When you apply for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA), we must confirm which unit(s) you are studying within a given academic year. The funding year you fall under is determined by the start date of your unit. This sets your Seasonal Academic Year (SAY) - the period during which DSA can provide support.
DSA funding is only available during your SAY. Any study that falls outside this timeframe is not eligible for DSA funding. Even if you are granted an extension by OCA, DSA cannot extend support beyond the SAY. Your DSA will normally resume once you start your next unit.
If you require support for the remainder of your unit, we can connect you with our Disability Support Officer as we may be able to offer interim support until your DSA support resumes.
The information below shows the support period your SAY covers, depending on the start date of your unit. Please note that some start dates offer more advantageous support periods than others. Intakes where this applies are shown in bold. You may wish to plan your studies accordingly to maximise the support available to you.
OCA Intakes and SAY Dates:
September Intake - 1 September to 31 August
October Intake - 1 September to 31 August
November Intake - 1 September to 31 August
January Intake - 1 January to 31 December
February Intake - 1 January to 31 December
March Intake - 1 January to 31 December
May Intake - 1 April to 31 March
June Intake - 1 April to 31 March
July Intake - 1 July to 30 June
If you cancel, defer, or add an additional unit during your academic year, you must inform Student Finance / DSA, as this could affect your support. It’s your responsibility to make sure they are aware of any changes.
You should not attend any mentor support sessions that fall outside your SAY, as you will be billed for sessions that are not covered within your support period. We recommend copying us into relevant emails you send to DSA, particularly those about changes to your study.