phd funding disabled students

Funding Postgraduate Education for Disabled Students

Introduction, choosing and applying for a postgraduate course, choosing a course, applying for a course, funding for disability-related costs, disabled students' allowance (dsa), further funding, funding for postgraduate master’s degree courses, northern ireland, funding for postgraduate doctoral degree courses, scotland and northern ireland, postgraduate professional qualifications, social work.

Medicine, Health and Biomedical Sciences

Regional funding

Research council and other public funding, finding other sources of funding, hardship/discretionary funds, graduate teaching assistantships (gtas) and graduate research assistantships (gras), charitable trusts, welfare benefits, personal independence payment (pip), universal credit, employer sponsorship, part-time study, further information, other useful information.

Useful contacts

A postgraduate course can be a Master's degree (MA, MSc, MEd, MPhil); a doctorate (PhD); a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE); or other postgraduate diplomas.

There are many reasons to choose postgraduate study. Some people really enjoy their subject and want to learn more about it. For others it’s about pursuing their chosen career, enhancing their job prospects or changing to a new vocational area.

The advantages of postgraduate study need to be weighed against practical considerations, especially cost. If you’re finding it hard to get a job after graduation, it’s tempting to stay on in education. However it’s important to research whether postgraduate study really will help you get the job you want. In some cases work experience may be a better way to get the skills you need.

Successful completion of a postgraduate course requires commitment and motivation so choosing the right course is essential.

As well as the issues faced by all postgraduates, you may also need to consider, for example, what facilities the college or university provides.

The Premia resource base contains a range of awareness and development materials for supervisors, careers advisers and students and gives an insight into the issues faced by disabled postgraduate research students. You can find the Premia materials and other resources and support for disabled researchers in the Every Researcher Counts pages of the vitae website at  https://www.vitae.ac.uk/doing-research/every-researcher-counts-equality-and-diversity-in-researcher-careers .  

Getting money to do a postgraduate course can be hard and many people have to get funding from a number of different sources. You may need money for course fees, living costs and for extra costs related to your disability.

Students can apply for a postgraduate loan of up to £12,471 to study taught or research Masters degrees. A PhD loan of up to £29,390 is also available to students who wish to study a PhD or other doctoral degree.  See below for more information. The postgraduate and PhD loans have to be repaid once you’re earning a salary of £21,000 or above.

Extra financial support is available for people to train and work in certain professional shortage areas, for example students taking full-time PGCE courses (see section 6 for more details).

BACK TO START

When choosing which postgraduate course to apply for, you may find it useful to speak to a careers adviser. You can usually use the careers service where you studied for up to three years after graduation or you may be able to use the service at your nearest university.

Local authorities should provide careers advice up until the age of 25 if you have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan. Alternatively, adults aged 19 and over can get face-to-face guidance by calling 0800 100 900 to make an appointment with an adviser at their nearest National Careers Service Centre.

Careers advice is also available from Skills Development Scotland and Careers Wales.

Prospects has a graduate careers website which contains comprehensive information about postgraduate study, a database that allows you to search for courses and profiles of institutions offering postgraduate study. The web address is  www.prospects.ac.uk .

There are a number of other searchable online databases of postgraduate courses including  findamasters.com .

The Disability Rights UK  Into Higher Education  guide includes up-to-date information on the student support arrangements across the UK. It features case studies of students writing about their own experiences, giving an insight into what it is like to be a disabled student in higher education.

Download Into Higher Education .

In most cases you apply directly to the course provider through their online application system. Alternatively, you can download an application pack or request one by phone, and apply by posting it in. Check the closing dates, as they are different for each institution.

A small number of institutions will want you to apply using UCAS Postgraduate, a centralised application service run by UCAS.

Different rules apply if you’re applying for a postgraduate teacher training course, social work, nursing and medicine degrees or postgraduate law courses. See Section 6 for more details.

If the application form for the course doesn’t ask about your impairment you may wish to write to the institution to explain your needs and find out about what arrangements can be put in place.

Under the Equality Act 2010, all universities and colleges have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to their services, so disabled students are not placed at a substantial disadvantage. All institutions also have a student support or disability advice service so you should be able to discuss how your individual needs will be met.

Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) is a grant to help meet disability-related costs incurred whilst studying. For example, you might have extra travel costs, or you might need specialist equipment or personal assistance such as a communication support worker or British sign language interpreter. You will be invited to a needs assessment where you can discuss your learning needs with an assessor who will then recommend support. Needs assessments will be paid for out of DSA.  However, DSA cannot pay for diagnostic assessments for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia.

DSA can pay for course-related disability needs. Depending on where you are based in the UK, the amount of DSA you can get varies.

• In  England , there is a single allowance of up to £26,948 (excluding travel) available to postgraduate students studying on a full-time or part-time course during 2024/25 academic year. In the 2023/24 academic year, up to £26,291 (excluding travel) is available.
• In  Wales , there is a single allowance of up to £33,460 (excluding travel) available to postgraduate students studying on a full-time or part-time course during 2024/25 academic year. In the 2023/24 academic year, up to £33,146 (excluding travel) is available.
• In  Northern Ireland , there is a single allowance of up to £25,000 (excluding travel) available to postgraduate students studying on a full-time or part-time course during 2023/24 academic year.
• In  Scotland , there are three separate sub allowances which make up DSA. Full-time postgraduate students starting a course in 2023/24 receive a basic allowance of up to £1,725, a large items allowance of up to £5,160 and non-medical personal help allowance of up to £20,520. For part-time students, the allowance is pro-rata. Therefore, the maximum amount you are eligible to receive is based on the intensity of your study.

