobs in the UK with big reputable companies/Govt/NHS etc take you on because you tick their 'we employ so many disabled people' box. I would maybe hold off disclosing until you've got the job though, but then I've been burnt in the past. All the best with the job hunt!

@bipolarmedstudent - I was a medstudent in the UK, and telling my faculty about my depression was the worst thing I ever did, though I had no choice at the time. It painted a huge target on my back and I was always under scrutiny after that. Doctors (at my old Uni anyway) seem to think that they are above illness, that it is for 'lesser mortals' not them. Actually I found that having experience of being a patient made me a better medstudent and would've made me a great doctor. Instead I'm now going to use my talents where they're more appreciated! lol Just be careful of fitness to practise issues if something goes wrong, which fingers crossed it won't. At my place, not declaring an illness was classed as lacking insight into the way a student's behaviour could impact patients, which was dangerous. I got a slapped wrist for not declaring my depression sooner. Best of luck with the rest of your studies!

*Willow*