What is the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)?
Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) is support to help with any extra study-related costs you may have as a direct result of a disability, long-term health condition, mental health condition, or learning difference (e.g. dyslexia).
Visit Student Finance Wales’ support pages and application guidance.
What's available?
2024 to 2025 academic year
- Full-time and part-time undergraduate or postgraduate students can get up to £33,460 a year for support.
- DSA doesn't depend on your household income – what you can get depends on your own needs. You don't have to pay this back.
- Although it’s called an ‘allowance’, you won’t be given any money directly. Specified providers will be funded directly through Student Finance Wales to provide the support you need.
Eligibility
If you have a disability, mental health condition, neurodiversity, chronic illness and/or learning difference, you may be able to access DSA.
There’s no exhaustive list of which conditions make someone eligible for DSA but you can apply if you meet the definition of disability in the 2010 Equality Act. This means you must have a “physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities.”
In Wales, students must also:
- be an undergraduate or postgraduate student (including Open University or distance learning)
- qualify for student finance from Student Finance Wales
- be studying on a full-time or part-time course that lasts at least one year
You can’t get DSA if you’re:
- only eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan
- eligible for an NHS Disabled Students’ Allowance (this is a separate scheme)
- getting equivalent support from another funding source (e.g. from your university or a social work bursary)
There is no age limit for who can get DSA.
How to apply
If you’re applying for other student finance, such as a Tuition Fee Loan or Maintenance Loan from Student Finance Wales, you’ll be able to apply for DSA from your online account after you’ve submitted your main student finance application.
The application process for DSA can take up to 14 weeks. You should apply and submit your evidence to Student Finance Wales as early as possible to ensure everything is ready for the start of your course.
You cannot apply online for DSA if you're applying for:
- DSA only, and no other student finance
- a part-time course
- a postgraduate course
In these instances, you must apply using a paper application form (DSA1).
Usually, DSA applications are managed by Student Finance Wales, but there are exceptions:
- If you have a UKRI-funded studentship you apply for DSA through the UKRI.
- If you receive an NHS Student Bursary you apply for DSA through your BOSS account.
Evidence to support your application
After you’ve applied for DSA, Student Finance Wales will contact you to advise what evidence you need to provide to support your DSA application. Examples of accepted evidence are given below:
| Condition | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Disability or long-term health condition | A copy of a report or letter from your doctor or consultant — or a copy of a disability evidence form completed by a medical professional. |
| Mental health condition | A copy of a report or letter from your doctor or consultant — or a copy of a disability evidence form completed by a medical professional. |
| Specific learning difficulty | A copy of a 'diagnostic assessment' from a practitioner, psychologist or suitably qualified specialist teacher. |
If you’ve applied for DSA online you can submit a digital copy of your evidence via your student finance account.
If you prefer, you can post hard copies (we recommend you also email these to the address given on the DSA application form in advance):
Student Finance Wales
PO Box 211
Llandudno Junction
If you don’t have an online account or applied on a paper form, send a hard copy of your evidence with your application. You can also send it later by emailing the DSA team at the address on the DSA application form.
The DSA needs assessment
- Once your application is approved, you'll receive an email from Student Finance Wales confirming your eligibility for DSA.
- The next step is attending your DSA needs assessment. This is an informal meeting with an experienced needs assessor to discuss what equipment and support will help you get the most from your course. This can be held online or in person.
- Once your eligibility has been confirmed, your supplier will be in touch to arrange the needs assessment.
- You will not have to pay for the assessment – it is funded through your DSA entitlement.
You will be asked to share your disability evidence with the assessor before your needs assessment to help them prepare. This will be the same evidence you shared with Student Finance Wales as part of your DSA application.
Do not buy any equipment until you’ve attended your needs assessment as you will not be reimbursed for it.
What happens next?
Student Finance Wales will be sent a copy of your needs assessment report and you’ll be sent your DSA2 entitlement letter within ten working days.
After this, your allocated supplier will take care of delivering the support outlined in your needs assessment report, including setting up equipment, installing software, and any training or aftercare support as required.