If you received DSA during your undergraduate course and begin postgraduate study straight after you graduate, your needs may not have changed. In this case, you may not need a new needs assessment. Any specialist equipment that has already been given to you may be taken into account. However, if it no longer meets your needs it can be upgraded or replaced.

Research degree study is different from undergraduate or taught Masters programmes and this means that your support requirements may also be different, e.g. you may be expected to attend conferences, to give presentations, have the opportunity to teach undergraduates. It’s good to look at the implications of this at an early stage.

Students doing more than one part-time course at the same time can only apply for one allowance. DSA is not means-tested.

Please note : Disabled Students’ Allowance cannot pay for fees or living costs.

You can receive DSA if your course is:

• A designated course such as research and taught Master’s, doctorates, diplomas and certificates.
• A course that would normally require a first degree or equivalent before entry.
• A minimum of one year in length.

If your course is part-time, your pace of study needs to average at least 25% of the full-time equivalent in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This means it should not take more than four times as long to complete as the full-time version. In Scotland, your pace of study needs to average at least 50% of the full-time equivalent.

In  England  applications should be made to Student Finance England.

In  Wales  you should apply to your Student Finance Wales.

In  Northern Ireland , you should apply to Student Finance Northern Ireland.

In  Scotland , unless you get your fees funded from a research council or the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), you can apply for DSA from the Students Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).

If you receive a  research council award , such as a studentship, you will be eligible for the DSA administered by your research council. They usually award DSA on the same basis as Student Finance companies and their DSA rates are similar. See section 8 on Research Council funding for more information.

The section on postgraduate teaching, law and social work courses has further information on this career path.

If you’re an  Open University student  in England, Wales or Northern Ireland you must be registered for an OU postgraduate level course that lasts for at least one year and does not take more than four times as long to complete as an equivalent full-time course. This will usually mean that the course amounts to at least 30 credit points each year. However, you may be able to study fewer points in some years as long as you make up the difference in other years.

In Scotland, your pace of study needs to average at least 50% of the full-time equivalent and you must not take more than twice the length of time of the standard full-time course to complete your studies. This will usually mean that the course amounts to at least 60 credit points each year.

If you’re an  international student  you need to be ordinarily resident in the UK for three years and meet other residency conditions before you’re eligible.

Further information on DSA is available in Disability Rights UK’s information factsheet  Applying for Disabled Students' Allowance .

If you’re not eligible for DSA or they don’t cover the full cost of your support, you may be able to get funding from the university’s hardship or discretionary fund or a charitable trust. See section 9 for more details.

A postgraduate master’s loan of up to £12,471 is available to students starting taught or research master’s degree courses in 2024/25 academic year. You can use the loan for tuition fees, living costs and other study related expenses as you see fit. The loan isn’t means-tested and you can borrow regardless of your income or savings. You will not be able to apply for a postgraduate loan if you already hold a qualification at master’s level or above.

You can receive a loan to study a part-time master’s for up to four years. You must progress at 50% of the intensity of a full-time student. Payments are divided equally across your course.

You will make repayments on an income-contingent basis at 6% of earnings over £21,000.

In England apply to Student Finance England.

Support is available for courses at postgraduate diploma and master’s degree level if you are resident and living in Scotland. There are two parts to the Scottish postgraduate funding: from 2024/25 academic year, a tuition-fee loan of up to £7,000 is available for tuition fees and paid directly to your university and £6,900 is available for living costs. You will make repayments on an income-contingent basis, at 9% of income over £27,660 a year. In Scotland apply to Student Awards Agency Scotland.

In the 2023/24 academic year, up to £18,950 is available through a non-means-tested loan for taught and research master’s courses. You will make repayments on an income-contingent basis at 6% of earnings over £21,000. In Wales apply to Student Finance Wales.

In the 2023/24 academic year a postgraduate tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 is available towards the cost of a master’s degree, postgraduate certificate or a postgraduate diploma. This is paid directly to your university or college. You will make repayments on an income-contingent basis, at 9% of income over £22,015 a year. In Northern Ireland apply to Student Finance Northern Ireland.

A postgraduate doctoral loan of up to £29,390 is available to students starting a postgraduate doctoral course, such as a PhD, from 2024/25 academic year. You can use the loan for tuition fees, living costs and other study related expenses as you see fit. The loans are not means-tested, and you can borrow regardless of your income or savings. You will not be able to apply for a doctoral loan if you already hold a PhD or other doctorate.

 You will make repayments on an income-contingent basis at 6% of earnings over £21,000. In England apply to Student Finance England.

Welsh doctoral loans are similar to those offered in England. For 2023/24 you can apply for up to £28,655 for a postgraduate doctoral course. In Wales apply to Student Finance Wales. You will make repayments on an income-contingent basis at 6% of earnings over £21,000. In Wales apply to Student Finance Wales.

Doctoral loans are not available in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)

The PGCE course is the most popular route into teaching for graduates. A full-time PGCE course generally takes one year, although a flexible course can be shorter and is available for both primary and secondary teaching. To start a PGCE course, you must have a UK undergraduate degree or an equivalent qualification. For primary-level teaching, your degree can be in any subject, although you’re more likely to be accepted onto a course if your degree subject knowledge is in one of the subjects of the National Curriculum. For secondary-level teaching, your first degree must be related to the subject you wish to teach.

