Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)

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The Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) is a fund that can meet the additional study costs that a student incurs due to a disability, neurodivergent condition, Specific Learning Difference (SpLD) such as dyslexia, visual or hearing impairment, long-term health condition or mental health difficulty.  

The DSA:

  • Is separate from your student loan and it does not have to be paid back.
  • Is not means-tested, ie the support you receive depends on your needs, rather than your income.
  • It does not impact the amount of tuition fee or maintenance loan that you may receive.
  • Is a fund paid directly to external providers for providing support - it is not additional financial support that you will receive. 

The support provided via DSA is based upon need. It is tailored to the individual and takes into account the demands and activities associated with your university course. It may include specialist equipment / assistive technology, non-medical helper support, and / or support for travel.

Examples of specialist equipment / assistive technology include:

  • A computer
  • Ergonomic furniture
  • Text-to-speech software
  • Speech-to-text software
  • Mindmapping software
  • Software to help with note-taking

Examples of non-medical helper support include:

  • One-to-one study skills tuition
  • One-to-one specialist mental health mentoring
  • Specialist note-taking support
  • British Sign Language interpreting
  • Assistive technology training

Support for travel:

  • Some students may find it challenging to travel to / from University or placements by public transport because of a disability. DSA can fund the additional cost of travelling to / from University or placements in such instances (subject to funding body approval).

Full-time and part-time undergraduate / postgraduate students who are eligible for student finance as 'home' students are likely to be eligible for DSA. You may not be eligible for the DSA if you are an international student or an assessment only student. If you are ineligible, please contact the DDS to discuss available support further. 

If you are eligible for DSA, your funding body will depend upon your UK home country, or in some instances your course. Please refer to the links below for further information concerning DSA funding bodies:

Note: In most instances your DSA funding body will be the same as your student finance funding body. For many students at London Metropolitan University this is Student Finance England (SFE). 

You should apply for DSA as soon as possible, ideally before you start your course. It may take up to six weeks for your funding body to process your application and further weeks before DSA funded support is in place (up to twelve weeks in total). 

To apply for DSA you will need to complete a DSA application form. This must be sent to your funding body along with supporting medical documentation that confirms your diagnosis. Your medical documentation must confirm all of the diagnoses that you wish to have taken into account as part of your DSA application.

We advise you to check with your funding body to establish what is required with regard to medical documentation. However, Student Finance England suggest the following:

  • Disabilities or long-term health condition (including mental health conditions): A copy of a report or letter from your doctor or consultant that confirms your health condition or disability. 
  • Specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia: A copy of a 'diagnostic assessment' from a practitioner psychologist or suitably qualified specialist teacher.

Your DDS Advisor will be able to give you advice and guidance concerning DSA at any time during your time studying at London Metropolitan University.

Please refer to the links below for further information concerning DSA funding bodies:

Step 1 - Apply for DSA.

Apply for DSA as soon as possible through your Funding Body by completing an application form and submitting it alongside your supporting Medical Documentation / Full Diagnostic Report.

Step 2 - Eligibility established.

If your funding body accepts your DSA application you will receive a letter (via email or post) to confirm this. The letter will also invite you to attend a DSA Needs Assessment. 

Step 3 - Attend your DSA Needs Assessment.

A DSA Needs Assessment is required to enable your funding body to identify appropriate support that is tailored to your needs. DSA Needs Assessments are completed by DSA assessment providers external to the University. 

Your DSA Needs Assessment Centre should contact you as soon as your eligibility for DSA is approved in order to arrange a date and time for your assessment. This can take place either in person or remotely (video/phone). 

Should you not know who your assigned DSA Needs Assessment Centre is or need help with arranging your assessment then please contact your DDS Advisor. If you are unsure of who your DDS Advisor is then please email studentservices@londonmet.ac.uk or phone us on +44 (0)20 7320 2848.

Step 4 - DSA support recommendations are sent to your funding body.

After you have attended your DSA Needs Assessment, your DSA Needs Assessor will write a report that details the support that is recommended. A copy of this report will be sent to you and to your funding body. We recommend that you send a copy of this report to the DDS once received. 

If you not satisfied with the support that has been recommended, or have any queries, you should contact your DSA Needs Assessor and / or funding body to discuss this further. 

Step 5 - Funding body approval for DSA support. 

After your funding body has reviewed your DSA Needs Assessment Report they will write to you (via email or post) to indicate the DSA support that has been approved. If you are not satisfied with the support that has been approved, or have any queries, you should contact your funding body to discuss this further. 

It is recommended that you send a copy of this approval letter to the DDS so that we can advise you on the support which has been approved. 

Step 6 - Make arrangements to have your DSA funded support. 

The letter sent to you by your funding body will indicate:

  • The support that has been approved.
  • The supplier of the support.
  • The next steps you should take to get support in place.

It is your responsibility to make arrangements for support. However, if you require any assistance your DDS Advisor will be happy to provide advice and guidance. 

Further information on what DSA is, the application process for DSA and types of support that the DSA can provide can be found on Compare the Market.

All decisions concerning DSA are made by your funding body. However, the DDS can provide advice and guidance if you have any questions.

We advise students to contact their DDS Advisor with any DSA related queries in the first instance. Your DDS Advisor will be able to indicate the most appropriate next steps and in some instances act on your behalf to communicate with your funding body, DSA Needs Assessor or external support provider.

If you are yet to register with DDS or cannot remember who your DDS Advisor is please contact us via email studentservices@londonmet.ac.uk or telephone +44 (0)20 7320 2848. 

Disabilities and Dyslexia Service (DDS) contact details

+44 (0)20 7320 2848

studentservices@londonmet.ac.uk

Student Services appointment request form

Please note: From August 2024, access to the Student Services office (TM1-33) will be via The Rocket Building entrance. After entering through the Rocket Building, proceed through the Yellow Zone towards the Highbury canteen and take the lift / stairs to TM1-33 on the First Floor .

9am to 5pm 

Monday to Friday

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