Postgraduate Student Loan and extra financial assistance for masters students with a disability

Planning to begin a master’s degree this autumn? Financial support may be available to help with both tuition fees and living costs.

From 20 July, applications will open for postgraduate student finance for the 2026/27 academic year.

How much?

The amount you may be eligible to receive depends on where you normally live in the UK, as England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have their own funding arrangements and eligibility criteria.

For students in England, the postgraduate master’s loan for the 2026/27 academic year will be up to £13,206.

In Scotland, funding is divided into:

• a tuition fee loan of up to £7,000
• a living-cost loan of up to £6,900

In Wales, eligible students may be able to receive up to £19,635.

You can find further information about postgraduate master’s loans, including links to the relevant student finance websites for each UK nation, in our main funding article.

Additional financial support for disabled students

Students who have a disability, long-term health condition, mental health condition or specific learning difficulty may also be eligible to apply for additional support through the Disabled Students’ Allowance, commonly known as DSA.

DSA is a government-funded scheme available to eligible students across the UK. It is designed to help cover study-related costs that arise because of a disability or health condition.

You may be eligible for postgraduate DSA if you have:

• a specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia or ADHD
• a mental health condition, such as anxiety or depression
• a physical disability, including a condition that means you use crutches, a wheelchair or specialist equipment
• a sensory disability, such as a visual impairment, deafness or hearing loss
• a long-term health condition, such as cancer, chronic heart disease or HIV

DSA is separate from the main student finance application. Students are required to apply by completing and submitting a DSA1F full application form.

What you will need before applying

Before completing the DSA1F form, it is helpful to gather the following information:

• evidence of your disability or condition, such as a letter from a GP, consultant or specialist
• an educational psychologist’s report, where relevant, for a specific learning difficulty
• details of your course and education provider, including the course name and intended start date
• your bank details, which may be required during the application process

DSA applications can take time to assess, so applying as early as possible gives you the best chance of having any agreed support in place before your course begins.

The support available through DSA can be significant and does not usually depend on household income. It may help with specialist equipment, assistive technology, non-medical support and other study-related costs.

Long-term benefits

Financial concerns should not prevent you from pursuing your postgraduate ambitions.

By exploring the support available and applying early, you can begin your master’s degree with greater confidence and the right arrangements in place.

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