Institutions in England are allowed to charge up to £9,250 per year for full-time PGCE courses starting in 2024. The same general student support is available as for undergraduate courses. This includes tuition-fee loans and maintenance loans for living costs. Students starting postgraduate teacher training need to have at least a second class degree in order to receive funding.

Support with fees is also available to part-time PGCE students, as well as student loans for living costs.

Postgraduate bursaries and scholarships

Postgraduate teaching bursaries and scholarships are available if you train in certain subjects.  

Trainees in physics, mathematics, chemistry computing and Languages (French, German and Spanish only) are able to apply for a teacher training scholarship in place of a bursary with the appropriate professional body.

For eligibility details and further information contact the Get Into Teaching Line run by the Department for Education.

Tel: 0800 389 2500

Website:  https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/

Disabled Students’ Allowance 2024/25

PGCE students are eligible for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) to cover the extra costs of studying due to disability. A single allowance of up to £26,948 per year is available in England. See section 3

You can apply for a postgraduate teacher training course through the Department for Education’s ‘Apply for teacher training’ service.

Website:  www.gov.uk/apply-for-teacher-training   

If you live in Wales universities and colleges can charge up to £9,000 per year for their courses. If you’re studying a postgraduate Initial Teacher Education (ITE) course which leads to a qualification such as a PGCE you can get help with the costs of the teacher training. Postgraduate ITE courses attract funding in the same way as other undergraduate courses. This means that you will be able to apply for tuition fee and living costs support.  A ITE priority subject grant is available to eligible students who undertake a postgraduate  ITE programme in  in specified subjects. A new scheme is announced on an annual basis.

Scottish students taking Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) programmes have their tuition fees paid in full by the Scottish Government. You might also be eligible for a bursary if you undertake a PGDE in a priority subject. You can get more information about the priority subject areas from SAAS.

If you’re from England, Wales or Northern Ireland you will have to pay tuition fees of around £9,250. Other general student support is available, including student loans.

In Northern Ireland, a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) attracts funding in the same way as other undergraduate courses. This means that you will be able to apply for tuition fee and living costs support. If you live in Northern Ireland the maximum tuition fee for 2023/24 academic year is £4,710 (2024/2025 rate was still to be confirmed at the time of updating).

Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE)

The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) is a new system of exams that was introduced in September 2021. The SQE replaces the Legal Practice Course (LPC) route to qualification as a solicitor. If by 1 September 2021 you have not completed, started, accepted an offer of a place or paid a non-refundable deposit for a LPC then you will need to qualify through the SQE.

The total fee for SQE is £4,115 which covers the exams only. It does not include any preparation or training. There is currently no government funding for freestanding SQE preparation courses or assessments when sat independently. 

It’s worth making enquiries about scholarships and bursary opportunities with the provider of the SQE preparation course.

Some universities have incorporated preparation for part of the SQE assessment into their undergraduate or master’s law programmes which should attract funding from Student Finance England. However, the cost of the assessment fee is not included. The assessments will need to be taken independent from the course and will not be covered by student finance.

Legal Practice Course (LPC)

Until 2021, the LPC was the mandatory vocational stage of training to be a solicitor. In September 2021, this was replaced by the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) and is now being phased out. The LPC will remain valid as a qualification until 2032 so LPC graduates will still be able to apply for trainee solicitor roles.  These arrangements apply to anyone who completed, started, accepted an offer of a place or paid a non-refundable deposit before 2021.

In September 2020 the way that barristers qualify in England and Wales changed with the introduction of new bar courses, replacing the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC). The new bar courses take one year to complete full-time or two years if you study part-time. Applications are made directly to the organisation delivering the course.  The cost of courses vary between what and where you study. Fees range between £12,00 and £20,000.

For further information see  www.barstandardsboard.org.uk .

Scottish students  wishing to become a solicitor should contact the Law Society of Scotland.

Tel: 0131 226 7411 Email:  [email protected] Web:  www.lawscot.org.uk

Financing the SQE and LPC can be expensive. General sources of funding include bank loan schemes, and charities or grant-making trusts.

The Law Society has a Diversity Access Scheme (DAS) that provides scholarships for the LPC and SQE assessments and preparation courses.  The DAS aims to increase social diversity in the legal profession by supporting those from less advantaged backgrounds. Applications for 2024 are open from 28 February 2024 to 13 April 2024. Applications to the DAS must be made by completing an online application form.

If your bar course incorporates an LLM and results in a master’s qualification you could be entitled to a postgraduate loan.

Diversity Access Scheme

Email:  [email protected]

Web:  www.lawsociety.org.uk/campaigns/diversity-access-scheme

Disabled Students' Allowance

DSA is available on designated LPC and bar courses at particular institutions. Students need to apply to their Student Finance company for this support.

In Scotland  the Scottish Awards Agency for Scotland give awards for full-time vocational courses. Awards include Disabled Students’ Allowance. 

The professional qualifying training for social workers is a degree in social work approved by Social Work England. Students already with a first degree in another subject can enter a two-year programme offered by some universities and colleges.

You can apply for a master’s degree in social work through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) postgraduate application service UCAS Postgraduate. If they do not accept applications through this service, you will be able to apply directly to the university via an online applications system.

Web:  www.ucas.ac.uk

In  England  the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) administers bursary for postgraduate social work students in England. This funding generally includes tuition fees, a non-means tested basic grant and a means-tested maintenance grant. DSA is also available. You can find information on the postgraduate social work bursary here:  www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/social-work-students/social-work-bursary-postgraduate-students .

