What is Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)?

With DSA, you can get extra funding of potentially £10,000s each year, on top of your Student Finance, to cover the costs of any equipment and services you need as a student with disabilities.

You don't have to pay back DSA unless you're overpaid or you leave your course early, in which case you may have to pay some back. It's best to check with your Student Finance provider if you'd like more info about this.And, unlike Maintenance Loans, your household income doesn't affect how much DSA you receive.

The overall amount is based on how much you'll need for specialist equipment, non-medical help and additional costs related to your disability. This is in no way contingent on how much money your parents make.As DSA is tailored to your needs, it can make day-to-day student life a lot easier, particularly in terms of attending class, note-taking, revision and travelling for placements and study abroad trips.However, DSA only covers costs that are directly linked to aspects of your disability that affect your ability to study.

For example, as the majority of students are faced with the cost of a laptop, you may be asked to contribute money towards one. The government says that students who receive DSA need to pay the first £200 when buying a computer - but please note, this is referring to DSA funding from SFE for students from England.

This means that, if you're receiving funding from SFE and you require a specialist computer that suits your needs, you may then be able to receive DSA funding, minus that first £200, to cover the costs. However, check with your uni to see if they have a scheme to help students with the £200 contribution.

Who is eligible for DSA?

As a guideline, you will need to meet these criteria to be eligible for DSA:

• You're a UK resident, you're an undergraduate or postgraduate student on a course that lasts at least a year (including part-time, Open University and distance learning courses).
• You qualify for Student Finance.
• You have a physical disability, long-term health condition, sensory disability, mental health condition or specific learning difficulty that affects your ability to study.
• You're unfortunately not likely to be eligible for DSA if:You're only eligible for tuition fee supportYou're doing a higher or degree apprenticeship.
• You're getting equivalent support from another source, such as your uni or a social work bursary (including the NHS Disabled Students' Allowance).

Note: This is a guideline on the general criteria for DSA applications in the UK. To see the specific eligibility criteria for your part of the UK, visit your Student Finance body's website.

Applying for DSA is pretty straightforward, starting with a form to fill out.

You'll find the relevant form on the Student Finance website for your part of the country.

• England - Student Finance England (SFE)

• Scotland - Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS)

• Wales - Student Finance Wales

• Northern Ireland - Student Finance NI

You will either need to complete the DSA application form online or on paper, depending on which Student Finance body you're applying through and your student status (i.e. if you're a full-time, part-time or postgraduate student).

Sources

Save the Student
Disabled students allowances DSA

By Save The Student
Save The Student is the UK's leading student money website, helping you budget your money, make sense of student finance, look for part-time jobs, find extra funding and more. Founded in 2007, the website provides free and impartial guides, tools and verified deals to tackle the real-life money problems students face at university.