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Everything about DSA

What is the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)?

If you're a UK or Republic of Ireland student with a disability, long-term health condition, mental health condition, or specific learning difficulty (like dyslexia or dyspraxia), you may be eligible for externally funded support with your studies.

This support is funded through:

  • Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) – for students in the UK

  • Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) – for students in ROI

These grants are designed to level the playing field by helping to cover additional study-related costs that arise due to your condition. They are not means-tested, so your household income doesn’t affect whether you qualify.

Further information and eligibility checks can be found on the following websites:

Your support package will be tailored to your specific needs, preferences, and course requirements. Your Needs Assessor will assist you in identifying the best solution or combination of solutions to meet your individual needs. 

Please note that the allowances are administered by the relevant funder, and recipients do not receive cash sums.

Am I Eligible?


To be eligible for DSA, you must be a UK student and provide either medical verification of your condition or a recent Educational Psychologist’s report.


Some of the conditions that DSA funding covers:

  • Specific learning difficulties - ADD/ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia
  • Mental health difficulties - anxiety, depression, OCD, mood disorder, PTSD
  • Autism/ Asperger’s Syndrome
  • Physical disabilities - arthritis, hypermobility syndrome, scoliosis
  • Sensory impairments - visual/auditory/speech
  • Medical conditions - epilepsy, IBS, MS, cystic fibrosis, heart condition, Crohn’s disease
How do I apply for DSA?

The support you receive is based on your individual needs, and may fall under one or more of the following areas:

If you are from Northern Ireland you can complete a DSA1 form (available at www.studentfinanceni.co.uk) and send this to your local Education Authority or equivalent funding body eg SFE. Please contact us for guidance.

Please note that if you are a Nursing or Midwifery student in receipt of a bursary, a DSA1 form is not required. Please contact your Disability Officer for more information about applying. 

Include up-to-date detailed medical evidence or an Educational Psychologist’s report if you have a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia, along with your DSA1 form.

Students from England, Scotland, Wales or the Republic of Ireland please visit the following websites:

If you have any queries relating to your eligibility or application, please contact the Needs Assessment Centre on 028 9097 5062 or nac@qub.ac.uk  

What does DSA support include?
  • One-to-One Support

    One-to-One Support

    • Study Skills or Specialist Tutoring i.e. Dyslexia

    • Mental Health or ASD Mentoring

    • Note Taking or Campus Assistance

    • Exam reader/scribe

    • Note Taker

    For further information see: Queen’s Student Guide to One-to-One Support

  • Assistive Technology (AT) Tools

    Some of the commonly recommended tools include:

    • TextHelp Read&Write – Literacy and writing support

    • EquatIO – Making STEM content accessible

    • ClaroRead / Medincle / MindView / LightKey – Reading, spelling, planning tools

    • Glean/Caption.Ed  – Audio notetaking, real-time captioning & transcription

    •  Present Pal / Global Tasks / Aspire – Presentation, task management & wellbeing tools

    • ZoomText / JAWS / Roger Pen – Support for visual and hearing impairments

    Want to find out more?
    Visit our Assistive Technology webpage to explore a wide range of tools — including software funded through DSA and free, built-in features available to all students.

  • Specialist Equipment

    As part of your DSA support, you may be recommended specialist equipment to help reduce barriers to learning. This equipment is chosen to meet your individual needs and is not limited to software.

    Examples of commonly recommended items include:

    • Laptop or study device – if required to run assistive software or meet specific learning needs

    • Ergonomic chairs or desks – to support posture and reduce pain or fatigue

    • Laptop stands or risers – to improve screen positioning

    • External keyboards and mice – including ergonomic, left-handed, or adapted versions

    This equipment is provided to support you in studying comfortably and independently. All recommendations will be discussed during your Needs Assessment, and only equipment that is essential to meet your study-related needs will be included.

    You will usually also receive training on how to set up and use the equipment if needed.

  • Allowances

    In addition to equipment and support, DSA can also include allowances to help cover other study-related costs caused by your disability or long-term condition. These are designed to support your independence and access to learning.

    • Travel Costs –  DSA may help with the cost of travel arrangements, depending on your needs.
    • General Allowance – Up to £150 per year to cover things like printing, paper, and other study-related consumables. Keep your receipts for reimbursement.

     

  • Other Types of Support Available

    If you have a long-term health condition or physical/mobility difficulty, you may be eligible for a range of support through DSA. This support is tailored to help you manage symptoms, reduce barriers to study, and stay fully involved in university life.

    Examples of Conditions:

    • Long-term health conditions: Crohn’s disease, epilepsy, cancer, heart conditions, fibromyalgia, scoliosis, etc.