NHS Business Services Authority Social Work Bursaries, P.O Box 141, Hesketh House, 200-220 Broadway, Fleetwood FY7 9AS

Web:  www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/student-services Email:  Complete an online enquiry form Tel: 0300 330 1342

In  Wales  Social Care Wales administers bursaries for social work students who are ordinarily resident in Wales and study in Wales. You can find information on the social work bursary here:  https://socialcare.wales/resources-guidance/social-work-students/social-work-degree-funding . .   

Social Care Wales

Social Care Wales, South Gate House, Wood Street, Cardiff, CF10 1EW

Web:  www.socialcare.wales/careers/student-funding Email:  [email protected] Tel: 0300 30 33 444

In  Scotland , SAAS will pay the tuition fees for all eligible full-time Scottish and EU students on undergraduate social work courses. If you’re studying a Masters in Social Work, you may be eligible for a bursary from the the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC). Each university receives a quota of bursary places and must nominate students, however these are limited and all applications are assessed against certain criteria.  Bursaries consist of tuition fees, maintenance grants, allowances and expenses.  Please contact the SSSC Bursaries team for further information at  [email protected] . The SSSC can also offer support towards disability-related costs. 

Scottish Social Services Council

Compass House, 11 Riverside Drive, Dundee DD1 4NY Tel: 0345 60 30 891 Web  www.sssc.uk.com

Medicine, Health and Biomedical Sciences:

If you’re already working in the NHS, your employer may sponsor you to study at postgraduate level. If you’re seconded by your employer you should apply to Student Finance England for your DSA, or the usual awarding authority in other areas of the UK.

If you get an NHS Bursary towards fees or living costs you should instead apply to NHS Student Bursaries directly for Disabled Students’ Allowance.

Some students may receive funding from their regional government.

Studying in Northern Ireland

The Department for the Economy sponsors postgraduate studentships at Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Ulster for research and certain approved courses of full-time study leading to higher degrees. The universities are responsible for administering the postgraduate awards scheme and the universities select, by competition, the students to fill these awards within the limits of the funding available.

Department for the Economy

Department for the Economy Adelaide House, 39/49 Adelaide Street, Belfast BT24 8FD Tel: (028) 9052 9900

Email:  [email protected] Website:  www.economy-ni.gov.uk

You can get government-funded research grants, studentships or fellowships for some postgraduate courses, but it is mostly for postgraduate research. The awards mainly come from research councils that cover an area of study. For example, the Arts and Humanities Research Board oversees the humanities and certain other professional and vocational subjects. Most taught postgraduate courses do not attract research council funding. Universities and colleges will know if any of their courses attract bursaries. The research councils publish a list of the academic departments they have approved for funding each year, which you can find at your university or careers service.

Not all postgraduate courses attract studentships and not all students on those that do will be eligible to receive one. All research council awards are made through university departments, so apply through the department where you want to study. Only one research council (if any) will fund the course you’re interested in, so only apply to the relevant one. Research councils devolve most of the administration of their Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) direct to institutions and, unless otherwise indicated, your application should be made through your university. The university may be required to confirm that you have provided evidence of your disability, that an assessment of your needs has been carried out and that they are satisfied that any extra costs are essential to your study.

If you get a research council award for fees and/or maintenance costs, you can only receive funding for DSAs from that research council.

Research council details

The UK Research Councils include BBSRC, EPSRC, ESRC, MRC, NERC and STFC. The main website is  www.ukri.org .

If you want to undertake postgraduate study at the European University Institute in Florence, you may be eligible for student support from the Department for Education.

The regulations providing such support are the Education (student support) (European University Institute) regulations 2010 and Amendments 2012 (S.I. 2010/447). For more information please visit

www.Eui.eu/servicesandadmin/academicservice/doctoralprogramme/grantinfo/unitedkingdom.aspx

Other research funding and sources of information

The Guardian education supplement on Tuesdays and the Times Higher Education (THE) magazine both carry information on research positions and grants available.

If you’re not able to get a loan, bursary, scholarship or discretionary grant, you will need to investigate getting your own funding. Many students try to get funding or sponsorship through trusts or companies, although it is difficult to get full funding for fees, equipment, specialist support and everyday living costs. Often students have to get money from a variety of sources. College libraries and careers services keep copies of directories. The Prospects website has lots of information on funding options at  www.prospects.ac.uk/postgraduate-study/funding-postgraduate-study .

These schemes are broadly similar across the UK. Each institution administers the funds which are available to support students experiencing financial hardship. Priority is often given to part-time students, students with children, mature students, disabled students, final year students and care leavers over the age of 18 and homeless students. The amount you get is decided by the university or college. It can be paid as a non-repayable grant or as a loan which you have to repay. Contact student services at your university or college for details on how to apply.

Postgraduate students may get a maintenance grant or a fee waiver in return for working for the university. Full-time postgraduates do an average of six to eight hours teaching a week. This can include classroom teaching, tutorials, laboratory demonstrations and paper marking. Working conditions and benefits vary from place to place. Most GTAs and GRAs are advertised internally, but some are advertised in the academic press.

Disability Rights UK produces a factsheet on  funding from charitable trusts , including some trusts which can help disabled students doing postgraduate courses.

Most full-time students can’t claim welfare benefits. However, students who get Personal Independence Payment (PIP) may be able to receive more support with living costs than other students. It is important to let the Benefits Agency, Jobcentre Plus and other relevant agencies know that you’re starting a course. This is a change in your circumstances, so you must tell them even if you believe it won’t affect your benefits.

