Disabled Students' Allowances

What are Disabled Students' Allowances?

Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs) provide extra financial help if you want to study a higher education course and have a disability, ongoing health condition, mental health condition or specific learning difficulty like dyslexia.

DSAs are grants to help meet the extra course costs students can face as a direct result of a disability, ongoing health condition, mental health condition or specific learning difficulty. They help disabled people to study in higher education on an equal basis with other students.

They are paid on top of the standard student finance package and don't have to be paid back.

The amount you get depends on the type of extra help you need - not on your household income.

What can DSAs be used for?

They can help pay for:

• specialist equipment you need for studying - for example, computer software
• non-medical helpers, such as a note-taker or reader
• extra travel costs you have to pay because of your disability
• other costs - for example, tapes or Braille paper

Who can get them?

You can apply if you are doing an undergraduate or postgraduate course (including a distance-learning course) that is:

• full-time and lasts at least one year
• part-time, lasts at least one year and doesn't take more than twice as long to complete as an equivalent full-time course

To apply for DSAs, both you and your course must meet certain conditions. Check these before you apply.

Who doesn't qualify

If you are eligible for a bursary from the NHS, you won’t qualify for DSAs from Student Finance England. But you can apply for equivalent help through the NHS bursary scheme.

You also won't qualify for DSAs from Student Finance England if you're a postgraduate student getting:

• research council funding
• a social work bursary from the NHS Business Services Authority that includes equivalent support
• funding from your university or college that includes equivalent support

Contact your funding provider for advice on any extra support you may be entitled to because of your disability or condition.

How can you find out more?

Please visit the Government's Disabled Students Allowance pages to check your eligibility for Disabled Students' Allowances and to access application forms and further information.