Accessibility in Higher Education
Disabled Students Allowance (DSA)
The Disabled Students’ Allowance is a non-means tested government grant provided to students with a disability, long term illness or mental health problem, studying for an undergraduate or postgraduate degree. Thousands of students each year with mental health issues, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, autism, Asperger's, hearing impairment, visual impairment and physical disabilities are in receipt of this funding. It is designed to cover some of the extra costs that these students will incur during their time in higher education.
Students can get the DSA allowance on top of their other student finance and it will not need to be repaid.
What can the Disabled Students' Allowance pay for?
Specialist equipment, e.g., a computer if you need one because of your disability
Assistive technology software and hardware
Non-medical helpers
Extra travel because of your disability
Other disability-related costs of studying
Once their eligibility for the Disabled Students' Allowance is confirmed, an applicant is most likely to be asked to go through a needs assessment process.
For specific information on funding policy by region and how to apply, please refer to the following websites:
It is worth noting that funding is provided by the region in which a student lives, and is not linked to the location of study, i.e. if a student lives in England but studies in Wales they will be funded by Student Finance England, not Student Finance Wales.