DSA step-by-step guide

(Students on certain courses are NOT eligible for DSA, eg. Higher Level Apprenticeship and NON QTS PGCE courses). See the Eligibility criteria.

If you are unsure whether you are eligible to apply for DSA, please contact the Disability team via the Student Enquiry Point to check.

· Apply as early as possible, at the same time as other student finance (eg. Student loan, maintenance loan etc.)

· Apply online if you can, using your SFE account (or other home nation, eg. SAAS, SFNI, SFW)

Regional information

· If you live in Scotland, see SAAS

· If you live in Wales, see Student Finance Wales' Extra help available if you are a full-time undergraduate student with a disability

· If you live in Northern Ireland, see SFNI

· If you live on Isle of Man, see The Isle of Man Government website

· If you are not able to apply online, select the relevant form

The DSA1 Slim form is for

Full time undergraduate or PGCE students, who have already applied for other student finance (Maintenance Loan or Tuition Fee Loan), and are applying for DSA for the first time, and cannot apply for DSA online.

The DSA1 Full form is for

Part time undergraduates and students on taught postgraduate courses. Section 5 (pages 27 &28) of this form will need to be stamped and signed by the university before you send it to DSA. Please complete the form and email it to ‘Disability Services’. We will then return it to you to submit to DSA.

· For Disabilities, long-term health conditions or Mental health conditions, you can submit a copy of a report or letter from your doctor or consultant, or they can fill in the Disability Evidence Form. 

· For a Specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia, you can submit a copy of a ‘diagnostic assessment’ from an Educational Psychologist or suitably qualified specialist teacher

IMPORTANT NOTE – Your evidence will need to show that your condition is long term and has a substantial impact on your daily life and ability to study. For example, your evidence may indicate that due your condition, you may have difficulty focusing, sleeping, travelling etc….

A form or letter which simply states the name of your diagnosed condition may not be sufficient to secure DSA funded support.

Students are advised to make this clear to the professional supplying the letter or filling in the medical evidence form.

Some GP surgeries may charge students for letters or for completing medical evidence forms.

This tells you if your application has been successful.

(All communication will come to the email address you used when you applied, so please remember to check this regularly).

If your application has been successful, this email will invite you to book a ‘Needs Assessment’.

Follow the instructions in your letter to arrange booking this meeting.

The Needs Assessment meeting is a crucial step in the process to receive your funded support.

If you are eligible for DSA, you may need to attend a Study Needs Assessment to make sure you get the right specialist equipment and/or services to help you complete your course. Your DSA1 confirmation email will give you instructions on how to arrange this. This assessment is an important stage in the DSA application process and will help to determine what funded provision that you are allocated. A trusted friend or family member who knows you well could accompany you for this meeting. This could take place online, by phone or face to face. This process can take some time – make sure you book your Study Needs Assessment as soon as you get our letter so that you can get all the necessary equipment and support ready for the start of your course.

Following the Needs Assessment meeting, you will be sent a 'Needs Assessment’ report, which suggests equipment and support / ‘non-medical help’ you may benefit from. Wait until you receive your DSA2 letter before buying any equipment or contacting any suppliers, as the DSA2 letter will confirm what funded support will be allocated, and which companies are providing it.

This confirms the funded support allocated and gives the contact details you need to arrange booking your support.

The DSA will tell you what equipment and other support you will receive. The letter will also provide instructions on how to arrange delivery of your equipment and/or arrange other support. Don’t buy or arrange equipment or support before you receive your DSA entitlement letter because we won’t be able to reimburse you for these costs.

Contact the equipment suppliers and providers to access the equipment and support. You must order the equipment specified in the DSA2 document, using the agreed suppliers and providers. If you feel you need any changes to your provision, you should contact your needs assessor.

A member of staff from Disability team at the University will be in touch with you to check that you have read and understood the DSA2 document. They will check to make sure everything has been allocated correctly, and that you are happy to follow up and access what has been provided. They can help with any questions you may have.

If your needs change during your course, and you feel that you need your DSA provision reviewing, contact your needs assessor.