How to apply for DSA.

How to apply for support from DSA/SLC, report a change of circumstance, request new or longer software license, a maintenance and support extension, tuition fee loan and/or DSA from/via SLC.

Study Tech have no direct control over any DSA funded expenses, loans or grants.
We can offer direction back to DSA/SLC or the relevant links/departments only.

There is an article that covers this in brief, and covers in more depth what change of circumstances or Admin changes DSA prefer to come via a UNI DSA advisor or Assessor.

You can typically apply for around 9 months after the start of the academic year, but not until the academic year starts.  This means the period before the start of the new financial year and after Christmas may not be open to/may not allow you to apply for DSA in some instances.

DSA applications open when the new Student Finance year opens in spring. If the new cycle hasn’t opened yet, you’ll need to wait until the new financial year before submitting your DSA application.

Study Tech/Suppliers have no control over:

Travel or Taxi allowances.

Please read this article on travel expense and Taxi allowance claims.

Loan Applications.

If you've already applied for student finance, log into your online account to start your DSA application.

Maintenance and Support Extensions.

Study Tech cannot grant these directly, and if the letter confirming this has not been forwarded to us, we may be unable to honour anything retroactively.  In addition, most extensions specifically DO NOT include software license extensions unless specifically noted/agreed by DSA/SLC. log into your online account to start your DSA extension application.

Software extensions or allocations.

Study Tech cannot grant these directly, and if the letter confirming this has not been forwarded to us, we may be unable to activate the extension if the awarded date has now passed. log into your online account to start your DSA extension application.

Paper and Ink allowance.

New Applications/Student Finance (SFE/SLC/SFW/SAAS/FSD/DSA) contact details.

Else, If you are not in receipt of an award already, you can apply using the below. Study Tech may then become your supplier, but we do not make that determination
In England apply to Student Finance England. You can apply at the same time as making your online UCAS application.
In Wales apply to Student Finance Wales. 
In Scotland apply to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for any course.
In Northern Ireland apply to Student Finance Northern Ireland, including healthcare courses.
To request a Tuition Fee Loan and/or Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA), students typically apply online through their student finance account. If applying for DSA only, or if unable to apply online, a DSA1 form needs to be completed and submitted to DSA/SLC. New students applying for tuition fee loans can use the EU25N form. 
Student Finance England forms 2025-2026.
It should be noted, using the Student Finance portal and your login/signing up will be significantly faster and easier than the form/manual methods.

Contact Student Finance England if your circumstances change:


Applying for a Tuition Fee Loan and DSA:

  • Online Application:

  • If you've already applied for student finance, log into your online account to start your DSA application.

  • DSA1 Form:

  • If you only need DSA and haven't applied for other student finance, or if you can't apply online, you'll need to complete a DSA1 form.
  • Evidence:
    You'll need to provide evidence of your disability. You can submit digital copies through your online account. 

  • Tuition Fee Loans:

  • EU25N Form: New students applying for tuition fee loans only need to complete and submit the EU25N form.
  • Changing Loan Amount: Use the EUTFLR form to adjust the amount of tuition fee loan you want.

Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA):

  • DSA1 Form:

  • This form is used when applying for DSA only, or when you can't apply online.
  • Evidence:
    You'll need to provide evidence of your disability to support your DSA application. 

  • Claiming DSA Expenses:

  • Claim Form:
    Use the appropriate claim form (for the relevant academic year) to reclaim expenses related to your DSA allowance.

  • Receipts:
You'll need to provide receipts for any claimed expenses, including details like date, location, price, and supplier information. 
Taxi and Travel allowance or expenses.

How to request additional NMH/ATT hours

A student, Needs Assessor(supplier) or Disability Adviser can request additional NMH/ATT hours directly.

Yes — a student, Disability Advisor or Supplier can request directly. But they cannot approve it. Suppliers cannot add hours without SFE/SAAS/SFNI approval. The request must always go back to the funding body.

Student or Disability Adviser (DA) can initiate the request

They can directly contact:

  1. The DSA funding body (SFE/SAAS/SFNI)

A student or DA can say:

  • “My needs have increased.”

  • “My timetable has changed and I need more support.”

  • “The current hours are not enough.”

  • “My condition has worsened.”

This is perfectly valid.

The supplier cannot add hours on their own

Suppliers can:

  • Log the request

  • Gather evidence if needed

  • Direct the student back to the funding body or Needs assessor

Suppliers are not allowed to:

  • Approve extra hours

  • Deliver extra hours before approval

  • “Top up” hours informally

This is a strict DfE/SFE rule.

