A Guide to Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)

Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) is a source of additional funding available to students with disabilities, long-term health conditions, mental health conditions and specific learning difficulties. The allowance ranges from around £25,000 to £34,000 depending on which country you are studying in. DSA helps students pay extra essential costs they might encounter as a direct result of a disability or health condition.

DSA isn't just for undergraduates, it's available for Masters students as well. This allowance is definitely worth pursuing if you're eligible. I'm here to walk you through the DSA in detail, discussing eligibility criteria, how much the DSA is worth, the application process and everything inbetween.

Eligibility for postgraduate Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) in the UK includes Masters students with a long-term health condition, mental health condition, or specific learning difficulty like dyslexia. Eligible conditions must impact your study abilities and may be pre-existing or diagnosed during your course. Supporting evidence is required for any claim that you make. Additionally, you must be eligible for funding from your local student finance body and enrolled in a course lasting at least one year.

For part-time students, eligibility varies: in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, your course load must be at least 25% of the full-time equivalent; in Scotland, it’s 50%. If you are uncertain about your eligibility under the Equality Act 2010's definition of disability, consulting an official guide is recommended.

You will not be eligible for DSA if you’ve been granted equivalent funding from a different source such as:

• An NHS Social Work bursary (unless you’re a Welsh resident)
• NHS Disabled Students’ Allowance
• Your university

Note that you can apply for DSA if you have already applied for other student finance, such as a postgraduate loan.

These are the 2025-26 maximum amounts of DSA available to students depending on where in the UK you are from:

• In England, you can receive a single allowance up to £27,783 if you're on a part-time or full-time Masters course.
• In Wales, you can receive a single allowance of up to £34,000 if you're on a part-time or full-time course.
• In Northern Ireland, you can receive a single allowance up to £25,000 if you're on a part-time or full-time course

• In Scotland, however, postgraduates receive DSA at the same levels as undergraduate students. This means that you could be eligible for the following:

  • Basic allowance of up to £1,725
  • Large items allowance of up to £5,160
  • Non-Medical Personal Help (NMPH) of up to £20,520

Note that the word 'maximum' is important here – most students will receive less.

Individual Disabled Students’ Allowances vary, depending on both your study and situation. The money is paid to you alongside other compatible loans that you may receive for your course. In addition, DSA will not need to be repaid.

You could receive funding for:

• Specialist equipment for your disability
• Non-medical helpers
• Travel costs related to your disability
• Other disability-related study costs

What can you use DSA for?

Once approved, you can use DSA funding to help pay for various expenses during your Masters degree. These could include:

• Printers and scanners
• Recording equipment
• Specialist furniture
• Specialist software
• Training and insurance for equipment

You may be eligible to receive help with the cost of a new computer if you don’t have one that meets the specifications required for your postgraduate course. If so, you will need to budget at least £200 of your own money. This is the minimum amount the Government expects a typical student to spend on computer equipment.

Other expenses include:

• British Sign Language interpreters
• Mentors and one-to-one study skill support
• Mobility trainers
• Notetakers for deaf and visually-impaired students
• Sighted guides

DSA funding can be paid directly to you, equipment suppliers or to the helpers that you require.

What can’t you use DSA for?

You can’t receive Disabled Students’ Allowance for costs that you wouldn’t incur if you weren’t completing a Masters, or for student expenses that aren’t related to your condition.

For example, you can’t request DSA to pay for standard course books or materials (unless these are in braille or another accessible medium). Nor can you claim for alterations to your home or other costs that aren’t directly associated with your studies.

To claim postgraduate DSA you will need to demonstrate that you have a condition which affects your ability to complete your Masters degree.

You’ll need to have taken the relevant assessments to prove your disability. These could include:

• A doctor’s report or disability evidence form (PDF) for long-term physical or mental health issues.
• A diagnostic assessment for a specific learning difficulty (such as dyslexia). Assessments must normally have been made since the age of 16.

If you are qualified for DSA, you may be asked to contact an assessment centre to discuss your needs and your funding on the whole. Don’t book this until asked.

Likewise, do not buy any equipment or pay for anything that you wish to be reimbursed for prior to clearing it through the proper channels: you could be left out of pocket.

The application process depends on where you live:

• England – apply through Student Finance England (or NHS Student Bursaries if your course is NHS-funded)
• Scotland – apply through Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS)
• Wales – apply though Student Finance Wales (or the NHS Wales Student Awards Unit if your course is NHS-funded)
• Northern Ireland – apply through Student Finance Northern Ireland (or the Bursary Administration Unit if your course is NHS-funded)

Additional paperwork may need to be filled out by parents, doctors and other people supporting your application.

If you’re applying through Student Finance England, there is a helpline for alternative format applications such as braille, large print and audio version: 0141 243 3686. You can also download a print version of the postgradute DSA application form (PDF). Alternatively, you can request one of these formats via email: brailleandlargefonts@slc.co.uk.

Applying for DSA alongside a postgraduate loan

You can still apply for DSA if you receive one of the UK Government’s Masters degree loans. These loans are designed to contribute to your basic postgraduate fees and living costs, while the Disabled Students’ Allowance is separate funding to help mitigate a disability.

Depending on your country of residence, this means that you can potentially apply for a £12,858 Masters loan and up to £34,000 in Disabled Students’ Allowances. Remember, unlike your loan, you DSA won’t need to be repaid.

If you apply for your postgraduate loan online you will be asked whether you also wish to apply for DSA.

You'll receive an email informing you that yoru DSA application has been approved, along with a DSA1 confirmation letter. This letter contains key information on the next step in the process: arranging and completing a needs assessment.

A needs assessment shouldn't be thought of as a test - it's an opportunity for you to talk through your needs and some of the barriers you might face during your studies.

Tips from the author

Navigating your Masters journey as a disabled student can feel a bit daunting. I believe that one important thing to remember is to always keep in touch with your university’s disability service — they're there to support you and can offer guidance tailored specifically to making your Masters experience rewarding and accessible.

You can also take advantage of services from local councils and national organisations, such as Disability Rights UK, to get extra support and advice whilst you study.

Frequently Asked Questions