The Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) is a non-repayable government grant to help cover costs related to a student’s studies, which they may have as a direct result of a disability. 

What is DSA?

The Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) is a government grant that helps pay for study-related support and equipment. Students do not need to pay it back.

You may be eligible if you have:

• Autism
• ADHD
• Dyslexia or another specific learning difference
• A mental health condition
• A long-term health condition
• A physical or sensory disability

You will need evidence of your diagnosis or working diagnosis when you apply.

Not everyone who is autistic identifies as disabled. However, DSA is the main way to access funded study support at university. Most students with an autism diagnosis on an eligible course can apply. If you are awaiting assessment, a working diagnosis may also be accepted.

What can DSA fund?

DSA may provide:

• Specialist one-to-one non-medical help support, such as mentoring, study skills or note-taking support
• Specialist equipment, assistive technology software and training
• Help with some additional study-related costs

DSA does not pay for costs all students would normally have, such as textbooks or a standard laptop.

Research from Autism&Uni suggests that autistic students who access support early are more likely to have a positive university experience and complete their studies successfully.

You can:

• Apply for the DSA before starting university
• Apply at any point during your studies, even if you have not previously told the university about your diagnosis.
• Review or change your support if your needs change

Step 1: Apply for DSA

Apply through your student finance provider.

• Apply for DSA when you apply for student finance online.
• If you have already applied for student finance, sign in to your student finance account to start your DSA application.
• If you do not need student finance, fill in a DSA form to apply just for DSA. Student Finance accepts email applications.
• Medical students receiving NHS Bursary will apply via your NHS Bursary account.

 You will need evidence of your diagnosis or working diagnosis when you apply.

• Disabilities, autism, ADHD, long-term health condition or mental health condition: A copy of a report or letter from your doctor or consultant – or you can fill in the disability evidence form.

• Specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia: A copy of a ‘diagnostic assessment’ from a practitioner psychologist or suitably qualified specialist teacher.

If you are unsure where to apply or which form to complete, you can contact the Student Disability and Inclusion Team for guidance.

Further information can also be found on the Disability Rights UK website and the Gov.uk website.

Step 2: Receive your DSA1 eligibility confirmation by email.

If you’re eligible, you’ll be invited to book a Study Needs Assessment.

Before the assessment, you may be asked to complete a short questionnaire.

Step 3: Attend a Study Needs Assessment

This is a friendly, one-to-one conversation, not a test. It usually lasts around 1 to 2 hours and gives you the opportunity to discuss:

• Your experiences of studying so far
• Any challenges you expect at university
• Support that has helped you in the past
• Your strengths, goals and what helps you succeed
• Support and resources that could help during your studies

Many students discover support options during the assessment that they were not aware were available.

To discuss travel allowance, your needs assessor will require additional medical evidence demonstrating a clear link between your disability and the travel needs.

Step 4: Receive your DSA2 entitlement letter by email.

Your funding body will confirm the support you have been approved for and explain how to access it.

To apply for the DSA, submit an application to the funding body you would be eligible to claim student finance from, e.g. Student Finance England. If you are unsure where to apply or which form to complete, you can contact the Student Disability and Inclusion Team for guidance. Further information can also be found on the Disability Rights UK website and the Gov.uk website. 

Once your application has been approved you will receive a DSA1 letter advising you to book a Study Needs Assessment. 

Booking your Study Needs Assessment 

The Study Needs Assessment is an essential part of the process of applying for Disabled Students’ Allowance.  

Your funding body will advise you via email when your application for DSA has been approved and will tell you to book a Study Needs Assessment. A Needs Assessment Centre will contact you for arrangements, including completing a pre-assessment questionnaire. You will need to provide your assessor with a copy of the evidence accepted by the DSA and your DSA1 letter prior to your assessment. 

The Study Needs Assessment tends to be a structured, but fairly informal, one-to-one discussion with a Study Needs Assessor which will usually last about 2 hours. You won’t be tested, but the Study Needs Assessor will have specific questions they need to ask in order to explore your support needs. 

The Study Needs Assessment is an opportunity to talk to somebody in depth about: 

• the positive and negative aspects of studying in the past 

• the positive and negative aspects of any support you have received in the past at home/school/college 

• any worries you might have about going to uni 

• what you’re excited about and think you will do well at 

• what you think might help you achieve that success 

You will also get to learn a bit more about the kind of help that is available to you – many students don’t really know much about this and are amazed to find out what is out there and how it may work for them. 

Preparing for your Study Needs Assessment

Remember, it is not an exam or eligibility test. It’s a conversation about what helps you learn and what support could make university easier to manage. This is also your chance to ask questions and find out what support is available.

Here is a list of questions to help you think about – there are no right or wrong answers

• How do you feel about making notes in lectures, where most of what is said does not end up on a whiteboard or the PowerPoint slides? It is also not possible to write down every word that is said.

• Would being able to record lectures help you?

• How do you make and organise your notes when reading or revising?

• Do you enjoy going to new places?

• Do you find new places easily?

• Does it help to have someone with you when you go somewhere for the first time?

• What are you most excited about when it comes to your course?

• What would you like to know more about or might need support to do before you get excited?

• How do you feel about group work?

• How do you manage your free time?

• Are you always on time for appointments without help from someone else?

• Do you like to be in busy, lively places or quiet places?

• How do you find out about new topics?

• Do you find it easy to organise your ideas and structure them in writing?

• Do you find academic writing easy? How about spelling, punctuation and grammar?

• Would you like somebody to talk to about your autism who has a good understanding of both autism and university?

• Do you have any other conditions like dyslexia, dyspraxia or ADHD?

• Does it help you to read information from the internet if you can print it out?

• Who supported you with your work at school and what did they do that was helpful?

• What helps you when you’re stressed? Music, exercise, art, reading, playing games, talking to others?

• Did you use any tools like visual schedules, social stories, coloured overlays, coloured paper or alarms to help you at school or college?

• How do you feel about talking to people about your autism, including tutors and other students?

Need Help?

The Student Disability and Inclusion Team can:

• Explain the DSA process.
• Help you complete your application, including the University Section 5 in a DSA1 Full form.
• Answer questions about evidence and eligibility.
• Provide resources on arranging your DSA resources.

Resources for you:

• DSA details on the Disability Rights UK website
• DSA details on the uk website
• Student Disability and Inclusion at the Student Hub:
  • More DSA details on the University website.
  • DSA Sharepoint site (university login required)
  • Enquiry email: studenthub@soton.ac.uk

Subject line: FAO Student Disability and Inclusion – DSA

Originally Published by Autism&Uni on the 27th August 2015.

Updates made by Anna McCann (University of Southampton, July 2026).