{"id":94,"date":"2025-02-04T11:52:28","date_gmt":"2025-02-04T11:52:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/alsinfohub\/?page_id=94"},"modified":"2026-05-18T14:54:28","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T13:54:28","slug":"need-extra-support-funded-support-dsa-fsd-explained","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/alsinfohub\/need-extra-support-funded-support-dsa-fsd-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"Funded Support Explained: Get the Help You Need!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Uni life is full-on, and if you\u2019ve got a disability, long-term health condition, or learning difficulty, getting the right support can make all the difference. The good news? There\u2019s funding available to help cover study-related costs \u2013 and it won\u2019t cost you a penny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re in the UK, you might be eligible for Disabled Students\u2019 Allowance (DSA), and if you\u2019re from the Republic of Ireland, the Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) may apply. Both provide support tailored to your needs \u2014 from one-to-one tuition and specialist mentoring to assistive technology that helps keep you organised, focused, and confident in your studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Does Funded Support Cover?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Depending on your needs, funded support might include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>One-to-one support<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Specialist Mentoring<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Assistive Technology software and equipment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Training to help you get the most out of your tech<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Support workers or campus assistance<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Travel costs related to your disability<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Every student\u2019s package is different \u2014 it\u2019s all based on <em>your<\/em> needs and what will help you study effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A Quick Guide to Funded vs Non-Funded Support<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of scrolling through long text explanations, you can now explore everything you need to know in one place using our new interactive guide:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udc49 <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/view.genially.com\/68ef7173678d2fa3f754ceae\/interactive-content-understanding-funded-and-non-funded-support-quick-guide-for-staff\">Understanding Funded and Non-Funded Support \u2014 Quick Guide<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This guide walks you through:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What DSA and FSD are<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Who is eligible<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What types of support are available<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How the application and assessment processes work<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What support you can get <em>without<\/em> funding<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Where to get help at Queen\u2019s<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s visual, student-friendly, and easy to dip in and out of \u2014 perfect if you\u2019re trying to figure out which pathway is right for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For a detailed walkthrough of the application process, visit Queen\u2019s University\u2019s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.qub.ac.uk\/directorates\/sgc\/accessible-learning-support\/NeedsAssessmentCentre\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.qub.ac.uk\/directorates\/sgc\/accessible-learning-support\/NeedsAssessmentCentre\/\"><strong>Needs Assessment Centre<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Need Help or Not Sure Where to Start?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Accessible Learning Support and the Needs Assessment Centre are here to support you at every step. Whether you&#8217;re applying for funded support or just want to know what\u2019s available, reach out any time \u2014 you don\u2019t have to navigate this alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What If I\u2019m Not Eligible for DSA or FSD?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you don\u2019t qualify for DSA or FSD, Queen\u2019s University offers other support options::<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Free Assistive Tech<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Everyone at QUB has access to screen readers, mind-mapping tools, productivity apps, and more. Check out the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentatguide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Assistive Tech Hub<\/a>&nbsp;for more information.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Library Support<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Need help accessing books? McClay Library offers book retrieval, extended loans, and assistive tech stations. Find out more on the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/alsinfohub\/library-services-for-students-with-disabilities\/\">Library Services for Students with Disabilities<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Wellbeing Services<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Free mental health support, counselling, and drop-in sessions. See&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.qub.ac.uk\/directorates\/sgc\/wellbeing\/\">Student Wellbeing Service<\/a>&nbsp;for more information.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Exam Adjustments<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Extra time, rest breaks, or alternative arrangements can be arranged via the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.qub.ac.uk\/Study\/student-life\/Support-and-wellbeing\/disability\/\">Accessible Learning Support<\/a>&nbsp;team.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>ALS Support &amp; Guidance<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.qub.ac.uk\/Study\/student-life\/Support-and-wellbeing\/disability\/\">Accessible Learning Support<\/a>&nbsp;team provides advice and alternative support options for students who may not qualify for DSA.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Careers &amp; Employability Support<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Specialist career advice for disabled students to help you plan for life after uni \u2013&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.qub.ac.uk\/directorates\/sgc\/careers\/\">Careers, Employability &amp; Skills Service<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Got Questions? We\u2019re Here to Help!<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Applying for funded support can take time, so&nbsp;<strong>start early<\/strong>&nbsp;to make sure everything\u2019s in place for your studies. If you need guidance, the&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.qub.ac.uk\/directorates\/sgc\/accessible-learning-support\/NeedsAssessmentCentre\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.qub.ac.uk\/directorates\/sgc\/accessible-learning-support\/NeedsAssessmentCentre\/\">Needs Assessment Centre<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;is here to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember, applying for DSA and FSD can take some time, so it\u2019s best to start early to ensure support is in place for your studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more details, check out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.qub.ac.uk\/directorates\/sgc\/accessible-learning-support\/NeedsAssessmentCentre\/EverythingaboutDSA\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.qub.ac.uk\/directorates\/sgc\/accessible-learning-support\/NeedsAssessmentCentre\/EverythingaboutDSA\/\">Everything About DSA<\/a>\u00a0or contact <a href=\"accessablelearning@qub.ac.uk\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"accessablelearning@qub.ac.uk\">Assessible Learning Support. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Uni life is full-on, and if you\u2019ve got a disability, long-term health condition, or learning difficulty, getting the right support can make all the difference. The good news? There\u2019s funding<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2401,"featured_media":209,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-94","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","comments-off"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/alsinfohub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/94","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/alsinfohub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/alsinfohub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/alsinfohub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2401"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/alsinfohub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=94"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/alsinfohub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/94\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":398,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/alsinfohub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/94\/revisions\/398"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/alsinfohub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/209"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/alsinfohub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=94"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}