Disabled Students' Allowance: how to apply

What is Disabled Students' Allowance?

Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) is government money for study-related costs caused by a disability, long-term illness or mental health condition. It covers things you need because of your condition and would not otherwise need on a course: specialist equipment, a note taker or a study-skills mentor, and extra printing, for example.

It does not pay for costs any student would have, or disability costs you would have even if you were not studying. GOV.UK says it is not repaid and does not depend on household income.

Each part of the UK runs its own scheme, with its own limits, forms and deadlines. Use the nation where you are funded, not where you study.

Who can get DSA in England?

You can apply if you live in England, have a disability that affects your ability to study, and are eligible for a full Tuition Fee Loan and Maintenance Loan from Student Finance England. The course must be an undergraduate or postgraduate course lasting at least a year, or at least 30 credits on a course funded through the Lifelong Learning Entitlement.

GOV.UK says you cannot get it if you are only eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan, if you can get NHS Disabled Students' Allowances, if you get equivalent help from another source such as a university bursary, or if you are on a higher or degree apprenticeship. The maximum is up to £27,783 a year for undergraduates and postgraduates.

How do you apply for DSA?

The route depends on your course and whether you have already applied for student finance. In England, a full-time undergraduate who has applied for student finance should find DSA on the to-do list in their online account. If not, select "change your circumstances". If you applied by post, use the DSA slim form. If you are not applying for student finance, or you are part-time or postgraduate, use the DSA1 form.

Courses starting on or after 1 January 2027 apply through the Lifelong Learning Entitlement instead, and GOV.UK says those applications open at the end of October 2026. There is no fixed closing date on the page, so apply early.

In Wales, full-time undergraduates apply online through their student finance account after applying for other finance. In Scotland, applications open in April, the 2026-27 closing date is 31 March 2027, and you apply for each year of your course. In Northern Ireland, you attend a Study Needs Assessment at an approved centre, and the full-time undergraduate maximum is up to £27,500 for 2026 to 2027.

What evidence do you need?

You need proof of your condition, and what counts depends on the condition. In England, for a physical, sensory, long-term health or mental health condition you need a report or letter from a doctor or medical professional. For autism it is a report from a doctor or medical professional confirming the diagnosis. For a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia it is a diagnostic assessment from a practitioner psychologist or a suitably qualified specialist teacher.

An EHC plan, a statement of special educational needs or a disability evidence form can also work. Your university may help with the cost of a new diagnostic assessment. In Scotland, SAAS does not pay for a diagnosis, though your college or university may contribute, and it accepts a working diagnosis from a GP for ADHD or autism while you wait for a full assessment.

What happens at the needs assessment?

It is an informal meeting, in person or remotely, where an assessor works out what support you need for your course. It is not a test. In England a supplier, Study Tech or Capita, contacts you after your eligibility letter, and you do not need to contact them first. Afterwards you receive a recommendations report and an entitlement letter.

In Scotland, SAAS pays for the assessment and does not take the cost from your allowance. In Wales the entitlement letter is called a DSA2, and you can claim back only what it lists.

What does DSA pay for, and what are the limits?

In England, it can pay for specialist equipment, non-medical helpers, taxi travel if your disability stops you using public transport, and other costs such as printing. For a new computer you pay the first £200. Most support is paid straight to suppliers.

Scotland splits it into three allowances. The 2026-27 notes give a maximum of £1,725 a year for consumables such as printer cartridges and paper, £5,160 for equipment, software and accessories across your whole programme, and £20,520 a year for non-medical personal help. The notes say it will not cover course-specific equipment or software.

These figures are ceilings, not what you will get. What you get is set by your assessment.

Should you buy anything first?

No. GOV.UK says not to buy equipment before your assessment because you will not be reimbursed. In Wales you can claim back only the items listed in your entitlement letter, and SAAS may ask for money back if you buy something your assessor did not recommend.

What you can do is try free tools to find out what you like, then tell your assessor. Microsoft Edge has Immersive Reader built in, and Otter has a free plan. Use them to describe what you need, not as a substitute for the assessment.

Things to know

• We are describing official pages, not giving advice. Rules and amounts change each year. Check the figures on the pages listed under sources before you rely on them.
• We could not confirm every detail. We did not find a Scottish DSA page on SAAS's site that we could read, so the Scottish figures come from SAAS's 2026-27 application notes. For Northern Ireland we confirmed the maximum and the assessment, not the form numbers.
• We have not tested the products. The picks above are free or optional extras while you wait, and none of them is guaranteed to be recommended or funded.