UK Government - Disabled Students’ Allowance

What you get

You may be eligible for up to £27,783 per year (about 32,500 EUR) to cover additional study costs arising from a disability, a mental health condition or a long-term illness. This is a grant from the UK Government, paid through Student Finance England, so you will never have to pay it back. The amount depends on the support you need. You can use the money to pay for the following:

• Specialist equipment, such as a computer
• helpers, such as a British Sign Language interpreter or a specialist note taker
• Taxis to your course, if you are unable to use public transport due to your disability

Most of the money goes directly to the companies providing your support, not to you. When you buy a new computer, you pay the first £200 (around 230 EUR) yourself. The DSA does not cover any costs incurred by individual students, nor any costs relating to a disability that you would incur even if you were not studying.

Eligibility

• Where you live: You live in England.
• Disability: You have a condition that affects your learning. Examples include dyslexia or ADHD, anxiety or depression, a physical or sensory disability, or a chronic condition such as cancer or HIV.
• Student finance: You are entitled to both a tuition fee loan and a living costs loan from Student Finance England. Being entitled to the tuition fee loan alone is not sufficient.
• Course: You take an undergraduate or postgraduate course in the UK that lasts at least 1 year, in any subject at any university or college. This includes bachelor's degrees, foundation degrees, HNCs, HNDs, PGCEs and master's courses. Higher or degree apprenticeships do not count.
• Income: Your income or that of your family is irrelevant.
• Other support: You do not already receive this support elsewhere, for example under the NHS’s separate grant for students with disabilities.

How to apply

Apply for funding via Student Finance England. Full-time undergraduates submit their application via their online student finance account. Part-time students and postgraduate students submit a paper application form each year. You must also submit evidence of your medical condition, such as a doctor’s certificate or a diagnostic report. This is followed by a needs assessment: an informal discussion – not a test – about the support you require. A decision usually takes around 4 weeks. It can take up to 14 weeks to arrange your support, so please apply well in advance.