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If you're a postgraduate course student and eligible for a bursary you can apply for DSAs at any time during your course.

The allowances help to pay for extra costs you have while attending your course as a direct result of your disability, medical condition, or Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD).

The DSAs are non-income assessed and can help you with several different costs relating to your study. The amount of DSAs will be based on the recommendations in your assessment of study needs report.

The maximum full-time rates during the academic year are:

These rates are non-income assessed and are only available if you have a capped bursary place.

The maximum part time rates during the academic year are:

Items of specialist equipment

If recommended within your assessment of study needs, we may be able to help with funding towards specialist equipment as part of your DSAs award.

If it’s needed, we'll be given quotes for the purchase or rent of specialist equipment such as:

  • a computer or laptop
  • computer software

If we feel these costs are needed, we’ll pay you the lowest recommended quote.

You must pay £200 towards the cost of any computer or laptop recommended.

Any payments will be made to you once we've received confirmation from your university or college of your attendance and allocation of a capped bursary place.

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Non-medical helpers

This is used to provide help you may need on your course such as:

  • sign language interpreters
  • note-takers
  • other non-medical assistance you need

Invoices and signed timesheets must be submitted to us by the Non-Medical Helper and a payment is made directly to them.

Your assessment of study needs will tell you the amount of hours you can claim for each academic year.

Non-Medical support can be given throughout the year as long as:

  • it does not exceed the number of recommended hours
  • it’s course related
  • you're still receiving a bursary

You may select your own provider if you prefer. You'll only receive the recommended amount of study support noted in your award.

Non-Medical hours which are not used in the academic year are not carried over to the next year.

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General allowances to cover other course related costs

The General Allowance part of DSAs is awarded to cover consumable costs, such as:

  • audio tapes
  • Braille paper
  • extra photocopying and books
  • printer ink

This is not an exhaustive list. Any items must be recommended in your assessment of study needs.

If books are recommended, you can only claim for non-core textbooks that you bought to help you with the course relating to your disability. They must not be core textbooks that all students need to complete their course.

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Travel

Travel Allowance covers the extra travel costs reasonably and necessarily incurred, as a direct result of your disability or condition, while travelling to and from university, college, or placement. This must be recommended in your assessment of study needs report and approved by us.

It does not include everyday costs which a student would expect to have. It covers the difference between the cost of the cheapest available transport and the cost of transport needed due to a disability. This means, if a journey by taxi costs £30 and public transport would cost £10, the Travel Allowance would only be awarded for the £20 difference.

If you have opted to use your mobility element of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP) to lease a mobility car, you'll be expected to use that car to attend university or college, and placements. We would not pay any costs towards travel costs through DSAs.

A Placement Travel Allowance (PTA) of £862.50 is included in the bursary for all students. We'll only consider paying DSAs for placement travel once you exceed this amount.

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What is not covered

The allowances will not be paid for:

  • disability related spending which you would incur if you were not a student, Local Social Service departments may help you with these personal costs
  • costs that you might incur regardless of your disability
  • services which can reasonably be expected to be provided by your university or college
  • disabilities, conditions, or illnesses that are temporary, recoverable, or will not affect your studies
  • EU fees only award students
  • students only eligible for Placement Travel Allowance (PTA)
  • students studying on undergraduate courses
  • the cost of internet charges

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