Help if you're a student with a learning difficulty, health problem or disability
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1. Disabled Students' Allowance
Disabled Students鈥� Allowance (DSA) is support to cover the study-related costs you have because of a mental health problem, long-term illness or any other disability.
This can be on its own or in addition to any student finance you get.
The type of support and how much you get depends on your individual needs - not your household income.
You do not need to pay back DSA.
What you鈥檒l get
2025 to 2026 academic year
Undergraduate and postgraduate students can get up to 拢27,783 a year for support.
2024 to 2025 academic year
Undergraduate and postgraduate students can get up to 拢26,948 a year for support.
What DSA can pay for
You can get help with the costs of:
- specialist equipment, for example a computer if you need one because of your disability
- non-medical helpers, for example a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter or specialist note taker
- extra travel to attend your course or placement because of your disability
- other disability-related study support, for example having to print additional copies of documents for proof-reading
DSA does not cover disability-related costs you鈥檇 have if you were not attending a course, or costs that any student might have.
Buying a new computer
You may get a new computer if you鈥檙e assessed as needing one because:
- you do not already have one
- your current one does not meet your study needs
When buying a new computer, you鈥檒l need to pay the first 拢200.
The DSA team will send you more information about this after your needs assessment.
Your 鈥榥eeds assessment鈥�
Your needs assessment is an informal meeting to determine what support you can get for your studies - it鈥檚 not a test. It can be in-person or remote.
After you receive your DSA eligibility letter, a supplier (either Study Tech or Capita) will contact you to arrange a needs assessment. You do not need to contact them first.
After your assessment, you鈥檒l get:
- a report with the recommendations made by your supplier based on your assessment
- an entitlement letter explaining what support you can get
Study Tech or Capita will then contact you to discuss your equipment and arrange any assistive technology training you need. Your entitlement letter will also tell you if you need to contact any suppliers yourself.
Do not buy any equipment until you鈥檝e been assessed - you will not be reimbursed for it.
How DSA is paid
Most payments will be sent directly to your suppliers depending on what support you鈥檝e been awarded.
Only some allowance costs can be paid directly to you. Your entitlement letter will let you know if this applies to you.
2. Eligibility
You can apply for Disabled Students鈥� Allowance (DSA) if you live in England and have a disability that affects your ability to study, such as a:
- specific learning difficulty, for example dyslexia or ADHD
- mental health condition, for example anxiety or depression
- physical disability, for example if you have to use crutches, a wheelchair or a special keyboard
- sensory disability, for example if you鈥檙e visually impaired, deaf or have a hearing impairment
- long-term health condition, for example cancer, chronic heart disease or HIV
You must also:
- be an undergraduate or postgraduate student (including Open University or distance learning)
- qualify for student finance from Student Finance England
- be studying on a course that lasts at least a year
Who is not eligible
You cannot get DSA from Student Finance England if you鈥檙e:
- eligible for tuition fee-only funding
- eligible for (this is a separate scheme)
- getting equivalent support from another funding source, like from your university or a social work bursary
- on a higher or degree apprenticeship course
Proving you鈥檙e eligible
You will not automatically get DSA - you need proof of your eligibility.
| Condition | Proof |
|---|---|
| Disabilities or long-term health condition | A copy of a report or letter from your doctor or consultant - or you can fill in the disability evidence form |
| Mental health condition | A copy of a report or letter from your doctor or consultant - or you can fill in the disability evidence form |
| Specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia | A copy of a 鈥榙iagnostic assessment鈥� from a practitioner psychologist or suitably qualified specialist teacher |
You could get extra help to pay for a new diagnostic assessment.
How to submit your evidence
You can send proof of a health condition or learning disability to Student Finance England through your online account - if you have one. You can also send your proof by email or post.
Disability evidence for student finance聽
[email protected]
Student Finance England
PO Box 210
Darlington
DL1 9HJ
Your course
Your course must be in the UK and one of the following:
- a first degree, for example BA, BSc or BEd
- a Foundation Degree
- a Certificate of Higher Education
- a Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE)
- a Higher National Certificate (HNC)
- a Higher National Diploma (HND)
- a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE)
- a postgraduate course
- Initial Teacher Training
- a level 4 or 5 course with Higher Technical Qualification approval
Check with your university or college if you鈥檙e not sure whether your course qualifies for funding.
Part-time course intensity
For part-time students, whether you can get DSA depends on your course intensity.
鈥楥ourse intensity鈥� means how long your course takes to complete each year compared to an equivalent full-time course. You can check course intensity with your university or college.
The rules are different depending on your course.
Part-time undergraduate courses
Your course cannot be more than 4 times longer than the equivalent full-time course. Your course must last at least a year.
Part-time postgraduate master鈥檚 courses
If you鈥檙e applying for a Postgraduate Loan for a part-time master鈥檚 degree, the course must not last more than twice as long as the full-time equivalent.
3. How to apply
How you apply for Disabled Students鈥� Allowance (DSA) depends on whether you鈥檙e studying full-time or part-time.
Full-time undergraduate students
If you鈥檙e applying for other types of student finance, you only need to apply for DSA once. Otherwise, you鈥檒l need to apply each year.
If you鈥檝e already applied for student finance
Sign in to your student finance account to start your DSA application.
The application for DSA should be on your 鈥榯o-do list鈥� if you chose DSA in your application for other support. If it is not, select 鈥榗hange your circumstances鈥� to apply.
If you do not have an online account because you applied for student finance by post, fill in a DSA slim form:
If you have not applied for student finance
You can apply for DSA when you apply for student finance online.
If you do not need student finance, you can fill in a DSA1 form to apply just for DSA:
You cannot apply for student finance online once you鈥檝e applied for DSA.
Postgraduate students and part-time undergraduate students
Fill in a DSA1 form to apply for DSA for the 2024 to 2025 academic year. You鈥檒l need to apply for DSA each year.
If you鈥檙e already getting DSA
Fill in a DSA expenses claim form to claim back your expenses:
How long it takes
You鈥檒l get confirmation of whether your application is successful within 6 weeks.
It can take up to 14 weeks to get your DSA support in place as this is done separately.
You can check current application processing times to find out when you can expect to get an update on your application.
4. Further information
Contact the disability adviser at your university or college if you need advice about financial help.
If your circumstances change
Contact Student Finance England if your circumstances change as this may affect what you鈥檙e entitled to. For example, if your condition gets worse you may be able to get extra help.
Appeals
You can ask for an explanation or to have your case reviewed if your application is turned down. Contact Student Finance England for more details.