For individual advice it’s best to speak with a welfare rights specialist in the student money advice team at your university or college or try your local Citizens Advice Bureau   www.citizensadvice.org.uk/getadvice.htm .

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has replaced Disability Living Allowance for people between the ages of 16 and 64. PIP is a non-means tested benefit for people who need help taking part in everyday life or find it difficult to get around. It is always paid on top of other benefits.  See our information on PIP .

Universal Credit is a new benefit which has been rolled out across the UK to replace working age means-tested benefits.

Most full-time students are not able to claim Universal Credit, but there are exceptions. For example, you can claim Universal Credit if you have been assessed as having a limited capability for work before starting full-time study and receive PIP. See our guide on  universal credit.

If you have not been assessed as having a limited capability for work, the DWP will refuse your Universal Credit claim.

Higher education students eligible for UC will usually be placed in the ‘no work-related requirements’ group for the whole academic year.

You can ask banks for a loan for your course. They are more likely to fund you if the course will improve your earnings prospects, for example, a professional or vocational course. Certain banks will have specific professional studies loans for particular courses, such as, pharmacy, engineering or dentistry. Banks also often have graduate loans with better than usual interest rates.

Check the terms of the loan and compare what different banks offer. Look at:

• the amount you can borrow
• interest rates
• arrangement fees if any
• repayment deferring options – normally between three months and one year
• qualifying conditions, like age or residency.

Think carefully before taking on extra debt as a graduate.

Some employers will sponsor you to take postgraduate study. Usually they require you to work for them for a minimum length of time once you qualify. Sponsorship is more common for vocational and professional postgraduate qualifications. Speak to a careers adviser or try contacting employers in the industry you would like to work in to find out if they would sponsor you for your course.

Many postgraduate students supplement their income by working. Often there is work available at the institution where you’re studying, including teaching, supervising undergraduates, being a research assistant or working in the library. There may also be non-academic part-time or casual work in the area. Your students’ union may have details of local jobs. Alternatively look in the local press, the job centre or the careers service.

Many postgraduate courses can be taken part-time over two or three years (longer for PhDs). In fact, the majority of postgraduate students study part time. In this way students can support themselves financially with a job whilst studying. Some institutions will allow students to swap from full-time to part-time study once they have started the course. You can check with the institution whether you can study your course part-time.

Disability Rights UK Disabled Students Helpline

For further information on the support that is available for disabled students, please contact our  Disabled Students Helpline  -  0330 995 0414.

We also produce a range of  education resources  covering these subjects and frequently asked questions which you can access on our website at  disabilityrightsuk.org . 

Into Higher Education

Into Higher Education includes up-to-date information on the student support arrangements across the UK. It features case studies of students writing about their own experiences, giving an insight into what it is like to be a disabled student in higher education.

www.agcas.org.uk

Useful resources in their Special Interest Series include: About postgrad study, Your degree, what next? and Your Masters, what next?

GRANTfinder

www.grantfinder.co.uk

GRANTfinder is a grants and policy database. It is a subscription-only service but you may find it available free in careers services, colleges and universities.

Useful Contacts

Association of MBAs

Tel: 020 7246 2686

Website:  www.associationofmbas.com

Citizens Advice Bureau

To find your local Citizens Advice Bureau please visit  www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Lead Scotland

Tel: 0131 228 9441 Textphone: (18001) 0131 228 9441 Helpline: 0800 999 2568

Email:  [email protected] Website:  www.lead.org.uk

Organisation enabling disabled adults and carers to access inclusive learning opportunities in Scotland. Lead also runs an information and advice service for disabled students in Scotland.

Open University

Tel: 0300 303 5303

Website:  www.open.ac.uk

The Open University offers flexible part-time study, supported distance and open learning for undergraduate and postgraduate courses and qualifications.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

UK Research and Innovation  is a body which works in partnership with universities, research organisations, businesses, charities, and government to create the best possible environment for research and innovation to flourish. UKRI brings together the  seven Research Councils, Innovate UK and a new organisation, Research England.

Current Research Council funded students should first contact the nominated studentship contact at their Higher Education institution.

For new enquiries about registration, submitting applications and grant maintenance requests, contact the Je-S helpdesk:

Email:  [email protected]

Tel: 01793 444164

Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)

Website:   www.ukri.org/councils/ahrc    

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)

Website:  www.ukri.org/councils/bbsrc   

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)      

Website:  www.ukri.org/councils/esrc   

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)

Website:  www.ukri.org/councils/epsrc   

Medical Research Council (MRC)                                  

Website:  www.ukri.org/councils/mrc    

Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)       

Website:   www.ukri.org/councils/nerc   

Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)

Website:   www.ukri.org/councils/stfc   

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•       Resources       Graduate School Success for Students with Disabilities

Graduate School Success for Students with Disabilities

Scholarships, support resources, and expert insight for achieving an advanced degree.

The NCES reports that graduate students with disabilities make up just eight percent of the student body. Disabilities -- defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act as a physical or mental disability that substantially limits one or more major life activities – don’t have to act as a barrier for prospective graduate students aspiring to further education.

This guide offers information on how to best understand your rights in college, receive academic accommodations and tips to succeed in graduate school. There is also specific information for grad students with visual and hearing disabilities, and an expert interview discussing how to excel in graduate school as a student with a disability.

Navigating Grad School with a Disability

Attending graduate school with a disability doesn’t have to be a source of stress or anxiety, as many institutions now offer exceptional services to help students on every step on their journey. According to data supplied by the National Center for Education Statistics , graduate students with disabilities currently make up eight percent of master’s students and seven percent of doctoral candidates.

