Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) funding is based on need. It is in addition to your student finance and you do not have to pay it back. You can apply for DSA as part of your main student finance application. You will need supporting medical evidence.
Your DSA may include funding for equipment or software. It may also fund a specialist mentor or study skills tutor.
Applications for student finance open in March.
Find out more on the GOV.UK DSA page. You can also find information on the UCAS website
Eligibility
You can apply for Disabled Students- Allowance (DSA) if you live in England and have a disability that affects your ability to study.
You must also:
- be an undergraduate or postgraduate student (including Open University or distance learning)
- qualify for student finance from Student Finance England
- be studying on a course that lasts at least a year
You cannot get DSA from Student Finance England if you are:
- eligible for tuition fee-only funding
- eligible for NHS Disabled Students- Allowance
- getting equivalent support from another funding source, such as from your University or a social work bursary
- on a higher or degree apprenticeship course
The DSA Process
Get medical evidence
You will need to provide medical evidence that explains how your condition or disability affects you. This could be:
- A letter from a General Practitioner (GP) or consultant
- A diagnostic report from a practitioner psychologist or specialist tutor with an Assessment Practising Centre certificate
- A completed SFE DSA Disability evidence form (PDF, 99KB)
Complete and submit a DSA form
You can apply for DSA online, at the same time as your student finance, if you are a full-time undergraduate student. Alternatively, you can complete the PDF forms hosted on our website.
Arrange a needs assessment
You will receive an email from your funding body with instructions on how to book a needs assessment.
During the assessment, you will discuss your needs with an assessor. They will ask about:
- your disability or condition
- previous support
- your University course, and
- what support would help you
They may show you software or assistive technology. The assessment will take up to 2 hours.
Your assessor will write up a report which will include recommendations for support and equipment. You will be able to check the report before it is sent to your funding body.
Get support in place
Your funding body will contact you with details about the support they will fund, based on your assessment. You can then get your support in place with the help of our Service Coordinator.
Types of support available
Non-medical help
Specialist study skills support
This support is designed to target specific difficulties that you may have with acquiring, recalling, and retaining information, in written and spoken language.
Additionally, the support will address:
- memory
- organisational skills
- attention and numeracy difficulties
which are often common among learners with Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLDs).
Specialist Mentoring
This support can help you to identify and overcome barriers by teaching you:
- coping strategies
- goal setting
- time management, and
- other skills to help you succeed in your studies and create a healthy work-life balance
Equipment
You may get a new computer, if you are assessed as needing one, because:
- you do not already have one
- your current one does not meet your study needs
When buying a new computer, you will need to pay the first £200
The DSA team will send you more information about this after your needs assessment.
Software
You may be recommended specialist software for example:
- software which reads text aloud to you
- mind mapping software, or
- audio recording/note-taking software
Taxi allowance
A taxi allowance covers the cost difference between public transport and a taxi if you are unable to use public transport to travel to and from University or placement due to your disability.
Printing and photocopying allowance
You may be able to claim the cost of any additional printing and photocopying costs which you incur due to your disability. For example, if you need to print the slides onto paper to annotate in your lectures.