Funding for your support
Funding your additional support - Disabled Students' Allowances
As a student with a disability, you may be eligible for a Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA). DSAs are intended to cover any extra costs or expense that arise because of your disability while studying. You can apply for a DSA if you have a diagnosed physical, sensory, unseen medical condition, long term health condition, mental health condition, Autistic Spectrum Condition or a Specific Learning Difficulty such as dyslexia, dyspraxia or ADHD.
DSAs are grants rather than loans, you will not have to repay them when you have graduated. They are not classed as income so they do not affect state benefits.
What do DSAs pay for?
DSAs will pay for study-related support, including specialist equipment and software, extra travel costs and some other course-related costs. You may also be entitled to support from non-medical helpers who can help you manage the effect your disability has on your studies.
More information is available about the charges:
DSAs do not pay for:
- Costs a student would have incurred whether or not they were at university
- Costs of personal support for 'daily living', for example someone to assist with moving around the campus
- Non-disability related costs incurred by all students on a particular course.
How do I apply for a Disabled Students' Allowance?
Please complete a DSA form; these can be downloaded from your funding authority web pages. You should apply to the authority that has provided your general student funding. Please click on these links to take you to the main funding authorities
- Student Finance England
- Students Awards agency for Scotland
- Student Finance Wales
- Student Finance Northern Ireland
- NHS Bursaries
- Research councils
What evidence will I need?
You will need to provide medical evidence of your condition, such as a letter from your doctor or an appropriate specialist. The medical evidence should state the nature of your disability and should explain how the condition affects you on a daily basis. To try to make the process easier for students, Student Finance England (SFE) has developed a form to take to your GP or other medical professional. The form asks all the relevant questions.
Students with a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia will need to provide evidence of the condition in the form of a post 16 diagnostic assessment from a psychologist or suitably qualified specialist teacher. Additional guidance on the assessment required for a DSA application is available from the SpLD Assessment Standards Committee (SASC).
How to book a Study Needs Assessment
When your funding body has processed your application, they will send you a confirmation letter requesting you to arrange a Study Needs Assessment. To arrange a Study Needs Assessment contact an Assessment Centre, you can search for an Assessment centre in the UK on GOV.UK.
To book an appointment at the NTU Assessment Centre, contact us on:
Telephone: +44 (0)115 848 3495 or Email us.