Applying to Graduate School and Self-Identification

Because it is illegal for schools to inquire about any disabilities of a student applicant, it is critical for those who need special assistance during this process to self-identify their disability. While all students will be evaluated against the same rubric, regardless of their health, school administrators can accommodate special needs such as providing large-format applications or providing a tour of the campus highlighting special services and accommodations.

Academic Accommodations for Grad Student with Disabilities

Students with disabilities must often navigate multiple scenarios each day requiring extra time or forethought to ensure they are able to get around campus and have any specific learning tools they need for classes.

Because postsecondary students must self-identify disabilities to their institution to receive accommodations or modifications, it’s important for students to have proper documentation that they can easily present to the disability services office on arrival. Some of the frequent accommodations students receive include:

• Exam accommodations: Special exam rooms, extra time, audio exams or a scribe
• Classroom accommodations: Scribe or note taker, accessible seating
• Communication accommodations: ASL interpreter, FM systems, CART providers
• Alternative & Assistive Technology Accommodations: Braille, large format text, subtitles, electronic text.
• Other accommodations: accessible parking, housing, and dining areas, special parking permits

Aside from a raft of services offered by individual colleges and universities, students with disabilities also have numerous resources available through local and national organizations. Some of the best places to seek information on navigating graduate school include:

Think College . This website provides information for college students with intellectual disabilities, including many resources and a state-by-state breakdown of helpful services.

American Foundation for the Blind . Although their guide is focused on undergraduate students, AFB provides a list of questions students should consider before picking an institution, such as accessibility, location, and resources offered by the disability services department.

Association for Assistive Technology Act Programs . In addition to providing legislative advocacy for issues of relevance to students who use assistive technology, the ATAP also provides a helpful database of all assistive technology programs in each state.

Center for Hearing and Communication . Based in both Florida and New York, CHC is leading the charge in developing new hearing technologies to help individuals with hearing disabilities find an instrument suited to their needs.

Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder . CHADD is a one-stop national resource for support, advocacy, and education about ADHD and what can be done to lessen the effects.

National Center for Learning Disabilities . NCLD has an exhaustive library of reports and studies about how learning disabilities affect students, along with many programs designed to help students achieve their best.

National Educational Association of Disabled Students . With a focus on enriching the lives of students with disabilities in every facet, NEADS offers valuable resources on enhancing accessibility, creating inclusive extra-curricular activities, and providing needed accommodations.

The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity . In an article titled “Working the System So It Works for You,” the director of Yale’s Resource Office on Disability provides advice for college students affected by dyslexia.

Students with Vision & Hearing Disabilities

Navigating graduate school can be difficult for all students, but for those with visual or hearing disabilities, the challenges can seem doubled at times. The National Foundation for the Blind reports that 13.7 percent of individuals with a visual disability hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, while a study by Hands & Voices found that approximately 2.1 percent of all students with hearing disabilities currently hold a master’s degree. The section that follows was designed to create awareness about the technologies and resources available to help students with these disabilities excel at the graduate level.

Technologies

Grad students with vision disabilities have access to multiple assistive technologies these days, including Braille printers, translators and displays, personal data assistants, screen readers and magnifiers, CCTV, large-format keyboards and software converting text to speech.

Hearing assistive technology systems, or HATS, are wide-ranging and include items such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, audio loops, infrared systems, FM systems, alerting devices, speech-to-text devices, and personal amplifiers.

Resources and services

Today’s campuses offer numerous resources and accommodations for students, while an institution’s Disability Services office will be able to offer extended individualized services.

Services for students with visual disabilities are numerous, ranging from scribes and readers, modifications or additional time for projects or exams. Other services students should look for in any prospective graduate school include well-lit spaces, railings down all hallways and stairwells, and seeing-eye dogs having full access to all spaces.

Aside from assistive technologies, schools offer a variety of services for students with hearing disabilities. Some of the most common include ensuring all classrooms, dining rooms and housing areas include written notifications, providing amplified listening devices, ensuring real-time captioning or notes are available for every class, and modifying assignments or exams.

Online learning tips and examples

Whether undertaking a single online class or a full degree, creating an inclusive online learning environment for students with vision and hearing disabilities is of paramount importance. Some of the ways educators are ensuring all students can take advantage of this method of learning include:

As technology continues to play a larger role in the learning landscape, one area where schools are focusing their efforts is web accessibility. This emerging area is focused on making online learning accessible by ensuring websites, applications and other content are formatted properly for students with visual disabilities.

With so many students taking advantage of online classes and degrees, numerous colleges are stepping up to the plate by offering programs that cater to students with hearing disabilities. Because so many classes use webcams and video chat technology to stream lectures, students can take advantage of live captions or sign language communication to interact with their peers and professors.

Expert Advice: Attending Grad School with a Disability

Jennifer Nicodem has been the Director of Academic and Disability Services at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, where she has worked for six years. Her background is in social work and she received her master’s degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and is currently pursuing a PhD in higher education at Azusa Pacific University.

How is attending graduate school as a student with disabilities different from a student without disabilities?

A student with a disability who attends graduate school is likely to experience many of the same feelings upon entering graduate school as a student without a disability: excitement, hope, anticipation and potentially fear. A major difference is that a student with a disability may have additional decisions to make in terms of what type of environment will best meet their needs, the level of accessibility the environment requires – both physically and in regards to learning – and if there are any additional resources necessary.

