Disabled Students Allowance
Hero Carousel
Disabled Students Allowance
Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) helps pay for extra study-related costs caused by a disability, mental health condition or specific learning difference.
Process for claiming Disabled Students' Allowance
Apply to your funding body for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA). This depends on where you live and, in some cases, the course you study.
Choose the correct funding body below to apply for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA):
- Apply to Student Finance England
- Apply to Student Finance Wales
- Apply to Student Finance Northern Ireland
- Apply to the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS)
- Apply to Jersey or Guernsey
- Apply through the NHS Business Services Authority or Social Work Bursary Team - for nursing, midwifery and allied health professional students
- Apply to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) - for funded researchers and postgraduate research students.
Complete the relevant DSA application form and send it with your medical evidence or diagnostic report.
DSA can help pay for disability-related study support and specialist equipment.
Timescale: Your funding body may take two to three weeks to respond.
Once your funding body approves your Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) application, you will receive an email or letter asking you to book a Needs Assessment.
During your appointment, a Needs Assessor will discuss the support you may need for your studies and recommend appropriate support and equipment.
If you are funded by Student Finance England or Student Finance Wales, your approved supplier - such as Capita or Study Tech - will contact you directly to arrange your appointment.
If you are funded by another organisation, you will need to contact an assessment centre to book your assessment.
Book an appointment with UEL's assessment centre - RACEL
To book a Needs Assessment at UEL's assessment centre, please contact us via email racel@uel.ac.uk.
Timescale: Appointment waiting times are usually up to three weeks.
After your Study Needs Assessment, your assessor will prepare a report recommending support, equipment and study-related adjustments.
The assessment centre will send the report to your funding body for approval.
Timescale: The assessment centre may take up to two weeks to complete and quality assure your report.
Your funding body will review your report and confirm which recommendations have been approved.
You will receive this as a DSA2 letter. Please forward this letter to the University's Disability and Dyslexia team so they can set up your support and arrange delivery of any items.
Timescale: This stage usually takes between two and six weeks.
If you are funded by Student Finance England or Student Finance Wales, your supplier will contact you to arrange:
- Equipment delivery
- Assistive technology training
- Other approved support
If you are funded by another organisation, you may need to contact your approved suppliers directly to arrange your support.
If you are unsure what to do next, contact the assessment centre where you completed your assessment or speak to a Disability Adviser at UEL.
Disabled Students' Allowance FAQs
Below are a number of frequently asked questions when applying for Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA).
What is Disabled Students' Allowance?
Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) helps pay for extra study-related costs caused by a disability, mental health condition or specific learning difference.
DSA is not a loan and does not need to be repaid. The support you receive depends on your individual needs.
Who can apply for the DSA?
You may be eligible for DSA if you:
- Study full-time or part-time
- Are on an eligible full-time or part-time postgraduate course
- On an eligible unpaid sandwich course, and
- Have a disability, mental health condition, or a Specific Learning Difference, that affects your studies
This includes students on distance-learning courses and Open University programmes.
If you are unsure whether you are eligible, contact your funding body or the University of East London's disability and dyslexia team for guidance.
When can I apply for the DSA?
You should apply for DSA as soon as you apply for university.
The full process - from application to receiving support - can take up to 14 weeks.
How do I apply for DSA?
Your funding body depends on where you live and the course you study.
Choose the correct funding body below to apply for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA):
- Apply to Student Finance England
- Apply to Student Finance Wales
- Apply to Student Finance Northern Ireland
- Apply to the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS)
- Apply to Jersey or Guernsey
- Apply through the NHS Business Services Authority or Social Work Bursary Team - for nursing, midwifery and allied health professional students
- Apply to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) - for funded researchers and postgraduate research students.
Related pages
![]()
Changes to the Disabled Students Allowance
Since February 2024, the DSA has undergone some big changes which aims to streamline the DSA process for students.
![]()
FAQs and useful links
Answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding the DSA are detailed on our website. There are also useful links related to the DSA.
![]()
Regional Access Centre East London
At the Regional Access Centre East London (RACEL) we undertake Study Needs Assessments for home students who have been made eligible for the Disabled Students’ Allowance through select funding bodies.
