Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)

If you are a home student in Higher Education and started your course of study in or after 2009/10 the following organsations can pay for Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) to cover extra study related costs that arise because of disability, including dyslexia, depending on where in the UK and Ireland you are from:

. Student Finance England
. The National Office for Equity of Access to Higher Education (if you're from Ireland)
. Belfast; Southern or South Eastern Education and Library Boards (depending on where in Northern Ireland you're from)
. Student's Awards Agency for Scotland (if you're from Scotland)

If you are from England and started your Higher Education course before 2009/10 the DSA will be paid by your local authority.

You can apply for DSA if you are on a full or part-time Higher Education course that lasts at least one year. Examples are BA, BSc, HND, HNC, DipHE, Postgraduate courses such as research and taught masters courses, doctorates, postgraduate diplomas and certificates. You can receive DSA even if you do not qualify for help with fees or the means tested element of the loan.

To apply, you will need to have recent medical evidence or a dyslexia report that was written after the age of 16. You will also need to have an assessment of your needs. The Disability Team can give you further information and help you to make your application.

You can access the form you need to complete if you are an undergaduate student on a Higher Education, Post-graduate or MA course at direct.gov.uk/studentfinance

There are several parts to DSA:

Specialist Equipment Allowance
This can be used to pay for equipment such as computers, specialist software etc.

Non-Medical Helpers Allowance
This can be used to pay for specialist study support, notetakers, BSL interpreters etc.

General Allowance
This can be used to pay for extra photocopying, paper, disks etc.

There is also an amount for extra travel costs you may have as a disabled student.

For MA students who are unable to get DSA there is a Postgraduate allowance which is not split in to parts, but is one amount per year. If you get funding from the Arts, Humanities and Research Board (AHRB) you can apply to them for an allowance.

The DfES booklet 'Bridging the Gap' has more helpful information on DSA. You can get a copy from the disability team or from the Directgov website.

If you are an international or EU student you cannot get DSA but there may be money available from your home country to support you in your studies. Please contact a Student Services Adviser at student.advisers@arts.ac.uk to discuss this further.