Additional support and disability advice

Local funding authorities

Appropriate evidence is required when you apply for the Disabled Students’ Allowance. Make sure to check your eligibility and evidence requirements with your funding body:

• Student Finance England
• Student Finance Wales
• Student Finance Northern Ireland
• Student Awards Agency for Scotland
• Student Finance.ie (Eire)
• Jersey
• Guernsey

If you are a Global student or applicant due to start a course not qualified for DSA (such as a Degree Apprenticeship), please contact us to discuss alternative options.

Degree apprenticeships

For more information you can visit Advanced HE and read their publication Considerations for disabled applicants to higher or degree apprenticeships. This document provides guidance for disabled students apply for a higher or degree apprenticeship in the UK

Apply for a grant or scholarship

The Snowdon Trust is a charity dedicated to providing grants to disabled and sensory impaired students in the UK.

About 100 grants are awarded each year ranging from £250 to £3,000. They cover support costs for sign language interpreters, note-takers, computers, specialist software and wheelchairs.

The Snowden Trust also provides the Snowden Masters Scholarships, in partnership with the Global Disability Innovation Hub. The Scholarships aim to support and accelerate disabled students with the ability to create change, influence others and become leaders and role-models.

The Student Health Association

The Student Health Association administers the Student Disability Assistance Fund which helps Higher Education students with disabilities in full-time or nearly full-time studies. It cannot help with fees or general living expenses. Priority is given to those who cannot obtain statutory funding. Maximum awards are £500.

You can find out more on the following link: The Student Health Association.

Evidence of physical, sensory, long term health issues, mental health or autistic spectrum conditions

A letter from your doctor or a consultant confirming your disability, and how it affects you, your studies and everyday living. This may also be used by external funding bodies when you apply for additional disability related funding. The letter should:

• identify your condition, impairment or ongoing symptoms
• state whether the condition will be short or long term (over 12 months) and how it will impact your day-to-day activities as a student
• identify any medication and treatment, with any relevant side-effects

Evidence of a specific learning difference, such as dyslexia or dyspraxia

If you are looking to access additional academic support for a specific learning difference via the Disabled Students' Allowance, you will need a diagnostic assessment. The sooner you do this, the more likely all your support will be in place when you start your course.

You can get a private assessment through the following organisations:

• The British Psychological Society (BPS) – the BPS has an online directory of chartered psychologists you can use to find a psychologist local to you to assess your learning difference
• The British Dyslexia Association – their diagnostic assessment guide outlines the steps you will need to be assessed through their service
• The Professional Association of Teachers of Students with SpLDs (PATOSS) – their online directory can be filtered to show teachers near you