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If you are a home student, your Local Education Authority (or Education and Library Board for students from Northern Ireland and Students Awards Agency for students from Scotland) can pay DSA to cover extra study-related costs that arise because of disability, including dyslexia.
You can apply for DSA if you are on a full or part-time higher education course that lasts at least one year. Examples are BA, BSc, HND, HNC, DipHE, Postgraduate courses such as research and taught masters courses, doctorates, postgraduate diplomas and certificates. You can receive DSA even if you do not qualify for help with fees or the means tested element of the loan.
To apply, you will need to have recent medical evidence or a dyslexia report that was written after the age of 16. You will also need to have an assessment of your needs. The Disability Team can give you further information and help you to make your application.
There are several parts to DSA:
Specialist Equipment Allowance
This can be used to pay for equipment such as computers, specialist software etc.
Non-Medical Helpers Allowance
This can be used to pay for specialist study support, notetakers, BSL interpreters etc.
General Allowance
This can be used to pay for extra photocopying, paper, disks etc.
There is also an amount for extra travel costs you may have as a disabled student.
The Postgraduate allowance is not split into parts, but is one amount per year. If you get funding from the Arts, Humanities and Research Board (AHRB) you can apply to them for an allowance.
The DfES booklet 'Bridging the Gap' has more helpful information on DSA. You can get a copy from the Directgov website
