Do I qualify for Disabled Students' Allowances (DSA)?
You can apply for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) at any point during your time at University if you have a disability that affects your ability to study, such as a:
- Learning difficulty, for example dyslexia, dyspraxia or ADHD
- Mental health condition like anxiety or depression
- Physical disability, for example if you’re partially sighted or have to use crutches
- Long-term health condition such as cancer, chronic heart disease or HIV
You must also:
- Be an undergraduate or postgraduate student
- Qualify for student finance from Student Finance England
- Be studying a course that lasts a year or more
You are not eligible for DSA from Student Finance England if you’re:
- An EU or international student
- Eligible for an NHS Disabled Students’ Allowance (this is a separate scheme)
- Getting equivalent support from another funding source
You won’t automatically get DSA - you will also need to provide proof of your eligibility:
Condition | Proof |
| Disabilities or long-term health condition | Report or letter from your doctor or consultant - you can also fill in the disability evidence form |
| Mental-health condition | Report or letter from your doctor or consultant - you can also fill in the disability evidence form |
| Specific learning difficulty like dyslexia | A diagnostic assessment from a psychologist or suitably qualified specialist teacher - you’ll need to get reassessed if you had this done when you were under 16 |
The course you are enrolled on at YSJ must be one of the following:
- First degree, for example BA, BSc or BHSc
- Foundation Degree
- Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE)
- Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE)
- Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE)
- Postgraduate course
For part-time students, your course intensity can affect how much DSA you receive and the rules are different depending on your when you started your course. You can check course intensity with Student Records.