Disabled Students' Allowances provide extra financial help to meet the extra course costs UK students can face in their studies if they have a disability (e.g. long-standing health condition, mobility impairment, hearing or vision impairment, Autism Spectrum Disorder), specific learning difficulty (e.g. dyslexia, ADHD, dyspraxia, dyscalculia) or mental health difficulty.

They are available on top of the standard student finance package and don't have to be repaid.

Who are they for?

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

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 can I get more information?

You can have a look at the yourDSA website which is really informative about the process, what you have to do and what services you can get.

If you look at the information below about where to apply, you'll find further detail on those sites too.

If you like to speak to someone about an application you have made, whether you'll be eligible or any aspect of the DSA process, then contact Disability Services: disability@uea.ac.uk 01602 592891.

You can also download a brief guide to the DSA process by clicking here.

Where you apply to:

English applicants/students: Student Finance England

Welsh applicants/students: Student Finance Wales

Northern Irish applicants/students: your Education and Library Board

Scottish Applicants/students: Student Awards Agency for Scotland

Applicants/students funded by NHS Bursaries: NHS Bursaries

Social Work applicants/students funded by GSCC: NHS Business Services Authority

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.