Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) is a grant given to students to help with the extra costs they might face as a result of a disability, mental health condition, long-term illness or specific learning difficulties.

The support you receive through your grant is specific to you and is decided through a DSA study needs assessment.

The grant is not influenced by your income and does not ever need to be paid back.

DSA funding is used to provide specific support to students, generally in the four following areas:

Specialist equipment: This can include microphones, laptops, accessible software (voice recognition, mind mapping, screen reading) and specialist furniture. This includes repairs, insurance and an extended warranty.

Non-medical helpers: Interpreters, specialist note-takers, mentor support and assistive technology trainers.

General disability-related study support: Day-to-day costs of studying, incurred by your disability, such as extra printing, ink and braille paper.

Additional travel expenses: This is for disability-related costs separate from costs that apply to any student. An example would be using a taxi or private car to get to university if you are unable to use public transport due to your disability - DSA would cover the difference between public transport and private transport in this instance.

The specifics would be discussed with you.

2021-22 academic year: £25,000 a year
2022-23 academic year: £25,575 a year

English students will be asked to contribute £200 towards equipment such as computers/laptops if you are recommended this in your assessment.

Funding assistance may be available through your university for this contribution.

Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish students will not be asked to pay this.
Students are also expected to pay for some portion of their travel expenses if they are granted funding in this area.

Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) is available to students who have a disability that affects their ability to study.

You must be in higher education, ordinarily a resident in the UK, and taking a course that lasts more than a year.

Distance learning and sandwich courses can also qualify. Check with your course provider.

Yes, but it depends on how much of your course is required to be completed in a year when compared to a full-time course.

This is course intensity and it must be 25% and above to access DSA.

If you are unsure, check with your university. More information is available on the governments student finance page.

If you have already applied for student finance, you can sign in to your account to begin a DSA application.
If you do not have a student finance account, you can apply through a DSA1 full form.

You should also provide either a report or letter from your doctor/consultant/psychologist, or fill in a Disability Evidence Form.

More information is available on our DSA application forms page,
and on the governments DSAeligibility page.

You will find get a confirmation on whether or not your application is successful within 6 weeks.
After you have been accepted for DSA, you will be asked to book a DSA needs assessment.

DSA needs assessments can be booked through any accredited Study Needs Assessment Centre.

You can book a DSA needs assessment with us via:
Tel: 01905 427815
Email: info@wsdac.co.uk

All assessments are currently remote, but face-to-face options are available on request.

A DSA Study Needs Assessment is a one-to-one meeting between a student and an accredited accessor to establish the students’ needs, typically lasting 1.5 – 2 hours.

It is not a test, only a discussion of any difficulties you face and the support that can be put in place.

DSA support may include specialist or updated equipment, a non-medical helper, disability-related study support and additional travel expenses.

In a DSA needs assessment the accessor will have a discussion with you about areas in which you need support, such as accessibility issues in attending and learning in lectures, travel, writing essays, sitting exams and revision.

Accessors work together with you to find the best solution for your specific needs and will suggest various types of support, but the ultimate choice of what support to accept is up to you.

A DSA needs assessment will last 1.5-2 hours.

No, the DSA needs assessment is free to the student. The assessment is covered through your Disabled Students’ Allowance.

Following your DSA needs assessment you will receive a DSA2 letter either through email or post, this contains contact details for your equipment provider and any non-medical helper support.

You must contact both to receive your equipment and schedule any support sessions.

This is up to you to arrange, but if you need any support or direction do not hesitate to contact us.