The Complete Guide to Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)

What Is Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)?

Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) is a government grant that supports students with disabilities, long‑term health conditions, or mental health conditions. It helps to remove disability‑related barriers to studying by funding things like specialist equipment, software, mentoring, or travel.

If you apply for DSA and your application is approved, you won’t receive money directly into your account. Instead, you’ll have the cost of your expenses covered either by reimbursement or suppliers paid directly.

Who Can Get DSA?

You can apply for DSA if you live in England and have a disability or health condition that makes it difficult for you to carry out your studies. To be considered a disability, your condition must have a “substantial” and “long-term” impact on your ability to carry out everyday activities, as outlined in the Equality Act 2010. You might apply for DSA if you have: 

• A physical disability, for example, if you use a wheelchair, crutches, or a specialist keyboard
• A sensory impairment, e.g. you are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or visually impaired
• A long-term health condition, for example, cancer, chronic heart disease or HIV
• A mental health condition like anxiety or depression
• A specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia or ADHD

According to the government’s dedicated DSA resource, to receive DSA, you must be “an undergraduate or postgraduate student (including Open University or distance learning)

eligible for both a Tuition Fee Loan and a Maintenance Loan (full support) from Student Finance England” and “studying on a course that lasts at least a year”. If your course lasts multiple years, you can still apply for support in second year or third year if you didn’t apply earlier on. 

DSA isn’t means-tested, so you can apply regardless of what income you and your family receive. Unlike a student loan, you also won’t be required to pay it back.

Have more questions about eligibility? Explore whether you could receive DSA by reading our post: Who Is Eligible for the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA)?

Who Isn’t Eligible?

There are a few factors that can prevent you from getting access to DSA. You won’t receive funding if: 

• You’re only allowed a loan for your course fees and not a Maintenance Loan (i.e. you’re not fully funded through Student Finance England)*
• You’re getting NHS‑funded disability support and fall under the NHS’s own Disabled Students’ Allowances scheme instead of SFE
• You’re receiving disability‑related help from a different funding body, such as your university or a social work bursary
• You’re enrolled on a higher or degree apprenticeship, which uses a separate support system

*This normally applies to international students and certain EU students who only qualify for tuition fee support rather than full UK living cost support.

What Support Can You Get Through DSA?

According to the government website, students receiving DSA can get support “up to £27,783” for the academic year. While financial support isn’t awarded as cash, the allowance provided can help to go towards things like:

• Wider transport options for students needing help with travel
• Printing credits to help with extra printed materials
• Assistive technology products and specialist equipment like screen readers, dictation tools, noise-cancelling headphones, and note-taking software
• Ergonomic home office equipment
• A new laptop (a £200 contribution is required)
• Non-medical helpers and support staff

Did you know? DSA support is separate from reasonable adjustments. Even if you don’t end up applying for additional funding, your college or university still has a responsibility to ensure you’re not held back from education by any condition you might have. This means you can still ask for extra time for exams, additional materials for study, or request other changes if you feel you might need them. 

How Much Is DSA?

DSA isn’t awarded as cash or a set amount of money. Instead, the funding body will look at the equipment you need to complete your studies and provide the right amount to cover costs. The government website suggests that students in England could receive anywhere up to £27,783 for the 2026–2027 academic year; however, the average amount can be a lot less (£500-£1000 per year). It all depends on the condition(s) you have and the severity.

How to Apply for DSA

To apply for DSA, you’ll need to submit an application to Student Finance along with proof of your disability or health condition. This might include things like repeat prescriptions, doctors’ letters, formal diagnoses, referrals, or test results. 

Once your documents have been reviewed and you’re confirmed as eligible, you’ll be invited to a needs assessment. This is a relaxed conversation where a specialist looks at what would help you study effectively. After the assessment, you’ll get a formal letter outlining what support has been approved and instructions on how to access it. 

Here’s a loose summary of the DSA application process:

1. Submit your DSA application

Send your completed form to Student Finance with the required medical or diagnostic evidence so they can confirm your eligibility.

2. Wait for your eligibility decision

Once your documents are checked, you’ll receive a letter confirming whether you qualify for DSA and what happens next.

3. Attend your needs assessment

A specialist will discuss your study challenges and recommend equipment or support. This is an informal conversation, not a test.

4. Receive a support plan

You’ll get a report and an entitlement letter explaining the approved support and how to arrange equipment or services.

5. Access your equipment and support

Suppliers will usually contact you directly to provide equipment or training. You do not need to purchase items yourself beforehand.

Applying for DSA can be a lengthy process, so it’s a good idea to get started as soon as possible. Once you’ve applied and had your application approved, you won’t have to do it again, provided you remain on the same course.

