Disabled Students' Allowance

{{Short description|Government grant for disabled students in the UK}}

{{Disability}}

Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) is a non-repayable grant available to disabled students of higher education in the United Kingdom. It is paid by the Student Loans Company{{Cite web |title=About us |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/student-loans-company/about |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}} on behalf of Student Finance England,{{Cite web |title=Help if you're a student with a learning difficulty, health problem or disability |url=https://www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowance-dsa/eligibility |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}} Student Finance Wales,{{Cite web |last=Wales |first=Student Finance |title=Extra help available if you are a full-time undergraduate student with a disability |url=https://www.studentfinancewales.co.uk/undergraduate-finance/full-time/tuition-fee-and-living-cost-students/what-s-available/disabled-students-allowance/ |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=Student Finance Wales |language=en-GB}} Student Awards Agency Scotland,{{Cite web |title=Student Awards Agency Scotland - SAAS - Funding Your Future |url=https://www.saas.gov.uk/guides/disabled-students-allowance |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=www.saas.gov.uk |language=en}} Student Finance Northern Ireland,{{Cite web |title=Student Finance Northern Ireland |url=https://www.studentfinanceni.co.uk/types-of-finance/undergraduate/full-time/tuition-fee-and-living-cost-students/extra-help/disabled-students-allowance/what-is-it/#main |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=www.studentfinanceni.co.uk |language=en}} and the governments of Jersey,{{Cite web |title=Student Finance guidance and application |url=https://www.gov.je/Working/SkillsCareersHigherEducation/StudentFinance/pages/studentfinance.aspx |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=gov.je |language=en}} Guernsey,{{Cite web |title=Funding for Study |url=https://www.gov.gg/studentfinance |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=The official website for the States of Guernsey}} and the Isle of Man.{{Cite web |title=Disabled students |url=https://www.gov.im/categories/education-training-and-careers/student-awards/disabled-students/ |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=www.gov.im}}

It helps to cover additional study costs that result from disabilities (both physical and learning) as well as mental health issues and long-term illnesses.{{Cite web |title=Help if you're a student with a learning difficulty, health problem or disability |url=https://www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowance-dsa |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}} The exact support given depends on the needs of the student. Examples include partial or complete funding for a sign language interpreter, extra printing, or a new personal computer.

Students on both undergraduate and postgraduate courses may apply for DSA. The student must prove eligibility by submitting a document as evidence of their disability. For medical conditions, this evidence may be a letter or report from a doctor or consultant. For learning disabilities, a report from a practitioner psychologist or a specialist teacher is used instead.