Help if you're a student with a learning difficulty, health problem or disability
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1. Disabled Students' Allowance
Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) is support to cover the study-related costs you have because of a mental health problem, long-term illness or any other disability.
This can be on its own or in addition to any student finance you get.
The type of support and how much you get depends on your individual needs - not your household income.
You do not need to pay back DSA.
What you’ll get
Undergraduate and postgraduate students can get up to £27,783 per year for support.
What DSA can pay for
You can get help with the costs of:
- specialist equipment, for example a computer if you need one because of your disability
- non-medical helpers, for example a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter or specialist note taker
- taxi travel to and from your course or placement, only if your disability stops you from using public transport
- other disability-related study support, for example having to print additional copies of documents for proof-reading
DSA does not cover disability-related costs you’d have if you were not attending a course, or costs that any student might have.
Buying a new computer
You may get a new computer if you’re assessed as needing one because:
- you do not already have one
- your current one does not meet your study needs
When buying a new computer, you’ll need to pay the first £200.
The DSA team will send you more information about this after your needs assessment.
Your ‘needs assessment’
Your needs assessment is an informal meeting to determine what support you can get for your studies - it’s not a test. It can be in-person or remote.
After you receive your DSA eligibility letter, a supplier (either Study Tech or Capita) will contact you to arrange a needs assessment. You do not need to contact them first.
A decision cannot be made on your DSA application until you’ve had your assessment.
After your assessment, you’ll get:
- a report with the recommendations made by your supplier based on your assessment
- an entitlement letter explaining what support you can get
Study Tech or Capita will then contact you to discuss your equipment and arrange any assistive technology training you need. Your entitlement letter will also tell you if you need to contact any suppliers yourself.
Do not buy any equipment until you’ve been assessed - you will not be reimbursed for it.
How DSA is paid
Most payments will be sent directly to your suppliers depending on what support you’ve been awarded.
Only some allowance costs can be paid directly to you. Your entitlement letter will let you know if this applies to you.
2. Eligibility
You can apply for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) if you live in England and have a disability that affects your ability to study, such as a:
- specific learning difficulty, for example dyslexia or ADHD
- mental health condition, for example anxiety or depression
- physical disability, for example if you have to use crutches, a wheelchair or a special keyboard
- sensory disability, for example if you’re visually impaired, deaf or have a hearing impairment
- long-term health condition, for example cancer, chronic heart disease or HIV
You must also be:
- eligible for both a Tuition Fee Loan and a Maintenance Loan (full support) from Student Finance England
- studying on an undergraduate or postgraduate funded course that lasts at least a year, or studying at least 30 credits on a course funded through the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE)
One credit for LLE is usually equivalent to 10 hours of learning time.
Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE)
Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) is the new student finance system for many courses starting on or after 1 January 2027. From September 2026, you can apply for LLE funding for certain courses and modules from levels 4 to 6, or some postgraduate courses from level 7.
Who is not eligible
You cannot get DSA from Student Finance England if you’re:
- only eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan and not a Maintenance Loan (tuition fee only funding)
- eligible for NHS Disabled Students’ Allowances (this is a separate scheme)
- getting equivalent support from another funding source, like from your university or a social work bursary
- on a higher or degree apprenticeship course
Proving you’re eligible
You will not automatically get DSA - you need proof of your eligibility.
Physical, sensory, long-term health, or mental health conditions
You must provide a copy of a report or letter from your doctor or a medical professional. It must explain how your health condition has a substantial and long-term effect on your day-to-day activities.
Alternatively, you can send a copy of:
- a disability evidence form
- a Statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN)
- an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP)
Autistic Spectrum Disorders
You must provide a copy of a report or letter from your doctor or a medical professional that confirms your diagnosis.
Alternatively, you can send a copy of:
- a disability evidence form
- a Statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN)
- an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP)
Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD)
You must provide a copy of a ‘diagnostic assessment’ from a practitioner psychologist or a suitably qualified specialist teacher.
How to submit your evidence
You can send proof of a health condition or learning disability to Student Finance England through your online account - if you have one. You can also send your proof by email or post.
Disability evidence for student finance
dsa_medical_evidence@slc.co.uk
Student Finance England
PO Box 210
Darlington
DL1 9HJ
You could get extra money from your university or college to pay for a new diagnostic assessment.
Your course
Your course must be in the UK. Examples of eligible courses include:
- a first degree, for example BA, BSc or BEd
- a Foundation Degree
- a Certificate of Higher Education
- a Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE)
- a Higher National Certificate (HNC)
- a Higher National Diploma (HND)
- a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE)
- a postgraduate course
- Initial Teacher Training
- a level 4 or 5 course with Higher Technical Qualification approval
If your course starts on or after 1 January 2027, different rules may apply.
Check with your university or college if you’re not sure whether your course qualifies for funding.
Part-time courses that started before 1 January 2027
For part-time students, whether you can get DSA depends on your course intensity.
‘Course intensity’ means how long your course takes to complete each year compared to an equivalent full-time course. You can check course intensity with your university or college.
The rules are different depending on your course.
Part-time undergraduate courses
Your course cannot be more than 4 times longer than the equivalent full-time course. Your course must last at least a year.
Part-time postgraduate master’s courses
If you’re applying for a Postgraduate Loan for a part-time master’s degree, the course must not last more than twice as long as the full-time equivalent.
3. How to apply
How you apply for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) depends on whether you’re studying full-time or part-time and when your course starts.
Full-time undergraduate courses that started before 1 January 2027
If you’re applying for other types of student finance, you only need to apply for DSA once. Otherwise, you’ll need to apply each year.
If you’ve already applied for student finance
Sign in to your student finance account to start your DSA application.
The application for DSA should be on your ‘to-do list’ if you chose DSA in your application for other support. If it is not, select ‘change your circumstances’ to apply.
If you do not have an online account because you applied for student finance by post, fill in a DSA slim form:
If you have not applied for student finance
You can apply for DSA when you apply for student finance online.
If you do not need student finance, you can fill in a DSA1 form to apply just for DSA:
You cannot apply for student finance online once you’ve applied for DSA.
Part-time undergraduate courses that started before 1 January 2027 and postgraduate courses
Fill in a DSA1 form to apply for DSA for the 2026 to 2027 academic year. You’ll need to apply for DSA each year.
If you’re already getting DSA
Fill in a DSA expenses claim form to claim back your expenses:
How long it takes
The Student Loans Company (SLC) will tell you in 4 weeks if your application is successful.
It can take up to 14 weeks to get your DSA support in place as this is done separately.
You can check current application processing times to find out when you can expect to get an update on your application.
Courses starting on or after 1 January 2027
If your course starts on or after 1 January 2027, you’ll apply for DSA through the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE). Applications open in September 2026.
It does not matter whether you’re studying full-time or part-time - the application process is the same.
4. Further information
Contact the disability adviser at your university or college if you need advice about financial help.
If your circumstances change
Contact Student Finance England if your circumstances change as this may affect what you’re entitled to. For example, if your condition gets worse you may be able to get extra help.
Appeals
You can ask for an explanation or to have your case reviewed if your application is turned down. Contact Student Finance England for more details.