Can You Get Disabled Students' Allowance for an HND? DSA, Dyslexia and Study Support Explained
Maybe you have dyslexia and reading long reports takes you twice as long as everyone else. Maybe you have ADHD, or anxiety, or a health condition that flares up without warning. You want to study, but you worry that the course will be harder for you than for other people.
There is help, and it is bigger than most people think. So here is the question we hear from many of our applicants. Can you get Disabled Students' Allowance for an HND?
Yes, you can. This guide explains what Disabled Students' Allowance is, who can get it, what it pays for, how to apply, and what support a college gives on top.
What is Disabled Students' Allowance?
Disabled Students' Allowance, usually shortened to DSA, is money from the government to cover the extra study costs you have because of a disability, a long-term health condition, a mental health condition or a specific learning difficulty.
Three things make it different from a student loan.
- It is a grant, so you never pay it back.
- It is not based on your household income. Your parents' or partner's earnings do not matter.
- It does not come to you as cash. Instead it pays for specific things you need, such as software, equipment or a support worker.
The money is on top of any tuition fee loan or maintenance loan you get. It does not reduce them.
Can you get Disabled Students' Allowance for an HND?
Yes. DSA is for students on higher education courses, and an HND is higher education.
An HND, or Higher National Diploma, is a Level 5 qualification. Level 5 is the same standard as the second year of a university degree. If the HND is at an approved college and it is a designated course for student finance, DSA is open to you in the same way it is to a degree student.
You can get DSA whether you study full time or part time, as long as the part-time course is at least a quarter of the pace of the full-time version. Most part-time HNDs meet that test easily.
You can also get DSA if you are not taking out a loan at all. Some students pay their own fees and still claim DSA for the support they need.
Who qualifies for DSA?
You need to meet two sets of rules.
The first is about you as a student. You must normally live in England, be on an eligible course, and meet the same residence rules that apply to a student loan. If you live in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, there is a similar scheme run by your own student finance body.
The second is about your condition. It must be one that affects your ability to study and is likely to last at least a year. The list is wider than many people expect. It includes the following.
- Specific learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia.
- ADHD and autism.
- Mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety and OCD.
- Long-term health conditions, such as diabetes, epilepsy, Crohn's disease and chronic fatigue.
- Physical disabilities and mobility impairments.
- Sight or hearing loss.
You do not need to think of yourself as disabled to qualify. Many people with dyslexia or anxiety are surprised to learn that DSA is for them.
What does DSA pay for?
DSA pays for the extra costs that come from your condition. The exact package is worked out for you in a needs assessment, which we explain below. The common items fall into four groups.
Equipment and software
This might be a laptop with text-to-speech software that reads your course notes aloud. It might be mind-mapping software for planning assignments, a digital recorder for lectures, or software that checks your spelling and grammar in a way that works for dyslexia. If you need a new computer, you normally pay the first two hundred pounds towards it and DSA covers the rest.
Support from people
This is often the most valuable part. You might get a specialist study skills tutor who meets you one to one and helps you plan essays and manage deadlines. You might get a mentor for a mental health condition, a note-taker, or a British Sign Language interpreter. These people are paid for by DSA, and the hours are set out in your needs assessment.
Travel
If your condition means you cannot use public transport, DSA can pay the extra cost of taxis to and from college, beyond what a normal journey would cost.
Other costs
Things like extra printing, specialist paper or ink, and a dyslexia diagnostic test if you need one to prove your condition.
There is a yearly cap on the total. It runs to well over twenty thousand pounds, and almost nobody gets close to it. Check GOV.UK for the current figure.
How do you apply for DSA?
The process has a few steps. It is not hard, but it takes time, so start early.
- Apply for DSA. If you are applying for a student loan, there is a box on the same form. If you are not taking a loan, you fill in a separate DSA form on the GOV.UK student finance pages. You do not need a confirmed college place to begin.
- Send your evidence. For a learning difficulty such as dyslexia, this is a diagnostic report from a qualified assessor. For a health or mental health condition, it is a letter or form from your doctor or specialist. Keep a copy of everything.
