Can I get DSA for dyslexia?

The rule, in one line

Yes. Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty that qualifies for Disabled Students' Allowance if you study in England, and DSA covers up to £27,783 a year (2025/26 and 2026/27) of disability-related study support. The allowance pays for the help your dyslexia means you need to study on equal terms, such as assistive software, a study-skills tutor, or extra printing and travel costs.

DSA is not means-tested. The amount you get has nothing to do with your household income; it depends on what a DSA needs assessment recommends for you. There is no set figure for dyslexia and no separate caps any more: since 2023/24 the old equipment and non-medical-helper limits were merged into one combined allowance, and that single cap is up to £27,783 for both the 2025/26 and 2026/27 academic years.

Who qualifies, and the evidence you need

To get DSA you must usually live in England, be on an undergraduate or postgraduate course lasting at least a year, and have a disability that affects how you study. Dyslexia is named on the official list as a specific learning difficulty that counts, alongside conditions like ADHD.

Here is the part the gov.uk page buries: a standard doctor's medical-evidence form does not confirm dyslexia. For a specific learning difficulty you have to provide a diagnostic assessment that meets the recognised standard and was carried out by a suitably qualified assessor. That means a practitioner psychologist registered with the HCPC, or a specialist teacher holding a current Assessment Practising Certificate (APC). What matters is the assessor's qualification and that the report meets the standard, not how old you were when it was done: a diagnostic report written when you were at school can still be accepted, provided it was produced by a suitably qualified assessor and meets that standard.

If you only suspect dyslexia and have never been assessed, you are not shut out. Your university or college may give you extra money towards a new diagnostic assessment, so ask your disability adviser before you pay for one yourself.

Qualifying is not the same as money in hand

Meeting the eligibility rule lets you apply; it does not fix an amount. What you actually receive is decided at your needs assessment, where an assessor looks at your course and recommends specific support. So “Can I get DSA for dyslexia?” has two answers: yes, you qualify to apply, and the real total depends on what the assessment recommends.

How to apply

Apply through your online student finance account, or by completing a DSA1 form. You can do this once you have your diagnostic assessment, or while you arrange one. Student Finance England aims to confirm whether you've been approved within about four weeks, and it can take up to 14 weeks for your support to be in place, so start early. See how to apply for DSA for the step-by-step route, and what evidence you need for the full evidence rules. The official details are on gov.uk.

This page is general information, not clinical or legal advice.