Disabled Student Allowance (DSA)

Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) covers the extra support you need to study because of your disability. You don’t receive money up front, instead, the funding is used to pay for agreed support. DSA can cover:

Specialist equipment or software

This may include things like assistive technology. If you need a new laptop or computer, you’ll normally pay the first £200 yourself. We do have a fund available to help with the cost of equipment, you can apply using the details below:

How to apply:

To get help paying for the £200 towards your equipment costs through DSA simply complete the online application for, click the link: Support for DSA Computing Equipment form 

You will need to be logged in to office.com via your University account (university email address and IT password).  You will also need to upload the following evidence:

• DSA Letter – you can download this from your Student Finance online account under Your inbox - click the link to view the DSA2 letter then download it to save and then upload to your application

Have the evidence ready so that you can upload it during the application process (you will not be able to submit your application without it).

Please email money@wlv.ac.uk once you have submitted this form.

This award will be released for payment through your WLV Wallet account.  Please click this link for more information on the WLV Wallet itself.

Non‑medical helper support

For example, one‑to‑one help from a sign‑language interpreter, study skills tutor, or mentor.

General disability‑related study costs

This could include things like extra printing for proofreading, or specialist materials such as Braille paper.

Extra travel costs

If your disability means you can’t use public transport, DSA can cover the additional amount you pay to travel to university or placements. You’ll only be reimbursed for the cost above the standard public transport rate.

For the 2025/26 academic year, the maximum Disabled Students’ Allowance you can receive is:

• £27,783 per year if you normally live in England
• £34,000 per year if you normally live in Wales
• £25,000 per year if you normally live in Northern Ireland

If you’re from Scotland, there isn’t a single overall cap. Instead, there are separate limits for each type of support:

• £1,725 per year for general disability‑related costs
• £5,160 across your whole course for large items of specialist equipment
• £20,520 per year for non‑medical personal help

Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) is not means‑tested. 

Your income, savings, or your family’s financial situation don’t influence whether you qualify. The support you receive is based solely on the study‑related impact of your disability.

Receiving DSA also won’t reduce or interfere with any other student finance you’re entitled to.

You can get DSA alongside PIP or other disability benefits. They cover different needs. For example, if you can’t use public transport, PIP might help with a Motability vehicle, while DSA can reimburse the extra travel costs you incur for university (at a set mileage rate).

If you receive income‑related benefits because of your disability, these are not affected by DSA either.

To qualify for DSA, you must:

• Have a disability or condition that affects your ability to study
• Be studying an eligible undergraduate or postgraduate course in the UK
• Be eligible for student finance (you don’t have to take out a loan if you don’t want one)

Your disability must meet the definition in the Equality Act 2010, which covers a wide range of long‑term conditions, including:

• Mental health or long‑term health conditions
• Physical or sensory disabilities
• Autism
• Specific learning differences such as ADHD, dyslexia, or dyspraxia
• Long‑term illnesses such as cancer

You can be studying full‑time or part‑time, as long as your course lasts at least a year. This includes Open University and distance learning courses. If you live in Northern Ireland, some courses in the Republic of Ireland may also be eligible.

Part‑time courses usually need to be at least 25% of a full‑time equivalent, except in Scotland where the minimum is 50%.

You must be eligible for student finance, but you don’t have to apply for a student loan to receive DSA.

You won’t be able to get DSA if:

• Your course isn’t eligible This includes very short courses, informal courses, or anything that doesn’t meet the minimum length or level required for student finance.
• You’re an international student without access to UK student finance You must be eligible for UK student finance to receive DSA, even if you don’t take out a loan.
• Your support needs are fully covered by another funding body For example, if your course is funded by the NHS, social work bursaries, or a research council, your DSA will come from them instead — not from the main student finance body.
• Your disability doesn’t have a study‑related impact DSA is specifically for support that helps you study. If your condition doesn’t affect your learning, you won’t qualify.
• You’re on a course that’s below higher‑education level DSA isn’t available for school‑level qualifications, apprenticeships, or most FE (further education) courses.

If you're on a UK placement, DSA can continue to fund things like specialist equipment, non‑medical helper support, or disability‑related travel costs (as long as they’re linked to your placement requirements).

You might not get your normal DSA support if you're taking a paid placement as part of a sandwich degree course: check with your student finance body. Instead, you may get support from the Access to Work scheme.

It's always best to check with your Accessibility, Disability & Inclusion adviser for support for placements.

You can email: disability-inclusion@wlv.ac.uk or book in with an adviser to discuss DSA support.