- Wait for approval of your eligibility. Student Finance England checks your evidence and writes to tell you if you qualify.
- Book a needs assessment. This is a conversation with an assessor about how your condition affects your study and what would help. It lasts an hour or two and can be done online or in person. It is not a test, and nobody is trying to catch you out.
- Get your report. The assessor writes up what they recommend. Student Finance England approves it and tells you which suppliers to contact for equipment and support.
- Get set up. The suppliers arrange your equipment and training, and your support workers are put in touch with you.
From start to finish, the whole thing can take up to fourteen weeks. If you apply in the spring for a September start, your support will be in place for your first assignments. If you apply in September, you may wait until December. Apply as soon as you know you want to study.
Our guide to student finance for adult learners on an HND walks through the main application if you have not done it before.
What if you do not have a diagnosis yet?
This is common, especially for adults. Many people were never tested for dyslexia or ADHD at school and have simply got on with life.
For dyslexia and other learning difficulties, you need a full diagnostic assessment carried out after your sixteenth birthday. A school report from years ago is not enough. The assessment costs a few hundred pounds, but some colleges can help with the cost, and if you are then approved for DSA, you may be able to claim some of it back.
For a health or mental health condition, you need evidence from a medical professional. Your GP can usually write a short letter that confirms your condition, how long you have had it and how it affects you.
If you suspect you have a condition but are not sure, talk to the college. Many have a learning support team that can run a quick screening and tell you whether a full assessment is worth it.
What support does the college give on top of DSA?
DSA is not the only help. Under the Equality Act, colleges must make reasonable adjustments for disabled students, and that applies to every HND provider in England.
Adjustments do not come from DSA money. They are things the college arranges itself. Typical ones include the following.
- Extra time on timed assessments.
- Deadline extensions agreed in advance for a condition that flares up.
- Course materials shared before class so you can read them at your own pace.
- Permission to record lectures.
- A quiet room for assessments or presentations.
- A named person to go to when something goes wrong.
To get these, you need to tell the college about your condition. That is called disclosure. Many adults hold back because they worry about being judged. In practice, the sooner you tell the learning support team, the sooner they can help, and the information is kept private.
Our guide to HND assessment and grading explains how assignments work, which helps when you are thinking about what adjustments you might need. Our post on academic writing and referencing on an HND is also a good starting point if writing is the part that worries you.
Does DSA affect your other money?
No. DSA is not counted as income for Universal Credit or other benefits. It does not reduce your maintenance loan or your tuition fee loan. If you also get Personal Independence Payment, you can keep that too, because PIP and DSA are for different things.
Can mature students get DSA?
Yes, and there is no upper age limit. Plenty of our students are in their thirties, forties and fifties, and some discover a learning difficulty for the first time when they return to study. Our guide to returning to education after 30 has more on the adjustment to studying again.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get DSA for an HND?
Yes, if you are on an approved HND in England and your condition meets the rules. It works the same way as for a degree.
Do I have to pay DSA back?
No. It is a grant.
Is DSA means-tested?
No. Your income and your family's income do not matter.
Can I get DSA for dyslexia?
Yes. Dyslexia is one of the most common reasons people receive DSA. You need a diagnostic report from an assessment done after you turned sixteen.
Can I get DSA for anxiety or depression?
Yes, if the condition is long term and affects your study. A letter from your GP or a mental health professional is the usual evidence.
Can I get DSA if I study part time?
Yes, as long as your course runs at a quarter or more of the full-time pace.
How long does a DSA application take?
Up to fourteen weeks. Apply as early as you can.
Ready to find out what support you could get?
If you are thinking about the HND Business or the HND Hospitality Management at LCK Academy and you have a disability, a long-term condition or a learning difficulty, tell us early. We will explain how DSA works, help you with the forms, and set up any adjustments before you start.
- Email: admissions@lckacademy.org.uk
- Phone: 020 8161 3300
Get in touch and we will make sure you have what you need from day one.