ABSTRACT
The transition from school to a college of further education or university can be difficult for many students, not only those on the autism spectrum. For many students, there is not only the change to a more independent style of learning but also the opportunity to live more independently and, for the first time, to be able to make decisions about how they choose to spend their time. For females on the autism spectrum, it can be a particularly difficult time. Not only is there the new emphasis on self-organisation but also often a greater emphasis on making new friends and having a ‘social life’. Even the style of learning can change, with there now being a greater emphasis on analysis and interpretation rather than simply recalling facts and figures. That said, many females on the autism spectrum report that they enjoyed having the opportunity to focus on a subject that interested them, that they excelled academically or that they were able to meet like-minded people during further education.
