Disabled student allowance
If you’re studying at Kingston University and have a disability, you may be able to claim Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA). Here’s everything you need to know about accessing your support.
What is Disabled Students’ Allowance?
Disabled Students’ Allowance is support to cover study costs that are related to a mental health problem, long-term illness or any other disability.
DSA:
- Can be claimed on top of any other student finance or benefits
- Does not need to be paid back
- Is based on your individual needs – not your income
Head to your regional Student Finance provider in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland to apply now.
Who is eligible for DSA?
To claim DSA, you need to be:
- A UK resident
- An undergraduate or postgraduate student on a course that lasts at least a year (including part-time, Open University and distance learning courses)
- Living with a disability, medical condition, sensory impairment, mental health condition or specific learning difficulty that affects your ability to study
You are not eligible if:
- You're an EU student and only eligible for tuition fee support
- You're getting equivalent support from another source, such as an NHS or Social Work Bursary
- You're studying a Foundation course which doesn't directly lead to an undergraduate course
What does DSA cover?
DSA goes towards study costs that are related to your disability. It can pay for:
- Non-medical helpers, such as sign language interpreters or specialist mentors
- Specialist equipment or assistive technology
- Other disability-related costs of studying and travelling
DSA does not cover student costs that aren’t related to your disability, or personal costs that aren’t related to your studies.
Applying for DSA
You can apply for DSA with an online or paper application. Follow the links below to find out how to apply based on your location.
- England: Student Finance England (SFE)
- Scotland: Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS)
- Wales: Student Finance Wales
- Northern Ireland: Student Finance NI
Current students can apply for DSA at any time.
Applicants and offer holders can apply anytime before your course starts. We recommend you start your application in May before your course begins.
The application process can take up to 14 weeks, so make sure you apply as early as possible.
Here’s what will happen when you apply for DSA:
- Complete the relevant DSA application form for your region.
- Provide evidence of your Disability and/or Mental Health Condition.
- Book your Study Needs Assessment. You can choose to have yours online or in person.
- Attend your Study Needs Assessment, where an assessor will talk to you about how to get the best out of your course.
- Wait for DSA to receive your Study Needs Assessment report.
- Once funding has been approved, DSA will send you a Notice of Entitlement Letter confirming your support and which suppliers to use.
- Contact the suppliers listed in your DSA Notice of Entitlement Letter to order your equipment and/or set up your non-medical support.
Get in touch
Can’t find the information you’re looking for? You can contact our Disability and Mental Health team by telephone on +44 (0)20 8417 7314 or send us an email.
