Disabled Students' Allowance Or the DSA

DSA is a grant to help with any extra essential costs that you have as a direct result of your disability, long term health condition, mental health condition or specific learning difficulty. It isn't dependent on household income, only on individual needs.

DSA does not cover disability-related costs you'd have if you were not attending a course, or costs that any student might have.

Eligibility

  • You must be an undergraduate or postgraduate student
  • Qualify for Student Finance England
  • Be studying on a full time or part time course that lasts at least one year

You can't get DSA if you're

  • Only eligible to get a Tuition Fee Loan
  • Eligible for an NHS Disabled Students' Allowance
  • Getting equivalent support from another funding source, like from the University or a social work bursary

The allowance is not expected to be paid back.

You can get support with

  • Day to day costs of studying that are related to your disability, such as, photocopying costs.
  • Specialist equipment, such as specialist software. Any equipment bought must have been included in the report from your Study Needs Assessment. If the assessment recommends a laptop or computer, you will have to pay £200 towards it.
  • A non-medical helper, such as, a British Sign Language interpreter.

How to apply

  1. Once you've applied for other student finance, such as the Tuition Fee Loan, you can apply for DSA from your online account. If you are applying for DSA without applying for any other type of loan, you will need to complete a paper application form (DSA1).
  2. You will then be asked to provide evidence and what evidence you need to submit to support your application. For example, you may need to provide a letter from your doctor or a copy of the diagnostic assessment from a practitioner.

Study Needs Assessment

You may be asked to arrange a study needs assessment to find out what equipment and support you need.

This entails an informal meeting with a Needs Assessor to discuss what equipment will be most useful.

The study needs assessment will be booked within 15 working days of you contacting them and SFE will receive the final report within ten working days.