SAAS Disabled Students’ Allowance
The Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) from SAAS is a fund to support students who are studying in higher education and may have extra costs due to their disability or long term health condition.
Support is available for students experiencing the following:
(This list is not exhaustive)
- dyslexia
- dyscalculia
- visual impairment
- hearing impairment
- limited mobility
- mental-health difficulties
- diabetes
- autism
- epilepsy
- asthma
Other things to note:
- The list above is not a complete list and SAAS advise that you should discuss your situation with a Disability Advisor in the first instance.
- There are residency conditions which you can check here before applying
- You can view the list of eligible full and part-time courses here
If you meet one or more of the following criteria, you may not be able to get DSA funding:
- you’re an EU student receiving tuition fees only
- you’re not studying an eligible course
- you’re receiving student support from Student Finance England, Wales or Northern Ireland
- you’re receiving funding disability related student support or funding from someone else
- you’re studying a work based learning course, and can get disability related support from your employer.
Funding Allowances
DSA has three allowances:
- the basic allowance, the highest amount per year is £1,725
- the large items’ allowance, the highest amount for the duration of your course is £5,160
- the Non-Medical Personal Help allowance (NMPH), the highest amount per year is £20,520
What you are eligible to receive is based on your individual needs and the course you’re studying. Visit the DSA section of the SAAS website for more details and to apply.
If you are not entitled to DSA funding from SAAS, you may still be able to get funding from your college or university. SAAS advise that you should speak to the Disability Services at your college or university for advice.
