Skip to main content

Help if you're a student with a learning difficulty, health problem or disability

Skip contents

Eligibility

You can apply for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) if you live in England and have a disability that affects your ability to study, such as a:

  • specific learning difficulty, for example dyslexia or ADHD
  • mental health condition, for example anxiety or depression
  • physical disability, for example if you have to use crutches, a wheelchair or a special keyboard
  • sensory disability, for example if you’re visually impaired, deaf or have a hearing impairment
  • long-term health condition, for example cancer, chronic heart disease or HIV

You must also be:

  • eligible for both a Tuition Fee Loan and a Maintenance Loan (full support) from Student Finance England
  • studying on an undergraduate or postgraduate funded course that lasts at least a year, or studying at least 30 credits on a course funded through the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE)

One credit for LLE is usually equivalent to 10 hours of learning time.

Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE)

Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) is the new student finance system for many courses starting on or after 1 January 2027. From September 2026, you can apply for LLE funding for certain courses and modules from levels 4 to 6, or some postgraduate courses from level 7.

Who is not eligible

You cannot get DSA from Student Finance England if you’re:

  • only eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan and not a Maintenance Loan (tuition fee only funding)
  • eligible for NHS Disabled Students’ Allowances (this is a separate scheme)
  • getting equivalent support from another funding source, like from your university or a social work bursary
  • on a higher or degree apprenticeship course

Proving you’re eligible

You will not automatically get DSA - you need proof of your eligibility.

Physical, sensory, long-term health, or mental health conditions

You must provide a copy of a report or letter from your doctor or a medical professional. It must explain how your health condition has a substantial and long-term effect on your day-to-day activities.

Alternatively, you can send a copy of:

Autistic Spectrum Disorders

You must provide a copy of a report or letter from your doctor or a medical professional that confirms your diagnosis.

Alternatively, you can send a copy of:

Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD)

You must provide a copy of a ‘diagnostic assessment’ from a practitioner psychologist or a suitably qualified specialist teacher.

How to submit your evidence

You can send proof of a health condition or learning disability to Student Finance England through your online account - if you have one. You can also send your proof by email or post.

Disability evidence for student finance 
dsa_medical_evidence@slc.co.uk

Student Finance England
PO Box 210
Darlington
DL1 9HJ

You could get extra money from your university or college to pay for a new diagnostic assessment.

Your course

Your course must be in the UK. Examples of eligible courses include:

  • a first degree, for example BA, BSc or BEd
  • a Foundation Degree
  • a Certificate of Higher Education
  • a Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE)
  • a Higher National Certificate (HNC)
  • a Higher National Diploma (HND)
  • a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE)
  • a postgraduate course
  • Initial Teacher Training
  • a level 4 or 5 course with Higher Technical Qualification approval

If your course starts on or after 1 January 2027, different rules may apply.

Check with your university or college if you’re not sure whether your course qualifies for funding.

Part-time courses that started before 1 January 2027

For part-time students, whether you can get DSA depends on your course intensity.

‘Course intensity’ means how long your course takes to complete each year compared to an equivalent full-time course. You can check course intensity with your university or college.

The rules are different depending on your course.

Part-time undergraduate courses

Your course cannot be more than 4 times longer than the equivalent full-time course. Your course must last at least a year.

Part-time postgraduate master’s courses

If you’re applying for a Postgraduate Loan for a part-time master’s degree, the course must not last more than twice as long as the full-time equivalent.

View a printable version of the whole guide