If you have a disability, specific learning difficulty or long-term medical condition you may be eligible for funding from the Disabled Student Allowances (DSA).

DSAs are funds available to home students who are either already on, or going to study, a higher education course. DSA pays for extra costs you may incur in attending your course as a direct result of your disability. DSAs are not means-tested and do not need to be paid back.

Part-time, as well as full-time, undergraduate students are eligible to apply as long as their course is the equivalent of at least 25 per cent of a full-time course. Postgraduate students, studying on designated courses of at least a year in length, can also apply for DSA.

Applications are processed by your funding body, i.e. Student Loans Companies (such as Student Finance England), NHS Business Service Authority or Research Councils.

You will need to send evidence of your disability with your DSA application. Your funding body will then invite you, if your evidence is sufficient, to have a Study Needs Assessment to agree what support you may need.

DSA might help with the cost of major items of specialist equipment, non-medical helpers and other expenses such as photocopying and printer cartridges. The support provided is intended to help you to overcome the effects of your disability on your education.

We are here to advise you about your DSA application but you can also get help from the student support team at your funding body. You may be able to apply for DSAs at any time during your course but it is advisable to do so as soon as you can because the process can take around 14 weeks.

Please note that if you apply late in the final year of your studies, there may be insufficient time to put a full range of support in place for you.