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About the DSA

What are the Disabled Students’ Allowances?

The Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA) can help with additional costs disabled students incur in attending their course as a direct result of a disability such as a physical disability, a mental-health condition, long-term illness, autistic spectrum condition, or a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

They are available to many full-time and part-time disabled students, although part-time courses must take no more than four times as long to complete as the full-time equivalent.

DSAs are available to both undergraduates and postgraduates and are not means-tested. Unlike a student loan, this assistance does not have to be repaid, and there is no age limit. Students must meet UK residence requirements to be eligible.

Depending on your needs, support from the DSA could include specialist equipment, a non-medical helper, contribution towards the additional costs of traveling to your institution, as well as a general allowance. The published amounts are a maximum and intended to cover the cost of highest support needs. It is common that most support packages will be a lot less than these amounts.

Your Study Needs Assessment is an informal discussion and aims to identify strategies you can use to participate in all aspects of mainstream higher education (despite any adverse effects your disability might have). The report written following your Study Needs Assessment is used by Funding Bodies to determine the support they are able to pay for from the DSAs or other funding sources. The assessment report will also contain advice and guidance to help you and your University/ College agree reasonable adjustments they can make to help you get the most out of your course.

Student Finance England For further information about the DSA please follow this link.