How to Apply for Disabled Students' Allowance in England

Who can apply for DSA in England?

Disabled Students' Allowance, usually called DSA, is extra support for study-related costs caused by a disability or health condition.

You can apply through Student Finance England if you live in England and your ability to study is affected by a:

• specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia or ADHD;
• mental health condition, such as anxiety or depression;
• physical disability;
• sensory disability, including visual or hearing impairment; or
• long-term health condition.

DSA is separate from ordinary tuition and maintenance support. If you also need undergraduate tuition or living-cost finance, Helpydo has a separate guide to applying for undergraduate Student Finance England support.

How much DSA can you get in 2026 to 2027?

For the 2026 to 2027 academic year, eligible undergraduate and postgraduate students can receive up to £27,783 per year for approved support.

The actual amount depends on your individual disability-related study needs, not household income.

Official regulations treat disability-related travel expenditure separately from the £27,783 limit for other eligible expenditure.

Do you have to pay DSA back?

No. Disabled Students' Allowance is a grant and does not need to be repaid.

It is also not means-tested in the same way as ordinary student maintenance support. The type and value of support depend on your assessed needs rather than your household income.

What can DSA pay for?

DSA can contribute to additional study costs that arise because of your disability. Official examples include:

• specialist equipment, including a suitable computer where one is required because of your disability;
• non-medical helpers, such as a British Sign Language interpreter or specialist note taker;
• extra disability-related travel, including taxi travel to your course or placement where your disability prevents you from using public transport;
• assistive technology and relevant training; and
• other disability-related study costs, such as extra printing required for proofreading.

DSA does not pay for disability costs you would have even if you were not studying, or for normal costs that any student would face.

Do you have to pay towards a new computer?

Yes, if a new computer is approved through DSA, you normally have to pay the first £200.

A computer may be recommended if you do not already have one or your existing computer does not meet your disability-related study needs.

Do not buy a computer before your needs assessment and approval. GOV.UK states that equipment bought before the assessment will not be reimbursed.

What student finance conditions must you meet?

For the current system applying to courses that start before 1 January 2027, you normally need to be an undergraduate or postgraduate student and meet the Student Finance England eligibility rules.

GOV.UK states that you must normally be eligible for both a Tuition Fee Loan and Maintenance Loan, described as full support, and be studying an eligible course lasting at least one year.

Open University and eligible distance-learning students can also qualify.

Who cannot get Student Finance England DSA?

You cannot receive DSA from Student Finance England if you are:

• eligible only for a Tuition Fee Loan and not a Maintenance Loan;
• eligible for NHS Disabled Students' Allowances under the separate NHS scheme;
• already receiving equivalent disability-related study support from another funding source, such as certain university or social-work funding; or
• on a higher or degree apprenticeship.

The funding source matters because you cannot normally have the same disability-related study costs funded twice.

Can distance-learning students get DSA?

Yes, eligible distance-learning students can qualify for DSA. The regulations include specific residence rules for distance-learning courses.

For courses under the current system, Student Finance England generally requires an eligible distance-learning student to be undertaking the designated course in England at the start of the course, subject to specified exceptions.

The DSA rules are different from the additional evidence sometimes required when a distance-learning student is seeking a Maintenance Loan because disability prevents physical attendance.

What evidence do you need for a disability or health condition?

You do not automatically receive DSA. Student Finance England requires evidence showing that you meet the disability criteria.

For a physical disability, long-term health condition or mental health condition, acceptable evidence can include:

• a report or letter from a doctor or consultant;
• the official DSA Disability Evidence form completed by an appropriate medical professional;
• a Statement of Special Educational Needs where applicable; or
• an Education, Health and Care Plan.

A medical professional may charge you for completing the DSA evidence form. Student Finance England states that this cost cannot be reclaimed through DSA.

What evidence do you need for dyslexia or another specific learning difficulty?

For a specific learning difficulty, Student Finance England requires a diagnostic assessment from a practitioner psychologist or a suitably qualified specialist teacher.

The general DSA Disability Evidence form cannot be used by itself to confirm a specific learning difficulty.

Your university or college may have separate help available towards the cost of obtaining a new diagnostic assessment.

How do you send your evidence?

If you have an online Student Finance England account, you can submit disability evidence through that account.

Student Finance England also accepts evidence through its official disability-evidence email and postal channels. Follow the current instructions supplied with your application so the evidence is attached to the correct student record.

How do full-time undergraduate students apply?

If your full-time undergraduate course started before 1 January 2027 and you already applied for student finance, sign in to your Student Finance England account.

If you selected DSA when making the main student-finance application, the DSA task should appear on your account's to-do list. If it does not, GOV.UK says to use the change your circumstances option to apply.

