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Last updated 02-04-25

The Disabled Students’ Allowance (or DSA) is a financial package from the UK Government available to home students which helps pay for extra costs you may have as a direct result of studying in higher education with a disability.

The DSA is not means tested, which means that any other income you receive i.e. your student loan does not affect your entitlement. Your parent’s income will also not be taken into account.

The DSA is only available to UK students - see information for International/EU Students below.

More information about DSA from the relevant UK governments can be found in the following external links:

• Students ,
• Students .
• Students .
• Students .

The application process for DSA can take some time so you are strongly advised to start the process as early as possible, even if you have not yet decided which university you want to attend. The Disability Team at RVC are happy to advise current students about DSA and help them through the application process. The team can also offer advice to prospective students on the DSA application process. . Prospective students can contact us on disability@rvc.ac.uk 

Some other countries or funding bodies operate a similar scheme to DSA so do check if you are not a UK home student to see what might be available in your home country from your local or national government. For example, some part-funding can be provided for EIRE students from the . Students funded by their research council may be eligible for support via the . 

Am I eligible? 

You can apply for the DSA if you meet the following criteria:

• You have a qualifying condition that meets the .
• You are (or will soon be) a full or part-time undergraduate student.
• You are (or will soon be) on a part-time course which is equivalent to at least 50 per cent of the full time course.
• You are (or will soon be) a ÐÂÔÂÖ±²¥ attending a recognised taught or research-based course.
• You are are (or will soon be) a distance learning student.

The definition of disability is broad. Students with a formal diagnosis of specific learning differences, neurodivergent conditions, mental health conditions, physical disabilities, sensory disabilities and chronic health conditions are often eligible to apply and can receive invaluable support from DSA while studying. If you are unsure if you might be eligible to apply for DSA, the Disability Team will be happy to advise you on the type of information you could provide your funding body with to help them establish your eligibility.

Students who would meet the disability criteria for DSA but are not eligible for other reasons can try other sources of funding for support, for example the . 

What can the DSA pay for?

What DSA can fund can vary across funding bodies but in general it will pay (or help pay for) the cost of specialist assistive technology software, a computer on which you can run the software, ergonomic seating and posture aids if you have a physical disability that might affect ability to interact with the computer or other study aids at home, specialist training in the use of software, specialist ongoing study skills support if you have specific learning differences, specialist non-therapeutic practical mentoring support if you have mental health difficulties, BSL interpreters, specialist support professionals for visually impaired students, extra printing or consumables costs. DSA can also help pay for additional travel costs incurred if you can't make effective use of the public transport fellow students can use to access your course. 

DSA won't pay for costs not connected to a disability or costs you'd have to cover irrespective of whether you were a student. It won't pay for medicines or specialist treatments. DSA won't pay for the cost of diagnosing a condition. 

Students who are eligible for DSA will be asked to undergo a DSA Needs Assessment, where they can meet with an experienced specialist assessor who can advise the student on the range of specialist strategies, software and support that DSA can fund and can present a case for appropriate items of equipment, software and support to be funded from DSA to the funding body.

Students can help their DSA Needs Assessor ensure they provide appropriate recommendations in their needs assessment by directing them to the RVC Information for DSA Needs Assessors page. 

International/EU students

As an international student or if you are from the European Union, you are not eligible for the DSA. The ÐÂÔÂÖ±²¥ may have other funding available to support you if you have additional study-related costs, Contact the Disability Team to discuss this further (disability@rvc.ac.uk). You can find useful information about student funding at the RVC Student Money Matters page. 

What if I am not able to access DSA support?

You do not have to be eligible for DSA to receive support from the college. The college provides Reasonable Adjustments for students who have disabilities and / or learning differences, including students who have not been able to access DSA funded support. Disability and Learning Differences are accepted and understood in UK universities and there is robust legislation in place to ensure we cannot discriminate against anyone with a long-term health condition, disability or learning difference. We are required by law to make ‘reasonable’ adjustments for you.

We can only make individual adjustments for you if we know about your additional study needs. You are encouraged to share information about any conditions you may have at the earliest opportunity with the Disability Team. Your enquiry will be treated in confidence and will not jeopardise your place at the RVC in any way.