DSA pays for the extra study costs your disability creates: a computer, software, non-medical helpers like note-takers, and travel. In England it is up to £27,783 for 2025/26 and 2026/27, and you do not repay it. DSA is the Disabled Students’ Allowance — funding from Student Finance England for disabled, neurodivergent and chronically-ill students in higher education. It is not means-tested, so the amount you get depends on what you need, not your household income.
The four things DSA buys
Student Finance England groups DSA support into four kinds of cost:
- Specialist equipment — for example a computer if your needs assessment says you need one, plus assistive software.
- Non-medical helpers — people such as note-takers, specialist study-skills mentors or British Sign Language interpreters.
- Extra travel — the additional cost, such as taxis, of getting to your course because of your disability, above what you would pay anyway.
- Other study support — further disability-related costs of studying, like extra printing for proofreading.
The whole package is a single combined allowance of up to £27,783, confirmed at that figure for both the 2025/26 and 2026/27 academic years. You will rarely reach the cap; most awards are a fraction of it, set to whatever your assessment recommends.
What DSA does not pay for
This is the part the top search results tend to skip. DSA only covers extra costs of studying. It does not pay for:
| DSA pays for | DSA does not pay for |
|---|---|
| Assistive software and a recommended computer | The first £200 of that computer — you pay that yourself |
| Note-takers and study mentors | Disability costs you would have whether or not you studied |
| Extra travel caused by your disability | General living costs and costs any student would have |
So if a recommendation includes a computer, you pay the first £200 towards it and DSA funds the rest. And the cap above is the England figure only — Wales, Scotland (where SAAS still uses separate sub-allowances) and Northern Ireland run DSA differently, with different maximums.
You need an assessment and evidence first
DSA is not automatic. Two things gate it. First, you attend a DSA needs assessment — a relaxed conversation, not a test — with a registered assessor who recommends the specific support. It is separate from any medical assessment, and it can take up to 14 weeks to get support in place, so start early. Second, you have to send evidence: for a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia, a diagnostic report that meets the 2005 SpLD Working Group guidelines; for autism, ADHD or a health condition, a letter from a doctor or medical professional (or a Statement of SEN) confirming a substantial, long-term effect on everyday activities.
That evidence requirement is the real catch. You can apply while you are still on a diagnostic pathway, but you will only be paid once the right paperwork is in. If you are unsure whether what you have counts, read what evidence you need for DSA, and see what a DSA needs assessment involves before you book one.
Where the law comes from
Related
This page is general information, not clinical or legal advice.