The student will also need to consider whether or not he or she would like to disclose the disability officially and request accommodations and services or not, and the potential impact of either course of action. One of the helpful aspects of graduate school is that students will likely have completed an undergraduate degree and can build on what worked best in that environment to help inform their graduate experience.

What types of assistance do schools offer for students with disabilities?

Schools vary widely in what they offer for students with disabilities. Common accommodations include: note-takers; sign language interpreters or CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) services; the ability to record lectures; extended time on exams or the ability to take an exam in a separate, quiet area; readers; scribes; assistive technology; and changing classrooms to a physically accessible location. In addition, colleges may provide different levels of learning support services like tutoring, academic improvement seminars, and Writing Centers.

How have these services changed in the last decade?

Access to higher education has increased in the past decade largely due to legislation in both the K-12 and higher education sectors. Although there continues to be significant variation among schools, in general, services and resources for students have increased. As colleges and universities have become more accustomed to providing reasonable accommodations, most schools have a clear system and procedures for students to disclose a disability and receive accommodations, which includes designated staff members whose role is to provide support, information and resources for students.

A current goal for many in the disability services field is to move beyond a perspective that focuses solely on accommodating to one that recognizes the significant benefit to the whole campus of creating environments that are broadly accessible to as many people as possible.

The term ‘universal design’ speaks to the concept of creating highly accessible environments. For example, a curb cut at a grocery store allows a wheelchair user to enter the store but also is helpful to those using shopping carts or pushing strollers. In addition, most schools provide some level of training to faculty, staff and other members of the campus so they are aware both of legal requirements and, hopefully, of the campus commitment to allow all students to equally access the educational environment.

What recommendations/suggestions do you have for selecting programs/schools for students with disabilities?

I recommend that students start planning for graduate school early and really research the schools they hope to attend. Once students have narrowed down their options, it is helpful to communicate directly with Disability Services staff to determine in advance what kind of support is available. Prospective students may benefit from connecting with other students on campus both with and without disabilities to hear about their experiences. Whenever possible, I would encourage visiting the campus in person to get a better sense of the overall campus experience. To get a true understanding of the school and whether or not it is a good fit may mean seeking information beyond what is conveyed on the school’s website, and asking specific questions about individual circumstances. The effort to find a graduate program will be worthwhile.

Studentships and doctoral training

Get a studentship to fund your doctorate.

UKRI studentships offer funding for doctoral research. They also offer you access to training, networking and development opportunities to help you build a research and innovation career.

Our expectations for research organisations, supervisors and students are set out in the statement of expectations for doctoral training .

You could get:

• a minimum stipend of £19,237 per year for your living costs, which is paid to you in regular instalments
• support for your tuition fees (minimum £4,786 per year)

The stipend is usually non-taxable and does not need to be paid back. Some research organisations may offer more if you study in London, or they or one of their collaborators might decide to top up the payment. This will be outlined in the studentship advert from the research organisation.

We normally pay the support for tuition fees directly to your research organisation.

The levels given here are for the academic year 2024 to 2025. UKRI’s approach to doctoral stipend and fee levels will be reviewed through the  new deal for postgraduate research .

Additional support for your doctoral studies

As a UKRI-funded doctoral student, you may be able to access additional funding to cover the cost of other related training and development opportunities.

This could include:

• conference attendance
• language training
• overseas research visits
• internships or placements with a non-academic partner

The availability of support will depend on the research organisation and the training grants they have on offer. You should contact the research organisation you are interested in applying to, to find out what you could get.

Extra support if you have a disability

If you have a disability, you may be entitled to a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) on top of your studentship.

You should speak to your research organisation’s disability advisor to assess your needs. They can help put the right support in place, including a DSA application if necessary. You cannot claim DSA directly from UKRI.

DSA helps to cover the cost of any additional support that a person studying for a doctorate might need as a result of a disability, mental health problem or specific learning difficulty.

The allowance covers:

• non-medical personal assistance
• specialist equipment
• extra travel costs
• general expenses

Find out more about DSA in our framework .

If you are a research organisation you can download claim forms and guidance for DSA .

Who can apply

Any prospective doctoral student wishing to study at a UK research organisation, including prospective international students, can apply for a UKRI studentship.

All UKRI-funded doctoral students will be eligible for the full award, both the stipend to support living costs, and home-level fees at the UK research organisation rate.

How to find opportunities

Many UK research organisations offer some form of studentship funding from UKRI. These opportunities will depend on the subject you want to study and will normally be advertised by the research organisations.

Research organisations may have additional opportunities that do not involve UKRI. UKRI supports around 20% of all UK-based postgraduate researchers. You should speak to the research organisation you are interested in to find out what studentships are available.

You could also consider using a specialist website like   FindaPhD  to look for opportunities.

When to apply

Research organisations set their own deadlines for applications.

Many open for applications early in the academic year and close in January or February. This is not a hard and fast rule. It is important that you check the deadlines for the research organisation where you want to study.

How to apply

You cannot apply to UKRI for a studentship. You must contact the research organisation you are interested in studying with and use their application process.

For doctoral students who are already studying with a studentship, there are opportunities to get additional funding to support placements that are separate from your doctorate.  Find training and development opportunities .

Last updated: 14 February 2024

This is the website for UKRI: our seven research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Let us know if you have feedback or would like to help improve our online products and services .

• Advice and support

Funding for disabled students in higher education

This information applies to England and Wales.

Student loans can help with course fees and living costs while you study.

You can apply for funding to cover extra costs if you are disabled. This includes Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) and bursaries from universities or charitable trusts. Unlike student loans, you do not have to pay these back.

