Bishop Grosseteste University - Disabled Student Allowances

What the Disabled Students' Allowance gives you

You will receive up to about 32,100 EUR per year (27,783 GBP) to cover the additional study costs arising from a disability, a mental health condition or a long-term illness. This is a payment from the UK Government, administered by ‘Student Finance England’. It is not means-tested and does not need to be repaid. The amount you receive depends on your individual needs, which will be assessed during a brief consultation. You can use the money to pay for specialist aids such as a computer (you pay the first 200 GBP yourself), non-medical support staff such as a British Sign Language interpreter or a specialist note-taker, taxi journeys to your course if you are unable to use public transport due to your disability, as well as other disability-related support services such as additional printed materials. Most payments are made directly to the service providers rather than into your bank account.

Who can apply

• Where you live: You live in England.
• Disability: You have a condition that affects your ability to learn. These include learning difficulties (e.g. dyslexia or ADHD), mental health conditions, physical or sensory disabilities, and long-term illnesses such as cancer or chronic heart disease. You must provide evidence of this, for example by means of a medical certificate or a diagnostic report.
• Student finance: You are entitled to both a loan to cover your tuition fees and a loan to cover your full living costs from Student Finance England. An entitlement relating solely to tuition fees is not sufficient.
• Course: You are studying for a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the United Kingdom that lasts at least one year, or, under the ‘Lifelong Learning Entitlement’, is worth at least 30 credits.
• Field of study: All hatches are open.
• What rules you out: You are not eligible for this benefit if you are receiving the separate NHS grant for students with disabilities, if you are already receiving equivalent support from another source – such as your higher education institution – or if you are undertaking higher education or a qualification-based course.

How to apply

Full-time students on undergraduate programmes apply for funding via their online student finance account or using form DSA1. Part-time students and postgraduate students use form DSA1 each year. Once your eligibility has been confirmed, a service provider (Study Tech or Capita) will invite you to an informal needs assessment, during which the exact amount of your funding will be determined. You will be informed within four weeks whether your application has been approved, and it may take up to 14 weeks for the full funding to be arranged.

How realistic are your chances?

This is not a merit-based scholarship with a fixed number of places. If you meet the eligibility criteria (you live in England, are entitled to the full student loan and can provide evidence of a disability that affects your studies), you will receive the funding. The amount you receive is based on your assessed needs and not on how you compare with other applicants. The main thing that might hold you back is providing the necessary evidence; so make sure you gather your medical or diagnostic records well in advance.