Disabled Students' Allowances
The Disabled Students' Allowances (DSA) can help with additional costs disabled students incur in attending their course as a direct result of a disability such as a physical disability, a mental-health difficulty, long-term illness or a specific learning difference such as dyslexia.
They are available to many full-time and part-time students with disabilities, although a part-time course would have to last for at least one year and must not take more than twice as long to complete as an equivalent full-time course.
You may also be eligible to apply for DSAs if you are studying a part-time course of initial teacher training (ITT). Student Finance England (or your local authority or the OU) will be able to give you more details about this. PGCE courses attract support, including DSAs, as if they were undergraduate courses rather than postgraduate courses.
They are available to both undergraduates and postgraduates and are not means-tested.
Unlike a student loan, this assistance does not have to be repaid, and there is no age limit. Students must meet UK residence requirements to be eligible.
For more information and to download the form visit the Directgov website or contact your Funding Body or your university Student Services.
You can apply for the DSA at any time during your course.
Depending on your needs, support from the DSA could include specialist equipment, a non-medical helpers allowance, help towards the additional costs of travelling to your institution and a general allowance.
There are four elements of DSA support; the maximum DSA allowances in 2012/13 are detailed below. The amount of DSA you receive will depend on your DSA needs assessment.
Full-time and part-time higher education students
The following table shows the maximum amounts available in 2012/2013 to full-time and part-time higher education students (including distance learners and relevant Open University students).
| Type of allowance | Full-time students | Part-time students |
|---|---|---|
| Specialist equipment | £5,161 for entire course | £5,161 for entire course |
| Non-medical helper, such as readers, note takers, typists and extra learning support. | £20,520 per year | Up to £15,390 per year (depends on intensity of study) |
| General Disabled Students' Allowances; can be used for minor items and recurrent extra costs. | £1,724 per year | Up to £1,293 per year (depends on intensity of study) |
|
Travel Allowance; for the purpose of attending the institution (University Campus(s)) incurred because of a disability. There is no upper limit to this element but this allowance will not normally help with everyday travel costs which any student would expect to have. Note: disability-related travel costs to/from a work placement are not eligible from the travel allowance and are instead taken from the General Allowance and so are limited by the small amount available (see above). |
Extra cost | Extra cost |
Postgraduate higher education students
Postgraduate students (including distance learners and relevant Open University students) can apply for a single allowance to cover all costs. The maximum amount for 2012/2013 is up to £10,260 per year.
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