Financial support
The Disabled Students' Allowances (DSA) help to pay for extra costs disabled students may have to pay when studying their course, as a direct result of their disability or specific learning difficulty. The DSA can help to pay for things such as travel, a non-medical helper (such as a note-taker or reader), study skills help, specialist equipment and other course-related costs. The DSA is not means-tested. The university disability and dyslexia team can advise on making your application and help arrange any support agreed. Contact the disability and dyslexia team.
Who can apply
Home students who are studying full or part-time, on an undergraduate or postgraduate degree can apply.
When to apply
You should apply for DSA at the same time as you apply for your student finances through Student Finance England. As the assessment process can take up to three months to complete you are advised to apply for DSA as soon as possible, you do not need to wait until you have accepted a place at university.
How to apply
When you submit your application for student finance, you should tick the relevant box on the form relating to disability, you will then be sent a copy of form DSA1 for completion.
Depending on where you live your application for student finance and/or DSA may be dealt with by Student Finance England (SFE), Student Finance Wales (SFW), Student Finance Northern Ireland (SFNI) or the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS). Alternatively if you intend to study an NHS funded course then your DSA application will be processed by the NHS bursary scheme.
Your student finance provider is responsible for establishing your eligibility for DSA, and will request written evidence from an appropriate professional (for example, an educational psychologist's report confirming dyslexia).
Once your DSA application has been processed you will be requested to make an appointment at an Access Centre where an assessment of needs will determine the amount and type of support you will receive.
Other funding
The Money pages offer information on loans and grants, as well additional sources of funding. Some disabled students can also apply for additional benefits.
Find out more
Student Finance England has produced a series of videos to help students understand more about DSAs.
International students with disabilities should see the financial support information on the international support page.
For further information about student finance for disabled students, please see SFE or your Local Authority: www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople.
