UK Government - Disabled Student Allowance

What the Disabled Students' Allowance covers

You will receive a government grant to cover the additional study costs arising from your disability, and you will never have to repay it. There is no fixed amount. A case worker will assess your needs, and the money goes directly to the providers of the relevant support. This can be used to fund a computer or laptop, if you need one because of your disability, specialist software, and non-medical support, such as a British Sign Language interpreter. Travel costs and other additional costs related to your disability are also covered. Your family’s income does not affect whether you are eligible or how much you receive. The UK government funds the grant, and you receive it in addition to your normal student finance.

Bournemouth University operates its own separate grant fund for students experiencing financial hardship: up to 350 GBP (about 410 EUR) for a diagnostic assessment of dyslexia, dyspraxia or ADHD, and up to 200 GBP (about 235 EUR) for approved DSA aids. This grant is also non-repayable and is paid out once per academic year.

Who can apply

• Disability: You have a physical or mental impairment, a long-term illness, a mental health condition or a learning difficulty such as dyslexia, dyspraxia or ADHD. A condition is regarded as long-term if it has already lasted for one year, is expected to last for one year, or is expected to persist for the rest of your life.
• Level of study: You are a student on an undergraduate or postgraduate course.
• Field of study: Any subject.
• Where you study: You’re studying at Bournemouth University.
• Nationality: You are a student from the United Kingdom. You cannot apply if, for the purposes of tuition fees, you are classified as an EU citizen (outside the United Kingdom), a resident of the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, or an international student.
• Extra step for the university fund: To apply for the BU-DSA grant, you must also provide evidence that you have little or no money of your own, and submit supporting documents for your DSA costs.

How to apply

Register with the University’s ‘Additional Learning Support’ service via myHUB and then apply for the DSA as part of your application to Student Finance England. Once your eligibility has been confirmed, you will take part in a needs assessment to determine exactly which aids and what support you will receive. There is no fixed annual deadline, but please submit your application as early as possible: organising exam support can take up to nine weeks.

How realistic are your chances?

This is an entitlement, not a selection process. If you are a UK student in Bournemouth with a recognised disability, you will receive support tailored to your needs, and your household income will never be held against you. The biggest hurdle is proving your disability and going through the means test – so make sure you start this process early. The university’s supplementary fund is more limited and depends on evidence of genuine financial hardship.