Disabled Students Allowances
Disabled Students Allowances (DSA)
Disabled students at university can apply to their funding body (usually Student Finance England or the NHS) for a DSA to pay for any extra costs that are a direct result of their disability. They aren’t means-tested so anyone with a disability can apply. They aren’t loans and do not need to be paid back. Students with any disability may be eligible for DSAs, including students with mental health difficulties and other unseen disabilities such as dyslexia, epilepsy, diabetes, arthritis and repetitive strain injury. You’ll need to send evidence of your disability with your DSA application, and then go for a needs assessment to agree what support you may need.
To apply for, or get advice about, DSAs you can either contact us or go straight to the student support team at your funding body. You can apply for DSAs at any time during your course but we strongly recommend you do so as soon as possible - the process can take up to 3 months, so the sooner you start, the better.
You can get a DSA application form from the Disability and Dyslexia Service office, or download it from u-Link or from the downloads page. Alternatively you can contact your funding body directly.
DSAs can pay for:
Special equipment
- computer hardware/laptops
- disability software
- computer furniture for students’ residence
- furniture used for study purposes
- recording devices
- fridges for diabetic students
Non-medical helpers
- training in the use of disability software
- note-takers
- study skills tuition
- library support
- interpreters for lectures and seminars
- readers/scribes and proof readers
General allowances
- book allowances
- photocopying costs
- disability-related travel costs
- internet connection
- consumables (batteries, cartridges, paper)
- additional costs of en-suite accommodation
