Written question WQ87088

Unique to Wales, are dedicated student finance advisors who deliver information about our student finance products, in person and directly to pupils and students in schools and colleges. This includes information about our Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA). These events use graphics and case studies tailored to the audience, and for DSA, include examples of the types of support available to students with disabilities or long-term health conditions. Advisors remain on campuses after the events allowing students to seek more personalised advice.

Throughout the year, both the Welsh Government and the Student Finance Wales (SFW) social media channels continue to promote the support available to students and encourage them to apply early for their DSA support. SFW also have a dedicated bilingual YouTube channel providing advice about student finance including DSA. For adult learners not accessing university directly from school, our Careers Wales service is available to provide information and guidance on the support available to those thinking of starting a course of higher education, this includes DSA.

Information about DSA, and the wider support students can expect from their course provider, is available through the UCAS website to ensure students of all ages have access to the most relevant information before they apply for their course. This information is available in a variety of accessible formats.

Students are asked if they want to apply for DSA when completing the online application form for their core student finance ie; tuition loan and maintenance support. For full-time undergraduate students for example, the DSA application is completed in just three additional steps. Students are also provided with additional information on how to apply for DSA separate to their core application should that be their preference.

We continue to work with a wide range of external stakeholder and disabled student representative groups and bodies who support the promotion of DSA. Our National Association of Student Money Advisors in Wales (NASMA Wales) are engaged with students in higher education settings daily and are a proactive source of support for disabled students who may need additional support during their studies.

For those who commence their studies without having applied for DSA, universities in Wales have dedicated Student Disability Services (or similar) that provide advice and guidance on what support is available and how to apply. Universities are responsible for implementing reasonable adjustments whilst students are applying for DSA support and beyond. Support from DSA remains over and above that available to a student from an institute in accordance with the duties under the Equality Act 2010.

It is important to recognise that our DSA is the most generous in the UK, providing up to £32,546 per year (academic year 2022/23 maximum) in support for eligible undergraduates and postgraduates whether they study full time, part time or by distance learning. We will continue to work with the SFW service and key stakeholders to raise awareness of DSA in Wales within our available resource.