Disabled Students Allowance

Just as with any grant, you’ll need to qualify to be eligible to receive the DSA. Generally speaking, each of the following must apply in order for you to be provided with a bursary:

• You’re a full-time resident of the UK
• You’re on a university-level degree that lasts for a year or more (including part-time, Open University, and distance learning courses)
• You already qualify for support from Student Finance
• You have a disability, medical condition, sensory impairment, mental health condition, or specific learning difficulty that makes it harder for you to study your course
• The DSA is available to anyone who has a long-term condition (over 12 months, or is likely to be an ongoing concern).

If you are studying a higher-level apprentice programme, we would encourage you to contact the student support team at your college/university to find out what help they may be able to offer. This is because apprenticeships have a different support funding stream.

It may be the case that you are already studying and curious about the reason why your grades are not reflecting the effort and time you are putting in. It may be the situation, that your coping strategies are no longer fit for purpose. If this is the situation, we would encourage you to undertake a dyslexia screening test to evaluate if there are any underlying reasons.

Please note: If the results of the screening test indicate positive traits, this is not a formal diagnosis and you will need to arrange a more in-depth assessment. Hampshire Dyslexia Association can help put you in touch with a qualified assessor if needed, but your college/university may also be able to help.

Depending on who your funding body is the maximum value of your DSA award varies. This year For Wales, England, and Northern Ireland, the 2023-24 caps are clear:

• £26,291 per year if you’re from England
• £33,146 per year if you’re from Wales
• £25,000 per year if you’re from Northern Ireland

You can apply for the DSA by logging into your Student Finance account,

Funding bodies in the UK:

The earlier you do this the better, as it will give Student Finance the time to have provisions in place for you well before your course begins. The best time to apply is as soon as your place is confirmed by UCAS.

You should find that a DSA application is on your “to-do list” when you sign in. If it isn’t, then go to “change your circumstances” and follow the DSA instructions mentioned to apply.

If you are unsure about the application process, we would encourage you to contact the student support team at your college/university. However, we appreciate you may not wish to disclose an additional support need, so please do contact hantsda.helpline@gmail.com.

• Longstanding, i.e. been present for more than 12 months, or is likely to have an ongoing impact;
• Advises on the daily impact your condition has on you;
• Completed by an appropriately qualified professional, e.g. Specialist Teacher, Educational psychologies, GP, Specialist Consultant;

Injuries such as a broken wrist are considered short-term conditions and, therefore, will not be approved. If this is your situation, we would advise you to contact the student support team at your college/university to discuss what accommodations may be able to be offered, especially because writing in a plaster cast is pretty tricky!