If you applied for student finance by post and do not have an online account, use the appropriate DSA application form for the academic year.

Can you apply for DSA without a student loan?

Yes. DSA can be awarded on its own even if you do not intend to take ordinary student-finance payments, provided you meet the underlying eligibility rules.

For courses under the current pre-January 2027 system, students applying only for DSA can use the official DSA1 form.

Be aware that GOV.UK states you cannot subsequently make the ordinary student-finance application online once you have already applied for DSA in this way, so check the application sequence before submitting.

How do part-time and postgraduate students apply?

For part-time undergraduate courses starting before 1 January 2027 and for postgraduate courses under the current system, use the DSA1 application form for the relevant academic year.

These students need to apply for DSA each year.

If you are starting a postgraduate doctoral course and also need the separate loan for course and living costs, see Helpydo's guide to applying for a postgraduate doctoral loan in England.

What changes for courses starting on or after 1 January 2027?

Student finance is changing for courses starting on or after 1 January 2027.

For those courses, DSA applications will be made through the Lifelong Learning Entitlement system. GOV.UK states that applications open in September 2026 and that the same application process applies whether you study full-time or part-time.

The new system can also make DSA available for some study that is not a traditional undergraduate or postgraduate degree, subject to the Lifelong Learning Entitlement course and credit rules.

What happens after you submit the DSA application?

The Student Loans Company reviews the application and supporting evidence. GOV.UK says it will tell you in about 4 weeks whether your application is successful.

If you are eligible, you receive a DSA eligibility letter and move to the needs-assessment stage.

What is the DSA needs assessment?

The needs assessment is an informal discussion about how your disability affects your studies and what support would help. It is not a test.

The assessment can take place remotely or in person.

After Student Finance England sends your eligibility letter, an approved supplier, currently Study Tech or Capita, will contact you to arrange the assessment. You do not need to contact the supplier first.

How should you prepare for the assessment?

Think about the practical barriers you experience when studying, attending lectures, completing assignments, travelling to campus or placements and using standard equipment or software.

The assessor will discuss appropriate support based on your individual circumstances rather than automatically providing the same equipment or services to every student with the same diagnosis.

What happens after the needs assessment?

After the assessment, you receive:

• a report containing the supplier's support recommendations; and
• an entitlement letter explaining what support has been approved.

Study Tech or Capita will then contact you where relevant to arrange equipment and assistive-technology training. Your entitlement letter will explain if you need to contact any other supplier yourself.

How long does DSA take?

The Student Loans Company says it will normally tell you within 4 weeks whether your application has been successful.

It can then take up to 14 weeks for the DSA support itself to be put in place because equipment, assessments and services are arranged separately.

Applying early is therefore important if you want support available near the beginning of your course or academic year.

How is DSA paid?

Most DSA payments are sent directly to approved suppliers for the support that has been awarded.

Some approved allowance costs can be paid directly to you. Your entitlement letter explains when this applies.

If you need to reclaim eligible expenses, use the DSA expenses claim form for the academic year in which the costs were incurred. Student Finance England says eligible expenses can be reclaimed at any point during that academic year.

Do not buy equipment before approval

This is an important rule. GOV.UK states that you should not buy equipment before you have been assessed because you will not be reimbursed for it through DSA.

Wait until you receive your entitlement information and follow the supplier instructions for purchasing or arranging approved equipment.

Is DSA the same as disability benefits such as PIP?

No. DSA is education support for additional study-related costs. It is separate from disability benefits that help with broader daily-living or mobility needs.

If you need information about the separate disability-benefit process, see Helpydo's guide to claiming Personal Independence Payment.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming a diagnosis automatically results in a DSA award without submitting evidence.
• Using the general disability evidence form as the only proof of dyslexia or another specific learning difficulty.
• Buying a laptop or other equipment before the needs assessment.
• Assuming household income decides the amount of DSA.
• Applying to Student Finance England when you are already eligible for an equivalent NHS or other disability-support scheme.
• Forgetting that part-time and postgraduate students under the current system usually need to apply each academic year.
• Waiting until studies have started before beginning the application when support can take up to 14 weeks to arrange.
• Using the pre-2027 application route for a course that starts on or after 1 January 2027.

What should you check before applying?

Confirm that you are applying through Student Finance England, that your course meets the relevant funding rules and that your disability or condition affects your ability to study.

Prepare appropriate evidence before submitting the claim. If you have a specific learning difficulty, check that your diagnostic assessment meets Student Finance England's requirements. Once you receive an eligibility letter, complete the needs assessment before buying equipment or arranging services you expect DSA to fund.