Stephen Hawking has voiced his fears students with conditions similar to his will not receive the support they need to succeed due to funding cuts.
The world-famous physicist was speaking at his former Cambridge Gonville and Caius college, where he studied during the 1960s.
The college modified part of its site so Hawking could continue to live there, and even flew him back in a chartered plane when he fell ill in Switzerland in the 1980s.
"I was then in Addenbrookes Hospital for quite a time, unable to speak or hold anything," he told students.
"During that time my students participated in a rota to keep my mind occupied by reading to me, I was even able to laugh at the funny bits."
Although he praised the college for its support, the 73-year-old mused: "I wonder whether a young ambitious academic, with my kind of severe condition now, would find the same generosity and support in much of higher education.
"Even with the best goodwill, would the money still be there? I fear not."
Last year, the government announced it would be postponing its controversial cuts to the Disabled Students' Allowance until 2016-17.
DSA can pay for assistance including specialist equipment such as computer software, non-medical helpers, like a note-taker or reader, or extra travel costs. The changes were intended to make universities take more responsibility for the costs.
Stephen Hawking's Life In Science
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Open Image ModalBritish theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, Cambridge in January 1993. Photo: David Montgomery/Getty Images
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Open Image ModalCast member actress Jane Fonda (who portrays a Musicologist with ALS) talks with Physicist Stephen Hawking backstage after a preview performance of '33 Variations' Los Angeles, California in February 2011. Photo: Ryan Miller/Getty Images
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Open Image ModalCellist Yo-Yo Ma and Physicist Stephen Hawking attend the 2010 World Science Festival Opening Night Gala at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Centre in New York on 02 June 2010. Photo: Wireimage
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Open Image ModalU.S. President Barack Obama presents the Medal of Freedom to physicist Stephen Hawking during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in 2009. Obama presented the medal, the highest civilian honor. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
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Open Image ModalDr. Stephen Hawking, professor of mathematics at the University of Cambridge, and his daughter Lucy Hawking at George Washington University's Morton Auditorium in Washington, DC in 2008. Dr. Hawking gave a speech entitled 'Why we should go into space'. Photo: George Washington University/Getty Images
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Open Image ModalSouth Africa former President Nelson Mandela meets with British scientist Professor Stephen Hawking in Johannesburg in 2008. Photo: AFP/Getty Images
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Open Image ModalPhysicist Stephen Hawking experiences a zero-weight moment during a flight on a Zero Gravity jet above Orlando, Florida in 2007. Photo: PA
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Open Image ModalQueen Elizabeth ll meets professor Stephen Hawking during a reception at Buckingham Palace to mark the importance of British Science in 2006. Photo: Anwar Hussein Collection/Getty Images
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Open Image ModalProfessor Stephen Hawking and his second wife Elaine Mason arrive at the European Premiere of 'Lemony Snicket's A Series Of Unfortunate Events' at the Empire Leicester Square, London in 2004. Photo: Dave Hogan/Getty Images
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Open Image ModalPhysicist Stephen Hawking smiles during a symposium in honor of his 60th birthday at the University of Cambridge on 11 January 2002. Hawking is the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics, a post once held by Sir Isaac Newton. Photo: Sion Touhig/Getty Images
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Open Image ModalProfessor Stephen Hawking,the leading theoretical physicists, attended by his wife Elaine before delivering a lecture on 'Science in the Future' to a packed auditorium on on 14 January 2001 in Bombay. Photo: AFP/Getty Images
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Open Image ModalUS President Bill Clinton and Professor Stephen Hawking watch a scene from 'Star Trek the Next Generation', during a 'Millennium Evening' at the White House in 1998. Theoretical physicist Hawking talked about the future of science during the live telecast with the Clintons. Photo: AFP/Getty Images
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Open Image ModalTheoretical physicist Stephen Hawking (second left) makes a guest appearance on Star Trek; The Next Generation in 1993. The episode features a scene in which the character Data participates in a poker game with a group of brilliant scientific figures consisting of Hawking, Einstein, and Newton. Photo: Julie Markes/AP
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Open Image ModalMicrosoft President Bill Gates meets Professor Stephen Hawking on a visit to Cambridge University in 1997. Photo: AFP/Getty Images
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Open Image ModalBritish physicist Professor Stephen Hawking with his first wife Jane Hawking in 1990. Photo: David Montgomery/Getty Images
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Open Image ModalFamed jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald (back right) applauds renowned theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, as he given an honorary degree, Doctor of Science, at the 339th Harvard University commencemen in 1990. Photo: Charles Krupa/AP
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Open Image ModalBritish theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking with student Chris Hull in Cambridge, January 1985. Photo: David Montgomery/Getty Images