Bursaries and grants Disabled Students' Allowances

The Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) is a fund that can meet the additional study costs that a student incurs due to a disability, neurodivergent condition, Specific Learning Difference (SpLD) such as dyslexia, visual or hearing impairment, long-term health condition or mental health difficulty.  

The DSA:

• Is separate from your student loan and it does not have to be paid back.
• Is not means-tested, ie the support you receive depends on your needs, rather than your income.
• It does not impact the amount of tuition fee or maintenance loan that you may receive.
• Is a fund paid directly to external providers for providing support - it is not additional financial support that you will receive. 

Eligibility criteria

• Full-time and part-time undergraduate / postgraduate students who are eligible for student finance as 'home' students are likely to be eligible for DSA. You may not be eligible for the DSA if you are an international student or an assessment only student. If you are ineligible, please contact the DDS to discuss available support further. 

How to apply

Application

The Disabilities and Dyslexia Service (DDS) can assist you with applying and managing your DSA support. You should apply for DSA support as soon as possible. You can apply for this before you start your course. 

To apply for DSA you will need to complete a DSA application form. This must be sent to your funding body along with supporting medical documentation that confirms your diagnosis. Your medical documentation must confirm all of the diagnoses that you wish to have taken into account as part of your DSA application.

We advise you to check with your funding body to establish what is required with regard to medical documentation. However, Student Finance England suggest the following:

• Disabilities or long-term health condition (including mental health conditions): A copy of a report or letter from your doctor or consultant that confirms your health condition or disability. 
• Specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia: A copy of a 'diagnostic assessment' from a practitioner psychologist or suitably qualified specialist teacher.

Your DDS Advisor will be able to give you advice and guidance concerning DSA at any time during your time studying at London Metropolitan University.

Please refer to the links below for further information concerning DSA funding bodies:

• Student Finance England (SFE)
• Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS)
• Student Finance Northern Ireland (SFNI)
• Student Finance Wales (SFW)
• NHS Bursary
• Social Work Bursary
• Research Council 

Step by step guide - DSA

Step 1 - Apply for DSA.

Apply for DSA as soon as possible through your Funding Body by completing an application form and submitting it alongside your supporting Medical Documentation / Full Diagnostic Report.

Step 2 - Eligibility established.

If your funding body accepts your DSA application you will receive a letter (via email or post) to confirm this. The letter will also invite you to attend a DSA Needs Assessment. 

Step 3 - Attend your DSA Needs Assessment.

A DSA Needs Assessment is required to enable your funding body to identify appropriate support that is tailored to your needs. DSA Needs Assessments are completed by DSA assessment providers external to the University. 

Your DSA Needs Assessment Centre should contact you as soon as your eligibility for DSA is approved in order to arrange a date and time for your assessment. This can take place either in person or remotely (video/phone). 

Should you not know who your assigned DSA Needs Assessment Centre is or need help with arranging your assessment then please contact your DDS Advisor. If you are unsure of who your DDS Advisor is then please email studentservices@londonmet.ac.uk 

Step 4 - DSA support recommendations are sent to your funding body.

After you have attended your DSA Needs Assessment, your DSA Needs Assessor will write a report that details the support that is recommended. A copy of this report will be sent to you and to your funding body. We recommend that you send a copy of this report to the DDS once received. 

If you not satisfied with the support that has been recommended, or have any queries, you should contact your DSA Needs Assessor and / or funding body to discuss this further. 

Step 5 - Funding body approval for DSA support. 

After your funding body has reviewed your DSA Needs Assessment Report they will write to you (via email or post) to indicate the DSA support that has been approved. If you are not satisfied with the support that has been approved, or have any queries, you should contact your funding body to discuss this further. 

It is recommended that you send a copy of this approval letter to the DDS so that we can advise you on the support which has been approved. 

Step 6 - Make arrangements to have your DSA funded support. 

The letter sent to you by your funding body will indicate:

• The support that has been approved.
• The supplier of the support.
• The next steps you should take to get support in place.

It is your responsibility to make arrangements for support. However, if you require any assistance your DDS Advisor will be happy to provide advice and guidance.