Your guide to understanding the Disabled Students’ Allowance
The Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) is a grant to help eligible students with essential, study-related costs due to a disability, long-term physical/mental health condition, or specific neurodivergent condition.
Each year, you can get extra funding on top of your Student Finance to cover the costs of any equipment, software or services you need.
You are eligible to apply for a DSA grant if you have a condition that affects your ability to study, such as a:
To qualify, you must also:
Unfortunately, you’re not likely to be eligible if:
These guidelines are based on the general criteria for DSA applications in the UK. To see the criteria for your part of the UK, visit gov.uk/disabled-students-allowance-dsa.
The DSA provides financial support for the aspects of studying which are impacted by your disability, including the physical and mental demands of university.
DSA funds can be paid out to you as reimbursement or directly to the company providing the equipment or service you require.
Depending on where you are based in the UK, the amount of funding you could be entitled to will vary. The total amount you receive will be based on the recommendations of a disability advisor following your Study Needs Assessment.
*You may be able to get a new computer if you don’t already have one, or if your current one doesn’t meet the required specification. You’ll need to make a contribution of £200 towards the cost of any computer.
You may also be able to cover travel allowances with your DSA funding. This helps with any extra travel costs you may have to attend your university, college, or placement because of your disability. The amount you get will depend on your disability.
Applying for the DSA starts with filling out a form. You can find this on the Student Finance website for your region of the UK.
You can apply for the DSA before your place at university is confirmed. It can take up to 14 weeks for your DSA support to be put in place, so it's best to start your application as soon as possible. Starting university is a busy time, so having your DSA sorted ahead of Freshers' Week will make a big difference.
Here's where to apply for DSA, based on where in the UK you're from:
These are the common steps you can expect when applying for DSA support:
When you apply for DSA, you'll need documentation to show you're eligible. For example:
Condition: Physical or sensory disabilities, long-term health conditions and mental-health conditions
Proof of eligibility: A disability evidence form or a photocopy of a report/letter from your doctor or consultant
Condition: Specific learning difficulty (e.g. dyslexia)
Proof of eligibility: A photocopy of a diagnostic assessment from a practitioner psychologist or a teacher with a relevant specialist qualification
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