Students often wonder: “how much is the DSA allowance?” because they may have heard that there is a set figure that each student is entitled to.
However, the truth is that different students will receive different amounts of funding, depending on their specific situation.
When you go through the process of applying for the Disabled Students’ Allowance, your needs assessor will determine how much support you need to help with your studies.
Maximum DSA funding limits
Across the UK, there are different caps on the amount of funding you can receive from the DSA. Below you can find the upper limits for England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland (excluding travel costs).
How much is the DSA allowance in England?
The DSA allowance is capped at a maximum of £25,575 per year in England.
How much is the DSA allowance in Wales?
In Wales, the DSA allowance is capped at £32,546 per year.
How much is the DSA allowance in Northern Ireland?
The DSA allowance is capped at a maximum of £25,000 per year in Northern Ireland.
How much is the DSA allowance in Scotland?
In Scotland, the DSA allowance is worked out slightly differently.
It is split between three allowances:
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Maximum basic allowance of £1,725 per year
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Maximum non-medical personal allowance (NMPH) of £20,520 per year
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Maximum large items’ allowance of £5,160 for the duration of your course
The maximum funding is £25,680 per year.
Plus an allowance of £5,160 for large items for the duration of your course.
But how much DSA will I actually get?
It is important to remember that the figures quoted above are the maximum funding limits.
In most instances you will not actually receive this much funding.
But rest assured, your DSA assessor will be expertly trained to recommend the right assistive technology equipment, the most helpful software and the right level of personal care that you need to support your studies.
What will the DSA pay for?
Your individual DSA allowance package will pay for a number of things that your assessor believes will support your time at university.
These may include:
Specialist equipment
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Computer
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Voice recording device
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Multifunction printers & scanners
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Specialist mouse & keyboard
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Specialist furniture (chair, desk & back support)
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Training in the use of your specialist equipment
Specialist software
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Speech to text software
- Captioning software
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Mind mapping software
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Screen reading software
Non-medical helpers
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Mobility trainers
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Communication support workers
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British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters
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Specialist mentors
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Assistive technology trainers
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Sighted guides
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Specialist one-to-one study skills trainers
Additional travel expenses
Such as taxi fares when public transport is not appropriate.
Any other disability-related costs needed to study
Such as ink and paper for when hard copies of study materials are required or a fridge for specialist medication.
We hope you found this DSA guide useful. If you’re interested in learning how Jamworks can support your learning, note taking and revision as a DSA student click here for more information.
If you’d like to arrange a quick chat with our DSA lead, Kieran, just click here. He’s passionate and knowledgeable about assistive technology and always makes time to give advice to students who are interested to learn more.