Submitting a Late Application

You can still apply for DSA once you’ve started uni or college; however, if you’re in your final year and coming to the end of your course, you may struggle to get access to certain types of specialist equipment. The main reason you’re better off applying for DSA early is to give yourself enough time. DSA applications can sometimes take up to 14 weeks to process and manage, so the later you apply, the less opportunity you’ll have to benefit from the support put in place.

What Happens in a DSA Assessment?

A DSA assessment is a relaxed, informal meeting that helps to explore what support you may need to help you through your studies. During the assessment, you’ll be asked some simple questions about your condition or health issue and how it impacts a range of different tasks. This can take up to 2 hours to complete.

According to Gov.uk, your supplier will contact you directly to arrange your assessment after you’ve received your DSA eligibility letter. They may request that you bring certain documents or evidence with you; however, anything you need to bring will be outlined beforehand. 

You don’t need to travel far to complete your assessment (you can pick somewhere convenient). There are also options to complete assessments online. 

What Happens Next: Getting the Support You’re Entitled to 

Once you’ve completed your needs assessment and discussed options with the assessor, you’ll receive an entitlement letter. This will tell you what support you’re eligible for and how it will be provided. Most of the time, suppliers will contact you directly to make arrangements, but there may be certain support options that you need to have reimbursed, e.g. transport options or printing materials. If you do need to submit receipts for reimbursement, your letter should explain exactly how to do this.

If you’ve ordered specialist equipment, you can speak to the supplier and specify where you want it to be delivered. For example, while you might want a new laptop delivered to your home or student address, you may prefer heavier equipment sent to your university campus – especially if that’s where you plan to spend most of your study time. 

Top Tip: Claiming for travel? Try to keep screenshots of your receipts and invoices. When submitting a reimbursement claim, make sure the receipts are clear, itemised, and match the dates of your approved support period.

What is a DSA-2 Letter?

A DSA‑2 letter is your entitlement letter that outlines what DSA support you’ve been approved for. You need the DSA‑2 because it tells you exactly what help you’ll get, who will provide it, and how to access your support. Your DSA-2 will usually cover four categories:

• Specialist equipment allowance
• Non-medical helper allowance
• General allowance
• Travel allowance

Under or next to each category, you’ll see amounts awarded or time allocated. This lets you know how your DSA money is being spent.

Types of Specialist and Ergonomic Equipment for Students

Quite often, traditional study equipment alone isn’t suitable for disabled students, and you may find you require technology specially adapted to your needs. Here are some different types of equipment to explore:

Assistive Technology 

Assistive software and hardware tools are designed to make studying more accessible. Whether you find it easier to listen to information rather than read it, or you struggle with keeping up when taking notes in lectures, there’s likely a tech solution that can help. Common examples include:

• Laptops: Get a laptop adapted for specialist software (explore our DSA laptop guide for more info)
• Text-to-speech software: Play on-screen text aloud so you can follow along with documents, web pages, and lecture slides without having to read everything yourself
• Speech-to-text (dictation) tools: Write essays, emails, and notes by speaking rather than typing
• Screen readers: Convert everything on your screen into audio or braille output, ideal if you’re visually impaired and need full access to your computer
• Magnification software: Enlarge text and images on screen to make them easier to read
• Mind-mapping tools: Plan and structure work more visually 
• Adaptive headphones: Use noise-cancelling headphones to concentrate in busy environments, such as libraries or shared study spaces
• Note-taking software: Record lectures and sync your notes to the audio, so you can revisit specific moments without having to replay the whole thing

Ergonomic Furniture 

If you have a physical disability and need to spend long periods studying at a desk, having the right physical setup can make a real difference. DSA can contribute towards:

• Ergonomic desk chairs: Get a seat with adjustable lumbar support, armrests, and seat height to reduce strain and discomfort during long study sessions
• Adjustable-height desks: Explore sit-stand desks, which allow you to alternate between sitting and standing – useful if you find it painful or difficult to stay in one position for extended periods
• Large or dual monitors: Reduce the need for scrolling and view documents side-by-side
• Ergonomic keyboards and mice: Reduce wrist and hand strain with conditions like repetitive strain injury (RSI) or hypermobility
• Laptop stands and monitor risers: Bring screens to a comfortable eye level and reduce neck strain

As you can see, there are lots of different options available to help you study more comfortably. Your assessor will help you to uncover which are most suitable for you during your assessment.

FAQs

Do I need to reapply for DSA each year?

No. Once you’ve applied and had your application approved, you won’t have to do it again, provided you remain on the same course. Your support continues throughout your programme unless you change course or your needs significantly change.

Where can I find application forms for a disabled student allowance online?

The easiest and most reliable place to get Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) application forms is through Student Finance England, via Gov.uk. You can access the forms directly through their online portal.