Student funding
Various funding is available to pay for disabled students’ support needs at University. These sources of funding are available to UK students; therefore, international students should refer to our international applicants page for information on funding.
For details on the major sources of funding for UK students, please review the following:
Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)
The Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) is available to all UK students who qualify for maintenance support from their Local Education Authority (LEA). Students may be full-time or part-time (at least 50 per cent), undergraduate or postgraduate, and must show that they have a disability or medical condition which affects their ability to study. The DSA can be used for extra costs incurred in attending the course as a direct result of a disability. The DSA is not means tested.
For further information on the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) please see the website yourDSA , a step-by-step guide that takes students through the full DSA process; from application to receiving support.
For step-by-step instructions on how to apply for DSA, please see our guide to obtaining a Disabled Students' Allowance. Alternatively, you may want to read Bridging the Gap: a guide to the Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs) in higher education (PDF, 684k), a booklet produced by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).
Rate of allowances for 2011/2012 (undergraduates)
Students receiving DSA may be entitled to the following:
| Type of allowance | Full-time students | Part-time students |
|---|---|---|
| Specialist equipment | £5,161 for entire course | £5,161 for entire course |
| Non-medical helper | £20,520 a year | £15,390 a year (depends on intensity of course) |
| General Disabled Students' Allowances | £1,724 a year | £1,293 a year (depends on intensity of course) |
Rates of allowances for 2011/2012 (postgraduates)
Postgraduate students can apply for a single allowance to cover all costs.
The maximum allowance for 2011/2012 is £10,260.
Student Funding Office
The Student Funding Office deals with information on bursaries and scholarships; advice on UK Government support including loans, grants and Access to Learning Funds; emergency short-term loans; advice on University hardship funds and budgeting; and general financial advice.
Students who are experiencing financial difficulty may be eligible to apply to the Access to Learning Fund (ALF) for financial assistance. This can include any costs not covered by a Disabled Students Allowance or a dyslexia assessment that a student is liable to pay.
Students may automatically be eligible for a University of Bristol Bursary. For further information or advice please contact the Student Funding Office.
Funding Provided by Other Funding Bodies
Many other bodies funding higher education courses (e.g. NHS, research councils) now have funding equivalent to the DSAs available. You should contact your funding body for more information.
For general information on funding, you may want to read A guide to financial support for higher education (PDF 1.08mb), a booklet produced by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).
Note: some of the documents on this page are in PDF format. In order to view a PDF you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader 