What is a Disabled Students' Allowance?

Woman: I've been very ill for a couple of years now and I didn't think to ask for help.

Jackie Webster (DSA Awards Officer): A Disabled Students' Allowance or a DSA for short is a grant. It's not a loan, so you don't have to pay it back. And it's some money that is available to help you with the extra cost that you may incur whilst you're studying because you have a disability.

Colin Beesley (DSA Awards Officer): They're not means tested and there's no age limit to who can apply for support, and each award is unique and specific to each individual student and their specific needs.

Man: Usually anything to do with my ill health is upsetting yet my whole experience with the DSA has been a positive one.

Colin Beesley (DSA Awards Officer): The Disabled Students' Allowance is a government grant to cover study support costs if you have a proven disability. It's not means-tested and has no age limit for eligibility.