Disabled Students Allowances
What are the Disabled Students' Allowances (DSA)?
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 part-time students must be studying at least 50% of a full-time course.
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.
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 2008/2009 are detailed below :
DSA for students undertaking full-time undergraduate courses
Specialist Equipment Allowance - up to £5,030 for the duration of the course; this is for major items of equipment, such as computer equipment, that are necessary to enable you to benefit fully from your course. It can be paid at any time in your course, up to the maximum limit.Non-Medical Helper Allowance - up to £20,000 for each academic year; this can be used to pay for helpers such as readers, note-takers, typists and extra learning support which dyslexic and other disabled students may need.
General Allowance - up to £1,680 for each academic year; this can be used for minor items and recurrent extra costs, such as extra photocopying, or to top-up the other allowances.
Travel Costs for the purpose of attending the institution 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.
DSA for students undertaking part-time undergraduate courses
The maximum rates for students undertaking part-time undergraduate courses (including relevant OU and other distance learning courses) in 2008/2009 are:Specialist Equipment Allowance - up to £5,030 for the duration of the course; this is for major items of equipment, such as computer equipment, that are necessary to enable you to benefit fully from your course. It can be paid at any time in your course, up to the maximum limit.
Non-Medical Helper Allowance - as a percentage of the full-time rate up to £15,000 (dependant on course intensity) for each academic year; it can be used to pay for helpers such as readers, note-takers, typists and extra learning support which dyslexic and other disabled students may need.
General Allowance - as a percentage of the full-time rate, up to £1,260 for each academic year; this can be used for minor items and recurrent extra costs, such as extra photocopying, or to top-up the other allowances.
Travel Costs for the purpose of attending the institution 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.
DSA for students undertaking full-time and part-time postgraduate courses
Postgraduate DSA: there is a maximum single annual allowance of £10,000 for eligible postgraduate students on designated part-time and full-time postgraduate courses.For more information see or download the DfES booklet "Bridging the gap: a guide to Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs) in higher education. Guide for 2006/2007" (file size 1.17mb), contact your funding authority, your university student services, or visit the Student Finance Direct website.