The Needs Assessor OR funding body must approve the increase

Extra hours require:

  • A Change of Circumstances (CoC) review by the funding body

  • Or a Needs Assessment Review (NAR)

DSA/Funding Body guidance allows a full NAR to be skipped when:

1. The change is administrative, not needs-based

Examples:

  • Student changes address

  • Student changes course but support needs remain identical

  • Student switches between online and in‑person delivery but support type stays the same

2. The change is small and does not alter the support profile

Examples:

  • Minor increase in NMH hours due to timetable changes

  • Additional AT training hours for new software already approved

  • Replacement equipment of the same type

3. The Needs Assessor can justify a short addendum

A short addendum can be used when:

  • The student’s needs have changed slightly

  • The assessor can justify the change without a full reassessment

  • No new diagnostic evidence is required

  • A low cost equipment is now needed, additional monitor, a printer etc (usually with DSA pre approval in principle, but needing a short addendum or light touch review from an assessor)

4. SFE specifically requests a “light-touch” review

This happens when:

  • The student already had a recent full assessment

  • The change is clearly justified

  • The funding body does not require a full report


If a full NAR, The assessor will:

  • Review the student’s situation

  • Justify the increased hours

  • Submit the recommendation to SFE/SAAS/SFNI

If a simple change of circumstance where the the funding body does not want or need a full NAR this can be skipped

1.The change is administrative, not needs-based

Student changes address Student changes course but support needs remain identical Student switches between online and in‑person delivery but support type stays the same.

2. The change is small and does not alter the support profile

Minor increase in NMH hours due to timetable changes Additional AT training hours for new software already approved Replacement equipment of the same type

3. The Needs Assessor can justify a short addendum

A short addendum can be used when: The student’s needs have changed slightly The assessor can justify the change without a full reassessment No new diagnostic evidence is required

4. SFE specifically requests a “light-touch” review

The student already had a recent full assessment The change is clearly justified The funding body does not require a full report The funding body decides whether a full NAR is needed in each case This is why the rules can vary slightly between funding bodies.

Light touch Change of Circumstance" or full NAR is then performed/met


DSA/Funding body then issues:

  • A revised DSA2 letter

  • Or a new approval email

Only then can the supplier deliver the extra hours.

What counts as a valid reason for extra hours?

  • Worsening of a disability or mental health condition

  • Increased academic workload

  • New modules requiring more support

  • Placement year changes

  • Change from in‑person to online study

  • A new diagnosis

  • Hours originally assessed as too low

What does not justify extra hours?

  • Student preference alone

  • Wanting more sessions without evidence

  • Using up hours early in the year

  • Supplier availability issues

Why Some Students Need to Reapply for DSA Each Year

Most students only apply for DSA once for their whole course. However, some multi‑year or non‑standard courses require you to reapply every academic year. This isn’t a Study Tech rule — it comes from Student Finance England’s funding structure.

Why yearly reapplication happens

You may need to reapply each year if:

  • Your course is funded in separate yearly blocks rather than as one continuous programme.

  • Your course has multiple exit points (e.g., CertHE → DipHE → full degree).

  • Your university lists each year as a stand‑alone qualification.

  • Your course is classed as non‑traditional, modular, or profession‑based, where SFE reassesses eligibility annually.

  • Your enrolment is confirmed year by year, not for the whole duration.

In these cases, SFE treats each academic year as a new period of study, so your DSA support must be confirmed again.

Courses that commonly require yearly reapplication

Students may need to reapply annually if they are on:

  • Foundation years attached to degrees

  • Access to HE courses

  • PGCE / teacher training routes

  • Nursing, midwifery, and allied health courses with yearly progression checks

  • Modular or part‑time degrees where study intensity changes each year

  • Courses with multiple qualification stages (CertHE, DipHE, HNC/HND, top‑up degrees)

  • Any course where SFE only approves funding one year at a time

If your course falls into one of these categories, SFE may ask you to submit a new DSA application at the start of each academic year.

What students need to do

If SFE tells you that your course is funded yearly:

  • You’ll receive a reminder to submit a new DSA application each year.

  • Your support continues once SFE confirms your new year of funding.

  • Your equipment and software remain yours — only the funding approval is renewed.

  • ASK DSA or get Clarification from your UNi DSA ADVISER - Unfortunately, in most instances Study Tech cannot know your year of support needs to be extended, and we cannot do so automatically.