    • Physical or mobility difficulties: Cerebral palsy, hypermobility syndrome, scoliosis, etc.

    If you have any queries relating to your support needs, please contact the Needs Assessment Centre on 028 9097 5062 or nac@qub.ac.uk  

Disabled Students' Allowance Process Made Easy

Complete relevant DSA01 Form and return to the Education Authority with medical evidence.

'Section 5' of the DSA01 Form can be completed at the Student Information Point, Level 1, One Elmwood Student Centre.

The Education Authority will confirm eligibility for DSA within approximately 8 weeks.

Student contacts the Needs Assessment Centre (NAC) to arrange an appointment. All appointments are offered within 10 days of initial contact.

Student attends a meeting with their Needs Assessor to discuss individual support needs.

The Needs Assessment Report is finalised within 10 working days and sent to the student for review.

The report is sent to the Education Authority to be processed. The student's University Disability Officer is also provided with a copy of the report.

The Education Authority will confirm by letter (DSA02 letter) which recommendations have been approved within 6-8 weeks. Your DSA02 letter will tell you who your NMH (non-medical helpers) provider is - whether it is QUB or external.*

If the student has not received a letter by 8 weeks they should contact the Education Authority directly by phone or email.

Equipment Delivery:

Student to organise directly with the Supplier and Education Authority. This process can take a further 4-6 weeks.

Training Delivery:

Student to organise directly with the Supplier and Education Authority.

One-to-One Support

If your NMH provider is QUB, we will organise one-to-one support for you following approval of recommendations by the Education Authority.*

On the rare occasion that your NMH provider is not QUB, and is external, we will provide you with contact details for your provider and advise you on how you can set up your one-to-one support.*

Frequently Asked Questions
  • How to apply for DSA

    If you’re a Northern Ireland student, you’ll need to complete a DSA1 form, which you can download from www.studentfinanceni.co.uk.

    Once completed, send it along with:

    • Medical evidence (e.g. a letter from your GP or consultant), or

    • An Educational Psychologist’s report if you have a specific learning difficulty like dyslexia

    Send your form and evidence to your local Education Authority (EA).


    If you’re funded by a different body (e.g. SAAS, Student Finance England, Student Finance Wales, or a Research Council), check their website for specific instructions.

    Tip: Apply as early as possible — the full process can take up to 14 weeks.

  • How long will the DSA process take?

    The full process usually takes around 3 to 4 months, so it’s best to apply as early as possible — especially if you want your support in place for the start of the academic year.

    Here’s a rough timeline:

    • After your Needs Assessment:
      Your funding body will send you a confirmation letter (called a DSA2 or similar), usually within 6 to 8 weeks. This may take longer during busy periods like September.

    • Once approved:
      It can take another 4 to 6 weeks to order your equipment, arrange training, or begin one-to-one support.

    All in, this means it can take up to 12–16 weeks from start to finish.

    Don’t forget – keep your receipts!

    If your funding includes things like photocopying or printing, you’ll need to:

    • Keep itemised receipts

    • Submit them with the correct proforma to your funding body at the end of the academic year

    This is the only way to get reimbursed for those costs — so keep everything safe!

  • How Do I Check the Progress of My DSA Application?

    To keep up to date with your DSA application, it’s important to regularly check your email inbox — especially for messages from Student Finance (SFNI) or the Education Authority (EA).

    Messages from the EA are often sent through a secure system called Barracuda encryption. These emails:

    • Can only be accessed for 30 days if unopened

    • Will require you to create a login the first time you use the system

    • Disappear after 30 days for data protection reasons

    Tip: If you think you’ve missed a message, contact the EA directly and they can resend it to you.

    Once you’ve accessed the Barracuda system and set up your login, make sure to save your details — you’ll need them again to access further updates about your application.

    If you have any questions about the progress of your application, email your local Northern Ireland DSA Office for an update:

    Students who have applied for DSA in England, Scotland, Wales or the Republic of Ireland please visit the following websites:

  • I am a Nursing student – how do I apply?

    The DSA award is administered by the BSO (Business Services Organisation) for Nursing students so a DSA1 form is not required. 

    You should instead approach your Disability Officer who will complete an application form on your behalf.

    You can contact Accessible Learning Support to find out who your disability officer is accessiblelearning@qub.ac.uk

  • I am from the Republic of Ireland – can I apply?

    Whilst students from the ROI are not eligible for the DSA award, you can apply for a very similar award called the Fund for Students with Disabilities. 

    Please contact your Disability Officer to discuss and for further information, see https://hea.ie/funding-governance-performance/funding/student-finance/fund-for-students-with-disabilities/.

    You can contact Accessible Learning Support to find out who your disability officer is accessiblelearning@qub.ac.uk

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