Support for disabilities

Financial support content

Financial support

If you have a disability and or support requirement you may be entitled to extra financial support, for example to purchase equipment, pay for interpreters or help with additional transport costs.

Further education

Students on non-advanced courses e.g. NC courses, Highers

  • If you are on a full or part time program of study you may be entitled to additional funding for equipment through the Additional Support for Learning Allowance.
  • It may be that you require a particular piece of assistive software such as a screen reader or that you require the use of a laptop or Dictaphone; this will be discussed during your Personal Learning Support Plan meeting with a member of the Learner Support team.
  • Any equipment that is recommended will be bought with funding from the college FE bursary fund.

Assistive Technology / Equipment Loan Bank

  • For those students who have a specific support need e.g. dyslexia can borrow assistive equipment such as a laptop, Dictaphone or assistive software for the duration of their studies.

Travel Costs

  • If you are on a full time non-advanced program of study and because of your disability you need to take a taxi to college, it may be paid as part of your bursary funding.  You will require a doctor’s / specialist letter stating that you need a taxi.  Again this can be discussed with a member of the Learning Support team. 

Higher education

Students on HNC/D, degree and postgraduate programmes

If you are a full or part time student on an advanced level course you can apply for additional support through the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). This is called the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA). The DSA comes in three parts:

  1. Basic Allowance – this is an annual allowance and will pay for things like recording devices, photocopying costs etc.
  2. Large Items Allowance – this covers a student’s whole program of study and will pay for disability related software, printers, laptops etc.
  3. Non-medical Personal Help (NMPH) – this is an annual allowance and will pay for readers, sign language interpreters, note takers, study skills support etc.

To qualify for DSA you must provide SAAS with evidence of your disability as well as undertake a full needs assessment which can be completed at Moray College UHI.

Applying for DSA at Moray College UHI

  • A member of the Learner Support Team who is a qualified DSA Needs Assessor will meet with you to discuss your disability and determine if a claim can be made.
  • A Needs Assessment will be carried out; this will take approximately 2 hours.
  • The Needs Assessor will complete a report with recommendations and send it to you for approval.
  • The Needs Assessor, on receipt of your approval, will send the assessment along with your claim form and relevant disability evidence/confirmation to the DSA Team at SAAS.
  • You will be notified by SAAS if your claim has been successful.
  • If successful you will receive funding from SAAS to purchase the equipment / support recommended by the Needs Assessor.

For further information and guidance about the DSA and what you may be entitled to, please contact:

Anne Taylor
Learner Support Officer / DSA Needs Assessor Moray College UHI
tel: 01343 576489
email: anne.taylor.moray@uhi.ac.uk