Frequently Asked Questions

For UK domiciled undergraduates and postgraduate students, Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) can potentially provide 1:1 support, exam provision and extra equipment that you may need as a direct result of your disability. Evidence and diagnosis is required to apply for DSA, for example, a GP letter, clinical report, diagnostic educational report.

A ‘disability’ is classed as a physical, sensory or mental disability which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on the ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities (including education). To be considered long term, the effect of the disability must have lasted or be likely to last at least 12 months.

Please contact accessibility@aber.ac.uk for further information and/or check the web site of your funding body:

For students from England

For students from Northern Ireland

For students from the Republic of Ireland

For students from Scotland

For students from Wales

For International students and non UK residents, we can provide assessments based on relevant evidence for 1:1 support and exam provision. Please contact accessibility@aber.ac.uk for further advice.

If you are receiving funding from one of the UK Research and Innovation Councils, DSA applications can be made through the research organisation’s disability adviser, for more information see: https://www.ukri.org/our-work/developing-people-and-skills/

How you apply for DSA depends on whether you're already receiving student finance. 

Already receiving student finance: 

If you receive student finance from Student Finance England, Wales or Northern Ireland,  sign in to your Student Finance England, Wales or Northern Ireland account to start your DSA application. The application for DSA should be on your ‘to-do list’.

If it is not on your ‘to-do’ list, find this year’s loan application and click Expand your application. Choose Apply for additional support, then click Disabled Students’ Allowance. Follow the instructions to apply.

Not receiving student finance:

If you are not receiving student finance, are a postgraduate student, or a student from Scotland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man, you need to complete a form to start the process. See How to apply for DSA | Undergraduate, Conservatoires, Apprenticeships | UCAS

International student: 

If you are an international student, contact accessibility@aber.ac.uk

After your DSA needs assessment you will receive a DSA2 entitlement letter by email.

Forward the DSA2 entitlement letter to the email addresses of the support providers listed in the letter itself. We can help you do this if you have any difficulties: accessibility@aber.ac.uk

If you are entitled to any software or equipment, the supplier listed in the DSA2 entitlement letter will contact you to arrange delivery. If you have any difficulties, contact us: accessibility@aber.ac.uk

You can self-select your preferred location and room through the Accommodation portal.

If you require more specific accommodation for health/disability reasons, please contact us to discuss what adapted accommodation is available on accessibility@aber.ac.uk

For any additional requirements e.g. medical fridge, deaf alerters, shower chairs, handrails etc, contact accessibility@aber.ac.uk

In the first instance, apply for Disabled Students' Allowance in enough time to get exam provision put in place.

If you don’t have DSA, but you do have evidence of a long-term condition or specific learning difference, contact accessibility@aber.ac.uk to discuss what adjustments may be possible.

Any exam help, such as extra time or use of a computer, you may have had in school/college will not continue automatically through to university. Contact accessibility@aber.ac.uk to discuss your options.

If you are currently experiencing any difficulties regarding exams, contact accessibility@aber.ac.uk

For general study skills support look at  AberSkills  : Aberystwyth University

To discuss further specialist study skills support please contact accessibility@aber.ac.uk

We don’t provide tests or assessments for learning differences or autism. Contact accessibility@aber.ac.uk for links to screening tools which may give you an indication of whether it is worth pursuing a diagnosis. We can also advise on options available for getting a diagnosis e.g. an Educational Psychologist Assessment (EPA).

If, as a registered Aberystwyth University student, you need to pay for an EPA and this puts you into financial hardship please email student-adviser@aber.ac.uk or further advice.

For general study skills support look at  AberSkills  : Aberystwyth University

To discuss further support please contact accessibility@aber.ac.uk

For general study skills support look at  AberSkills  : Aberystwyth University

To discuss further support please contact accessibility@aber.ac.uk

If you need to park close to your teaching spaces, you will still need to purchase a parking permit: https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/efr/parking/student/

You will then need to contact accessibility@aber.ac.uk with relevant evidence and car details (registration number, make and model).

Contact accessibility@aber.ac.uk with details of the issues you are experiencing for further information.