UK Government - Disabled Students’ Allowance

Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)

You will receive funding of up to about 2,200 EUR per year to cover the additional study costs you incur as a result of a disability, a mental health condition or a long-term illness. This is a grant from the UK Government, administered by Student Finance England, which you will never have to repay. You will not receive any cash. Instead, the grant will fund practical support services tailored to your needs:

• Specialist equipment, such as a computer.
• Non-medical support staff, such as a British Sign Language interpreter or a minute-taker.
• A taxi journey to your course, if you are unable to use public transport due to your disability.
• Other study-related costs arising from a disability, such as the printing of additional copies of documents.

If it is determined that you need a new computer, you will pay the first 200 GBP (approx. 230 EUR) yourself. The grant does not cover costs that every student would incur anyway.

Who can apply

• Where you live: You live in England.
• Your situation: You have a disability, a mental health condition or a chronic illness that affects your studies, such as dyslexia, ADHD, anxiety disorders, depression, a physical or sensory disability, or a condition such as cancer or chronic heart disease. You can provide evidence of this, for example through a doctor’s certificate or a diagnostic report.
• Course: You are undertaking a higher education course in the United Kingdom lasting at least one year, such as a Bachelor’s degree, a ‘Foundation Degree’, an HNC, an HND, a PGCE or a postgraduate course.
• Student finance link: You are entitled to both a loan to cover your tuition fees and a full grant to cover your living costs from Student Finance England.
• Field of study: Open to all subjects.
• Not eligible: You are not eligible for this grant if you merely meet the criteria for a loan to cover your tuition fees, or if you receive the separate NHSDSA grant, if you are already receiving equivalent support from another organisation, or if you are undertaking higher education or a course leading to an academic qualification.

How to apply

You can apply via your online account with ‘Student Finance’ or by submitting a DSA form, and you must provide evidence of your disability. Once ‘Student Finance England’ has confirmed that you are eligible, a service provider (Study Tech or Capita) will contact you to arrange an appointment for a needs assessment. This is an informal discussion to find out what support you need – it is not a test. A decision will be made once the needs assessment has been completed. There is no fixed annual deadline, but processing can take several weeks; you should therefore apply for support well in advance of the start of your studies.

How realistic are your chances?

This is not a competitive scholarship. There is neither a fixed grant amount to be competed for nor a ranking system comparing you with other applicants. If you live in England, are eligible for the full student loan and can demonstrate how your disability affects your studies, you will receive support tailored to your needs. Your outcome depends mainly on the needs assessment, which determines what support you will actually receive. Apply for funding well in advance, as the whole process can take up to 14 weeks.