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Disabled students

If you have a disability or specific learning difficulty, it's a good idea to contact universities and colleges to discuss your requirements before sending your application to us.

The Equality Act was introduced in 2010, building on the previous Disability Discrimination Act. Under the Equality Act, it is unlawful for universities and colleges to discriminate against disabled students by treating them less favourably when offering places and providing services. They have a legal requirement to make 'reasonable adjustments' so that disabled students are not put at a substantial disadvantage. In addition, all higher education institutions should have a Disability Equality Scheme, setting out how they intend to improve disability equality across their institution.

Most universities and colleges have disability coordinators or advisers. You can look up their contact details on the former Skill website.

The disability coordinator can tell you what support is available and help set up an information visit. This is an opportunity to talk to staff about any adaptations that may be needed. You might also want to talk to the head of department or other academic staff for specific course information.

If you visit a college or university, it might be helpful to take with you a checklist of questions to ask members of staff and students. What you ask will obviously depend upon the nature of your disability, but the following are examples of questions you might include.

  • Are all the buildings I need to use physically accessible?
  • Are there any particular facilities for disabled students?
  • Are there any current students with a similar impairment?
  • What support do they receive?
  • Who will help organise my support?
  • Can you help me apply for additional funding if needed?
  • Are the methods of teaching and assessment appropriate to my needs?
  • What would happen if I started the course and experienced a problem?

Studying outside

Telling the institution about your disability in advance can also help them to prepare and arrange support in time for the start of your course. If you are unsure what to tell your potential universities and colleges, you may find it helpful to read the Telling people about your disability booklet on the Disability Rights UK website.

Disability Rights UK also produces a free guide for disabled students called 'Into Higher Education'. It covers questions such as whether the college or university will be accessible, how to choose a course and what support will be available. In the case studies, disabled students write about their own experiences and the challenges they have faced, providing a valuable insight into what it is like being a disabled student in higher education. The guide is free to download from the Disability Rights UK website.

The university or college will not always pay for everything itself. Instead, you may be able to get funding through Disabled Students' Allowances.

Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)

DSAs are designed to help with the costs that you incur, in attending your course, as a direct result of your disability or specific learning difficulty. They are available to full-time and part-time students with disabilities, although part-time disabled students must be studying at least 25% of a full-time course.

How much you get does not depend on your income or that of your household. Unlike student loans, this assistance does not have to be repaid.

Depending on your needs, extra support from the DSA could include:

  • specialist equipment, for example computer software, digital recorders, CCTV
  • a non-medical helper, such as a note-taker, specialist tutor or sign-language interpreter
  • extra travel costs you have to pay because of your disability
  • other costs, for example extra photocopying costs, Braille paper, ink cartridges.
 

It is important that you let your awarding authority, eg Student Finance England, local authority (LA) in Wales, Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) or local education and library board (ELB) in Northern Ireland know straight away if you have a disability and think you will need extra help or equipment on your course.

More advice about DSAs is on the Directgov website. For information about applying for DSAs view Student Finance England's guide 'Bridging the gap' and Key steps to applying for Disabled Students' Allowances.

DSA forms

DSA forms are available to download from the sites listed below.

England: Student Finance England

Wales: Student Finance Wales

Scotland: Student Awards Agency for Scotland

Northern Ireland: Student Finance Northern Ireland

Disabled Students' Allowance: Have your say!

The Disabled Students Allowance Quality Assurance Group (DSA-QAG) have developed an online survey to analyse students' perspective on the service provided by both DSA Assessment Centres and DSA suppliers. They are inviting you to participate in this short survey and help monitor and improve the service that you, and future students, receive when applying for Disabled Students' Allowances. Take the DSA-QAG Student Survey now

Further information

The NHS Business Services Authority website contains further information for students taking a course which is funded by the NHS and leads to professional registration.

Please also visit the disabled students' section on the Directgov website for specific information about funding.

You can meet other students on yougo.co.uk, the student network. Go to the yougo page to find out how to register.