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Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)

The main support you'll receive at university is through the Disabled Students' Allowance (sometimes called DSA). It's really important you apply as soon as possible because this is what our students find to be the most beneficial support.

 DSA is a non-repayable grant to cover some of the extra costs you may have because of a disability or long term condition. It can also help to cover costs of specialist equipment and non-medical support such as a mentor or tutor.

All students are assessed based on their individual need and the support will be bespoke to your specific disability or condition. You’ll be able to apply for this once you're have your Student Finance England loans account set up.

Follow our step-by-step guide

Organise your support

Organising your support step-by-step guide

Step 1 – Apply for Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)

DSA applications typically open in March/April for the upcoming academic year.

You can apply at any time but it’s important to apply as early as possible so your support can be in place before your course starts.

Step 2 – Book Your Study Needs Assessment (SNA)

Once DSA processes your application (this can take up to six weeks), you’ll receive a DSA1 eligibility letter by email.

To move forward, you must book your Study Needs Assessment. This is an essential step to identify the right support for your needs.
If you need help with booking your assessment, our team is here to support you. Email disabilityteam@derby.ac.uk

Find out more about the Study Needs Assessment on UCAS.

Step 3 – Attend Your Study Needs Assessment

At your Study Needs Assessment, you'll talk through your individual requirements with a trained assessor. Together, you'll explore what types of funded support would be beneficial to help you succeed.

See a mock Study Needs Assessment for an idea of what to expect.

Step 4 – Receive Your DSA2 letter

After your assessment, you’ll receive a DSA2 letter by email. This lists:

  • the support you’ve been approved for
  • the suppliers who will provide it
  • their contact details

Contact the suppliers as soon as possible to arrange delivery, setup, and any necessary training on your equipment.

Once you receive your course timetable, get in touch with your providers to let them know your availability. They can they schedule your tutor support (e.g., specialist mentors, study skills tutors).

Step 5 – Contact the University Disability team

You can reach out to our Disability Team at any time during your application or university journey.

To enable us to put support in place we need you to provide us with evidence of your disability. This is usually in the form of a doctor's letter or a diagnostic report.

If you have this, please email it to studentservices@derby.ac.uk with your details (full name, student number if known, date of birth, general availability and course you're hoping to study).

We'll contact you to arrange an appointment with our Disability team to discuss your support requirements.

If you're unsure about evidence or don't have any, don't worry, you can still contact us and we'll be happy advise you.

We’re here to support you with university-based adjustments and guidance alongside DSA.

If you're on an apprenticeship programme please email this to als@blc.ac.uk

Useful tips

  • Make a checklist of each of the steps on this page, and tick them off when you complete each one
  • Keep copies of all your DSA letters and supplier contacts in one place
  • Set reminders for key DSA steps and upcoming appointments
  • Ask for help if you need support at any stage of the process
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More about DSA

Visit the UCAS guidance on Disabled Students' Allowance.

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Start your DSA application

Get detailed information about Disabled Students' Allowance and begin your application on gov.uk.

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Support if you're not eligible for DSA

Find out what support is available for University of Derby students who are not eligible for DSA.

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Support services

Our non-medical helper (NMH) provision is provided by a team of highly skilled, qualified and registered professionals who are experienced at providing specialist support to students.

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Study Needs Assessment

Find out more information and watch a video about what to expect at a study needs assessment.

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Develop@Derby

Academic skills support

A student Nurse with University of Derby lanyard and in Nursing uniform.

My Study Skills Tutor is extremely knowledgeable in supporting those with educational needs, such as ADHD. Without my Study Skills support, I absolutely would not be in the position I am now (due to qualify in Nursing). In my first year, where I had no support, I failed every assignment and had to resit. In my second year, with study skills support, I achieved 70%.

Milly
Nursing Student
student ambassador

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at the University of Derby, and that is largely due to seeing my specialist mentor and the support and guidance they have offered. Seeing them allows me to manage my time, liaise with academics, and focus on my studies better. I would not have succeeded as well as I have without my mentor.

Kitty
Sociology Student
734students supportedthrough our support services in 2024/2025
93%of students who used UoD non-medical helper support completed or continued their studies2023/2024
100%of students who used UoD NMH support in 2024/2025 said they found the support useful