How do I apply for a DSA?

Jackie Webster (DSA Awards Officer): There are two ways to apply for a DSA. Once you have informed the University that you have a disability and you're going to study 30 credit points or more, or 60 for Scotland, you will get a Disabled Students' Allowance application form. As you're completing your application refer to the Notes Section.

It gives very clear instructions on what you need to tell us and what you need to send us. And by getting that right first time it means the process goes very smoothly.

Colin Beesley (DSA Awards Officer): The other option is to make an online application. If you're in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you can apply online at www.open.ac.uk/DSA/apply. If you're in Scotland, then contact your national centre. The online application takes you through the process a step at a time. It will miss out any questions that aren't relevant to your particular situation. There are information circles on the system that you can click on which explain things in more detail.

Jackie Webster (DSA Awards Officer): Both the paper application form and the online application form have information triangles and Notes Sections. And this will help you get it right first time. And also, if you need help we're available in the DSA Office any time to answer your questions or to give you some advice on how to complete the form.

Colin Beesley (DSA Awards Officer): The crucial thing with the application process is the supporting documentation. If the form's wrong we can ring you up and we can ask you what you meant by a certain question. We can fill it out for you to a certain extent. We can't do that unfortunately with the supporting documentation.

So we need you to supply a certified copy of some ID. So that would be your birth certificate or your passport. And crucially the certification needs to be written in a very specific way. The ID needs to be certified by a very specific person. The government have given us a list of people who are approved to do that. The list is in the application, it's also in the small guidance leaflet that we send out with the forms.

The guidance leaflet also specifies the text that needs to be written on the certified copy. But essentially we need to know< who the person is what their position of responsibility is. And they need to state clearly that they've seen your original documentation and that the copy you're sending in looks likes the original.

The medical evidence needs to contain specifically a clear diagnosis of your condition. And in the case of specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia or dyspraxia then we need to see the full diagnostic assessment that was carried out by the appropriately qualified person.

Man: Applying for a DSA. Use the accompanying guidance notes. Provide documents to certify your ID and the medical evidence for your condition. And call the DSA office if you need any help. The numbers are 01908 654136, or if you're studying in Scotland, 0131 226 3851.