DSA Information
Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)
provides extra financial help for disabled students. You may get a DSA if you have a disability, ongoing health condition, mental health condition or specific learning difficulty like dyslexia. A DSA is a grant to help meet the extra costs of studying as a result of a disability – it can help you to study in higher education on an equal basis with other students. It does not have to be paid back – it depends on the type of extra help you need – not on your income.
What can a DSA provide?
Typically, a DSA for a dyslexic student might provide
- specialist software for literacy, organising your notes, mind-mapping, voice recognition etc.
- specialist equipment like a digital voice recorder, a scanner [for OCR or reading back printed text] and a computer to run all this.
- dyslexia support and additional “non-medical helpers”, such as a note-taker, exam scribe or reader
- other costs like photcopying, printing, stationery, computer supplies, internet etc.
What you are offered will depends on your individual type of dyslexia or SpLD – you will have a meeting with a specialist (an “Assessment of Need”) who will work out what will best help you personally. There is no ’standard package’.
Who can get a DSA?
You can apply if you are doing an undergraduate or postgraduate course (including a distance-learning course) that is:
- full-time and lasts at least one year
- part-time, lasts at least one year and doesn’t take more than twice as long to complete as an equivalent full-time course (from 2012 entry, four times as long as full time)
More information
If you are an student or parent looking to apply for a Disabled Student Allowance
Information and application forms for English students are available on the DirectGov website
“Bridging the Gap” – the government’s explanation of DSAs
Form to claim reimbursement of expenses from your DSA
Research students funded by Research Council studentships can apply using this form
Information and application forms for Scottish students are available from the Scottish Agency, SAAS
Contact details for the Disability Officer at your chosen university,
To find an Access Centre to book an Assessment of Need , use the geographical search on the DSA-QAG website
If you are a dyslexia tutor or other practitioner, looking for information …..
Student Finance England produce regular DSA practitioner bulletins
DSA-QAG provides information on the administration of the DSA process
Latest official DSA guidance document
SFE contacts
To apply for extra tuition hours from SFE please complete this form
- For Practitioners with DSA queries : Tel – 01325 215194 (students must NOT use this number, you will not be answered), open 9.30-4.30
- For practitioners with queries relating to policy and regulations email – ssin_Queries@slc.co.uk
- For disability practitioners at HEI email – disability_adviser@slc.co.uk
- For Needs Assessors or Disability Advisers submitting information on late, final year applicants email – dsa_lateapps@slc.co.uk
- For suppliers submitting invoices, invoice queries or specific student queries email – invoice_team@slc.co.uk
- For enquiries regarding the Disabled Student Service Stakeholder Group email – stakeholder_enquiries@slc.co.uk