Filling in the DSA application form: Northern Ireland Applying for Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA): Northern Ireland
Here are the steps to completing a Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) application form. The process is described in greater detail after the steps.
Download the correct application form from the Student Finance NI website. For Open University (OU) students that is the DSA1 application form. Also download and read the guidance notes provided.
Fill in the relevant sections of the application form.
Gather your evidence to go with the application form.
Send your DSA application form to the OU, to the Senior Disability Support Assistant, The Open University, 110 Victoria Street, Belfast BT1 3GN or via email to Ireland-dsa@open.ac.uk.
Send your evidence to Student Finance NI, DSA Office, Ballee Centre, Ballee Road West, Ballymena BT42 2HS.
Downloading the correct form
As an OU student, you need to apply using the part-time application. This is because studying with the OU is considered as part-time study, even if you’re studying full-time.
You’ll need to complete the DSA1 form for the academic year you’ll be starting your module in. You’ll find guidance notes with the application form to help you complete it. We recommend you read the guidance notes before filling in the form.
See the Student Finance NI website to download the DSA forms and guidance notes.
Providing OU information in your application
Section 5 of the application form is to be completed by the OU.
Send your form to us when you have completed the rest of it, and we will fill in section 5 and send the completed form on to Student Finance NI for you. You only send the completed form to us, see the next section about sending your evidence.
Send your form to:
Senior Disability Support Assistant
The Open University
110 Victoria Street
Belfast
BT1 3GN
Sending your evidence documents
You need to send your medical evidence directly to Student Finance NI.
If you’re required to provide identification documents (passport, birth/adoption certificate, declaration of identity), these also need to be sent directly to Student Finance NI.
The address is:
Student Finance NI DSA Office
Ballee Centre
Ballee Road West
Ballymena
BT42 2HS.
Make sure you attach a note explaining that you are applying for DSA and your form has been forwarded to the Open University who will send it to Student Finance NI on your behalf. Give details of your home address so that Student Finance NI can return your original documents.
Help with your DSA application
Student Finance NI provides detailed guidance notes with the application form to explain the process. You can also contact Student Finance NI by phone on 0300 100 0077.
We can help if you’re having any difficulties during the application process. Call the OU Ireland Disability Support Team on +44 (0)2890 323718 (08:30 - 17:00 Mon to Fri, except Bank Holidays) or email us at ireland-dsa@open.ac.uk.
