What does DSA pay for?

DSA helps with disability-related study costs identified in a needs assessment: specialist equipment (for example a computer if you need one because of your disability), non-medical helpers (such as a British Sign Language interpreter or a specialist note-taker), extra travel costs like taxis to your course if your disability stops you using public transport, and other support such as extra printing for proof-reading. It does not cover disability costs you'd have whether or not you were studying — those may be helped by PIP or Access to Work instead.

How do I apply for DSA?

If you're applying for other student finance, you can apply for DSA at the same time through your student finance account — you only need to apply once. If you don't need other student finance, fill in a DSA1 form. After you apply and provide evidence, you'll usually have a needs assessment at an assessment centre, which recommends the support you need; Student Finance then confirms what it will fund. Apply as early as you can, as it can take time to arrange.

Does DSA affect my benefits or have to be repaid?

DSA never has to be repaid — it's a grant, not a loan — and it's separate from your maintenance and tuition fee loans. It's paid for disability-related study costs and doesn't reduce your other student finance. It's different from disability benefits like PIP and from Access to Work (which helps with disability costs in a job), and you may be able to get those alongside DSA. Get advice if you're unsure how things fit together.

Disabled Students' Allowance: up to £27,783

Q: What is Disabled Students' Allowance?

Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) is extra money to help with the additional costs of studying because of a disability, long-term health condition, mental health condition or a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia. For 2026/27 you can get up to £27,783 a year. It is not means-tested — what you get depends on your individual needs, not your household income — and you never have to pay it back. It can be paid on its own or on top of your other student finance.

Q: Who is eligible for DSA?

You can usually get DSA if you're an eligible student on an undergraduate or postgraduate course, normally eligible for student finance, and you have a disability, long-term health condition, mental health condition or specific learning difficulty that affects your ability to study. You'll need evidence — for example a doctor's letter or a diagnostic assessment for a specific learning difficulty. It's based on need, not your income, and is open to part-time and full-time students.

What DSA is

DSA is a grant — not a loan — that pays for the extra support you need to study because of a disability or health condition. The key things to know:

Up to £27,783 a year for 2026/27, but what you actually get is based on your individual needs, not a flat amount.
Not means-tested — your household income makes no difference.
Never repaid, and it doesn’t reduce your maintenance or tuition fee loans — it’s in addition to them.
Open to undergraduate and postgraduate, full-time and part-time students.

Why it’s worth checking Plenty of eligible students never apply — often because they don’t realise a long-term health condition, mental health condition or dyslexia counts. If something affects how you study, it’s worth finding out what DSA could fund.

What it pays for

A needs assessment works out the right support for you. DSA can cover:

Type of help	Examples
Specialist equipment	A computer if you need one because of your disability, plus assistive software.
Non-medical helpers	A British Sign Language interpreter, a specialist note-taker or study-skills support.
Extra travel	Taxi costs to your course or placement, if your disability stops you using public transport.
Other study support	Disability-related extras, such as additional printing for proof-reading.

What DSA doesn’t cover It’s for study costs — not the disability costs you’d have anyway. For everyday living costs, look at PIP; for support in a job, see Access to Work. You may be able to get those alongside DSA.

Who can get it

You can usually get DSA if all of these apply:

You’re an eligible student on an undergraduate or postgraduate course and normally eligible for student finance (residence rules apply).
You have a disability, long-term health condition, mental health condition or a specific learning difficulty (such as dyslexia) that affects your ability to study.
You can provide evidence — for example a letter from a doctor, or a diagnostic assessment for a specific learning difficulty.

“Long-term” counts widely DSA isn’t only for physical disabilities. Conditions like anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism, chronic illness and dyslexia can all qualify if they have a substantial, long-term effect on your studies. If in doubt, apply and let the assessment decide.

How to apply

Apply. If you’re applying for other student finance, add DSA in your student finance account — you only apply once. If you don’t need other finance, fill in a DSA1 form.
Send evidence of your condition (doctor’s letter or diagnostic assessment).
Have a needs assessment at an assessment centre — it recommends your support. Student Finance then confirms what it will fund and arranges it.

Do this now

Apply as early as you can — it can take weeks to arrange the assessment and put support in place, so don’t leave it to the start of term. Start in your student finance account, or search GOV.UK for “Disabled Students’ Allowance”.

While you’re at it, check what else you may be owed with the benefits checker and the wider student finance guide.

Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland DSA exists across the UK but is run separately with different maximums: Scotland via SAAS, Wales via Student Finance Wales, Northern Ireland via Student Finance NI. The £27,783 figure is for students funded by Student Finance England.

Source verification Primary source: GOV.UK — Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA): overview, eligibility and how to claim; Student Finance England · gov.uk/disabled-students-allowance-dsa. Last verified 15 June 2026 (the up-to-£27,783 2026/27 maximum, the not-means-tested / never-repaid / on-top status, what it covers and how to apply web-checked against GOV.UK). Confidence: High — DSA gives up to £27,783 for 2026/27 to students with a disability, long-term health or mental health condition or specific learning difficulty; it's based on individual need (not means-tested), never repaid, and paid on top of other student finance; it covers specialist equipment, non-medical helpers, extra travel and other study support identified at a needs assessment. Devolved nations run their own schemes with different maximums. Key facts: up to £27,783/yr (2026/27 England) · not means-tested · never repaid · on top of student finance · UG + PG, full-time + part-time · covers equipment / non-medical helpers / travel / other study support · needs assessment · apply via student finance account or DSA1 · SAAS / SF Wales / SF NI run their own. Scope: England (Student Finance England). Information, not financial advice — apply via your student finance account, and get help from your university disability service, Disability Rights UK or Citizens Advice.

DSA — common questions

What is Disabled Students' Allowance?

Extra money for the additional costs of studying because of a disability, long-term health condition, mental health condition or a learning difficulty like dyslexia. Up to £27,783 a year (2026/27), not means-tested, never repaid, and paid on top of your other student finance.

What does it pay for?

Disability-related study costs identified in a needs assessment — specialist equipment (e.g. a computer), non-medical helpers (e.g. a BSL interpreter or note-taker), extra travel like taxis if you can't use public transport, and other support like extra printing. It doesn't cover disability costs you'd have anyway.

Who is eligible?

Eligible undergraduate or postgraduate students who normally qualify for student finance and have a disability, long-term health or mental health condition or specific learning difficulty that affects their studies, with evidence (a doctor's letter or diagnostic assessment). It's based on need, not income, and covers part-time and full-time study.

How do I apply?

Add DSA in your student finance account when you apply for other finance (apply once), or fill in a DSA1 form if you don't need other finance. Provide evidence, then attend a needs assessment that recommends your support; Student Finance confirms what it funds. Apply early.

Does it affect benefits or get repaid?

It's a grant — never repaid — and separate from your loans, so it doesn't reduce your other student finance. It's different from PIP (living costs) and Access to Work (costs in a job), and you may be able to get those alongside it. Get advice if you're unsure how they fit.

Sources: The up-to-£27,783 maximum, not-means-tested / never-repaid status, what DSA covers, eligibility and how to apply · GOV.UK — Disabled Students' Allowance and GOV.UK — How to claim DSA. SortedUK is not a regulated adviser and this is general information — apply via your student finance account and get help from your university disability service or Citizens Advice. Last reviewed: 15 June 2026.

Studying with a disability? There’s up to £27,783 you don’t pay back.