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Disabled Students Allowance (DSA)

Find out about what the Disabled Students' Allowance will fund, and follow our step-by-step guide to apply for it.

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What is Disabled Students Allowance (DSA)?

DSA provides extra support to students with a disability, mental health condition, long-term health condition, or specific learning difference. It helps cover study-related costs such as equipment, assistive software, and specialist support.

DSA is available for full-time and part-time students whose course lasts one year or more.

It’s a non-repayable grant, not a loan. This means you don’t have to pay it back, even if you withdraw from your course. However, you may be required to return or reimburse for unused equipment.

Important: This guide is tailored for Student Finance England (SFE) funded students.

Contact our Disability Advisors if you're funded by the NHS, Student Finance Wales, or you are an international/PhD student. We can advise you about about university-based support and alternative funding. All non-UK students, or those ineligible for Disabled Students’ Allowances, will still be entitled to reasonable adjustments for your studies as well as ongoing support from other advice, guidance and wellbeing services.

What can DSA fund?

There are several types of support which DSA can help fund for you.

  • Non-medical helpers (NMH)

    Study Skills Tutors help students with dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, autism or similar learning differences. These sessions cover academic techniques such as essay structure, critical thinking, time management, referencing, and preparing for assessments. These sessions are typically weekly and around 30 hours per academic year are funded, though more may be available if needed.

    Specialist Mentors support students with mental health conditions, ADHD, autism, or similar differences. They help students manage their workload, reduce anxiety, improve organisation, and maintain academic engagement. These sessions are typically weekly and around 30 hours per academic year are funded, though more may be available if needed.

    British Sign Language (BSL) Interpreters support students who are deaf and whose first or preferred language is BSL. The interpreter will attend lectures, seminars, tutorials, etc. with the student and will interpret from English to BSL or vice versa.

  • Equipment and software

    Laptops and accessories: If specialist software is recommended, DSA can fund a laptop to run it. Students contribute £200 toward the cost. Accessories might include a printer, scanner, or reader pen, depending on your assessed needs.

    Assistive technology: DSA can fund a range of software such as text-to-speech programs (to read out documents), speech-to-text (for dictation), mind-mapping tools, digital planners, notetaking tools, and proofreading aids. These tools are tailored to help you overcome specific learning challenges. If you are offered any equipment or software, you will also be trained to use it and integrate it into your studies.

    Ergonomic equipment: If physical pain or discomfort impacts your study, a separate ergonomic assessment can recommend equipment like supportive desk chairs, height-adjustable desks, footrests, or monitor stands. These improve physical comfort and accessibility when working.

  • Travel support

    If your disability prevents safe or practical use of public transport, DSA may cover taxi fares for essential academic travel (e.g., to and from classes). You'll be required to contribute an amount equivalent to public transport costs (e.g., the price of a local bus ticket per journey).

  • Printing

    If you have a disability-related need (such as difficulty reading from screens), you may receive additional funding for printing costs (paper, ink, or university print credits).

  • Accommodation

    If you need specific housing, such as an ensuite room, DSA may fund the additional cost if you live in private accommodation. If you live in university-managed accommodation, contact disabilityadvice@sussex.ac.uk for internal support arrangements.

Not covered under DSA

  • Personal care including dressing, cooking, washing, using the toilet, or other day-to-day personal care
  • Medical care such as taking medication or changing dressings
  • Everyday living such as getting up, cooking, eating, getting around and going to bed.

These needs fall under the responsibility of local social services. You can contact Adult Social Care in your local area or speak with our Disability Advisors for guidance.

Other financial support

Alongside DSA, you can receive other support such as a maintenance loan, bursaries, scholarships, or disability benefits like PIP. This doesn't affect your DSA eligibility.

Changes to your circumstances

If anything changes, the support on offer to you can be adjusted. You can email the DSA directly if necessary at DSA_Team@slc.co.uk.

Lost or damaged equipment

If your equipment is lost or damaged, contact your supplier. Most items come with insurance or warranty covering faults or accidental damage.

Changes in your condition

If your needs change, contact your Needs Assessor or Needs Assessment Centre. You can send updated evidence to dsa_medical_evidence@slc.co.uk for a reassessment. If approved, you may be offered additional or revised support.

Withdrawing from your course

If you withdraw from your course, you don't have to repay your DSA grant. You may need to return or reimburse the cost of your equipment.  

Guide to applying for DSA

The process, from applying to receiving support, typically takes 10-14 weeks. If your documentation is incomplete, this can cause delays.

You can apply at any point during your course, but we strongly recommend applying before the academic year starts. Applying early ensures you receive support when you need it, particularly at the beginning of term.

If you're in the final year of your course, you should aim to apply by February to ensure you benefit from support.

  1. Check your eligibility

    • You must have additional needs that are longstanding and negatively impact study
    • You must also be a UK student on a higher education course
    • Use an eligibility checker, or visit gov.uk's eligibility pages.

  2. Gather evidence

    Provide a medical letter or diagnostic report or other form of confirmation from a clinician, or use the DSA evidence form provided to your GP.

  3. Apply online

  4. Attend a Needs Assessment meeting

    • You’ll receive a letter inviting you to a Needs Assessment meeting. This is called a DSA1 letter
    • At the meeting, you can discuss your study needs (e.g. support with reading, writing, organisation, travel) and how these interact with your disability.

  5. Get your offer of support

    If you are successful, you'll receive another letter which outlines the support you've been approved for, and explains how to contact suppliers. This is called a DSA2 letter. It will be used as an outline for your support for the duration of your degree.

  6. Set up your support

    You’ll usually be directed to suppliers who are approved by Student Finance England. If you would prefer a different supplier due to personal or access reasons, you can make a request. You'll need to justify your request, and approval isn’t guaranteed.

    • Contact suppliers to arrange for the services you need to be delivered
    • Gather receipts for consumables such as printing paper or taxi receipts.

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