Starting your DSA application: England Applying for Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA): England
How and where you apply for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) is different depending on where you live in the UK. The following information is for students living in England applying for DSA through Student Finance England.
As an Open University (OU) student you'll need to apply for DSA each year.
DSA is not available to apprenticeship learners. You may be eligible for Access to Work which you can discuss with your apprenticeship employer.
Timescales for applying for DSA
The DSA application form becomes available in May or June for the next academic year starting in August. You can apply for DSA anytime from when the application form becomes available and throughout that academic year.
It can take up to four months to complete the full process from starting the application to receiving your support. To have everything in place for when you start studying, we recommend you apply for DSA four months before your module starts.
Eligibility for DSA
To be eligible for DSA, you must have at least one of the following:
- a long-term health condition such as cancer, HIV, or chronic heart disease
- a learning difficulty like dyslexia, ADHD, or dyspraxia
- a physical disability such as being partially sighted, blind or using crutches
- a mental health condition, for example, depression or anxiety.
You'll also need to:
- be studying a minimum of 30 credits per year
- be studying towards a qualification of at least 60 credits that involves at least one year of study
- meet the residency criteria as outlined by Student Finance England
- provide evidence of a disability or specific learning difficulty.
Where to apply for DSA
The DSA application process is handled by Student Finance England and you apply through GOV.UK.
For an overview of the process see Help if you’re a student with a learning difficulty, health problem or disability on the GOV.UK website.
Be prepared to provide evidence with your application
As you complete your application form, you’ll be asked for evidence for some of the information you provide. The DSA application notes available with the form explain what evidence is required and whether it needs to be the original document or a copy.
Student Finance England have provided a DSA Disability Evidence Form that you can take to your doctor or medical professional for them to complete as part of your medical evidence.
You can apply to our Study Related Costs Fund to cover the cost of getting medical evidence up to £50. You can also apply to this fund to cover the cost of a Diagnostic Assessment.
