Disabled Students' Allowances

Disabled Students' Allowances provide extra financial help if you have a disability or specific learning difficulty like dyslexia, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, dyspraxia, dyscalculia. They are available on top of the standard student finance package and don't have to be repaid.

Who are they for?

Disabled Students' Allowances are grants to help meet the extra course costs UK students can face in their studies as a direct result of a disability or specific learning difficulty.

Full-time, part-time and postgraduate students can apply for Disabled Students' Allowances.

The amount you get doesn't depend on your household income. Disabled Students' Allowances are paid on top of the standard student finance package, and don't have to be paid back.

What they can be used for?

Disabled Students' Allowances can help pay for:

• specialist equipment you need for studying - for example, computer software
• a non-medical helper, such as a note-taker, mentor or reader
• extra travel costs you have to pay because of your disability
• other costs - for example, tapes or Braille paper
• study skills tuition

Is your course eligible?

You can apply for a Disabled Students’ Allowance for a full-time course (including sandwich courses) or a part-time course (part-time courses must take no longer than twice as long to complete as the full time equivalent). In general, to be eligible your course should lead to one of the following qualifications:

first degree, such as a Bachelor of Arts, Science or Education; Foundation Degree; Certificate of Higher Education; Diploma of Higher Education; Initial Teacher Training; Master’s degree or PhD

Where you apply to

• English applicants/students: Student Finance England http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/DG_183342
• Welsh applicants/students: Student Finance Wales http://www.studentfinancewales.co.uk/
• Northern Irish applicants/students: your Education and Library Board http://www.studentfinanceni.co.uk/
• Scottish Applicants/students: Student Awards Agency for Scotland http://www.saas.gov.uk/
• Applicants/students funded by NHS Bursaries: NHS Bursaries http://www.nhsstudentgrants.co.uk/
• Social Work applicants/students funded by GSCC: NHS Business Services Authority http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Students.aspx
• Applicants/students funded by a Research Council: you are advised to consult the Disability Co-ordinator (disability@uea.ac.uk) as Councils vary in their procedures.