Application process
Step 1 – Apply online
If they’re applying for other student finance, they’ll be asked on their main application if they want to apply for DSA.
When they’ve finished their main application, they’ll be able to apply for DSA online.
If they only want to apply for DSA and no other type of student finance, they’ll need to complete a DSA1 application form, which they can download at www.gov.uk/studentfinance once the service opens.
Once they’ve submitted their DSA application, they’ll be told what evidence they need to submit.
All students will be asked to provide evidence of their disability. Students can submit a digital copy of their evidence through their online account. The application will be delayed if their evidence is missing or incorrect.
Their DSA supplier will also need to see these documents later in the application process. If they give us their consent when they’re applying, we can share their documents with the supplier to save them having to send them again.
Step 2 – We review their application
We’ll review the application and supporting evidence. It can take around 14 weeks to process an application so they should apply as soon as possible to make sure they get their support in time for the start of their course.
If the student is eligible for DSA and they give us permission, we’ll pass their details to one of our two suppliers, Study Tech or Capita. The supplier will arrange the student’s needs assessment. If the student does not give us permission to pass their details on, they’ll be given details of the supplier to contact.
They won’t get their DSA unless they attend their needs assessment.
Step 3 – We receive a report
After their assessment we’ll get a report detailing the student’s needs and the assessor's recommendations.
Step 4 – We review the report
We’ll contact the student and, if they have given their consent, the disability adviser and needs assessor, to let them know if their funding has been approved.
Step 5 – Arranging support
If the student gives us consent to share their information, the supplier will contact the student to arrange their equipment and Assistive Technology (AT) training, based on their requirements and approved funding. If no consent is given, the student will need to contact the supplier to arrange this.
The student should arrange their non-medical help and make any purchases they need to help with their course.
They shouldn’t buy any equipment until their funding is confirmed because we can’t reimburse any purchases before the date their entitlement letter is sent.
Step 6 – We’ll make payment
Suppliers should invoice us directly. The student can submit receipts to us to claim for costs covered by their DSA. There’s more information about this included in their entitlement letter.
Change of circumstances
Students should discuss any changes to their circumstances with their disability adviser, as changes may affect what they can get. If they need to, they should contact us for help.
Continuing into next year
Students who don’t need to reapply
Full-time undergraduate students don’t need to reapply for DSA each year if:
- they got DSA the previous year
- they took out a Maintenance Loan or Tuition Fee Loan, or both
- they’re continuing on the same course
Students who need to reapply
Students should reapply each academic year if they:
- didn’t take out a Maintenance Loan or Tuition Fee Loan
- change their course
- change from full-time to part-time study, or from part-time to full-time
- have suspended their studies and changed their course end date
- withdrew from their course and are returning to study
- are repeating a year of study
Top-up courses
If they’re studying a top-up course and are getting other student finance like a Tuition Fee Loan or Maintenance Loan they only need to complete a DSA Slim form for their DSA to continue.
If they only want to apply for DSA and no other student finance, they’ll need to fill in a DSA1 application form.