You may still qualify for some disability benefits while you study.

Undergraduate study

Postgraduate study, disabled students’ allowance (dsa), bursaries, scholarships and awards, students with children, warning disability rights uk students helpline.

The charity Disability Rights UK provides advice to students, trainees and apprentices in England.

Disabled Students Helpline (Disability Rights UK)

You can apply for a tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan for living costs.

If you live in England, you’ll need to apply to Student Finance England .

If you live in Wales, you’ll need to apply to Student Finance Wales .

Tuition fee loan

You can apply for a tuition fee loan of up to £9,250.

Your university or college sets your tuition fee. The loan goes directly to them.

Maintenance loan

You can apply for a maintenance loan to help with your living costs. The maintenance loan is paid directly into your bank account at the start of each term. You will need to make repayments on the loan when you start to earn over the repayment threshold.

Repaying your student loans (GOV.UK)

The amount you can borrow depends on:

• your household income
• where you live or study
• how many credits you will study over a year if you're a part-time student

Student finance: New full-time student (GOV.UK)

Student finance: Part-time students (GOV.UK)

Student finance: Household income (GOV.UK)

You can only apply for a maintenance loan as a distance learning student if your condition or impairment means that you cannot attend your course in person. The DWP classes distance learning courses as part-time study, even if you study full-time.

Special Support maintenance loan

If you are eligible to claim benefits as a full-time undergraduate student or are deaf and qualify for DSA, you may be eligible for a higher amount of maintenance loan than other students.

You may be eligible if you:

• get Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• qualify for a disability premium or severe disability premium in means-tested benefits
• receive income-related ESA
• are deaf and qualify for DSA

Part of the maintenance loan is the special support element. This is worth up to £4,221 and does not count as income in your means-tested benefits.

Warning If you did not finish a degree because of disability or health reasons

You may still be eligible for some funding.

Check the student finance calculator (GOV.UK)

If you’re starting a Master’s degree or a PhD programme, you can apply for postgraduate loans to help with course fees and living costs.

Master’s loan

You can apply for a Master’s loan to help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate Master’s course.

The Master’s loan is not means-tested. The amount you’ll get is not based on you or your family’s income. You can choose how much you want to borrow, up to the maximum amount.

Master’s loan: What you’ll get (GOV.UK)

Doctoral loan

You can apply for a doctoral loan to help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate doctoral course.

The doctoral loan is not means-tested. The amount you’ll get is not based on you or your family’s income. You can choose how much you want to borrow, up to the maximum amount.

Doctoral loan: Eligibility (GOV.UK)

Eligibility: Postgraduate study (Student Finance Wales)

If you’re studying a higher education course, you can apply for DSA to cover some of your extra disability-related study costs.

You can get DSA on top of your other student loans. You do not have to pay DSA back.

You may get help paying for:

• non-medical helpers, such as sign language interpreters or specialist mentors
• specialist equipment, such as assistive software so you can access a computer
• other disability-related costs of studying, like extra hard copies of materials or a small fridge to store medication
• extra disability-related costs travelling to and from your university

How much you get depends on what support you need to study, not your household income.

Disabled Students' Allowance

You may be able to apply for money from your university or college on top of other student finance. You do not have to pay this back. Your university will have its own rules on who qualifies, the amount you can get and how to apply.

Finding and applying for grants

It’s worth checking your university website to find out what funding they offer. Your student support service can also tell you more about what is available.

Charitable trusts

Check if you’re entitled to extra funding from charities and other organisations for your studies or disability-related costs.

Turn2us has a large database of charitable grants.

Search for grants (Turn2us)

You can also search for charitable funding on the Disability Grants website.

Higher Education grants for disabled people (Disability Grants)

Disability Rights UK has a list of trusts you can apply to. They also have information on the best way to apply.

Funding from charitable trusts (Disability Rights UK)

Organisations

These organisations also offer funding:

• Snowdon Trust helps students with physical or sensory impairment in further or higher education.
• The Journalism Diversity Fund awards bursaries to people from diverse backgrounds who need help funding their NCTJ journalism training.

University and college hardship funds

You could get extra money from your university or college if you’re experiencing financial hardship.

For example, if you’re:

• a mature student with existing financial commitments
• a student that was previously in care (a ‘care leaver’)

Contact the student services department at your university or college for details of how to apply. They’ll decide if you qualify.

Your student income does not affect disability benefits like Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA).

How student funding affects your benefits

In higher education, there is a Parents’ Learning Allowance and Childcare Grant available from Student Finance England. This is part of the undergraduate student finance package. It is not available to postgraduate students.

Childcare Grant (GOV.UK)

Parents’ Learning Allowance (GOV.UK)

Last reviewed by Scope on: 31/05/2023

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More help for disabled students

Disabled students' allowance.

Find out what study-related costs that Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) can finance, if you're eligible and how to apply.

How to apply for grants

How to find grants and to apply to grant-making charities to get the funds you need to pay for the extra costs of disability.

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Some financial support and funding opportunities may be available for disabled applicants.

If you're awarded funding from one of the seven Research Councils , you will be eligible to apply for Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs) from your funding body.

If you are a home student funded by a body that does not have Disabled Students' Allowances or if you are applying as a self-funded home postgraduate disabled student, you might be eligible for DSAs from the Students Loan Company to help support you in your postgraduate studies while at Cambridge.

Under UK legislation, the University is required to make reasonable adjustments to make the University accessible to disabled students. In addition, funding is available from the UK government to meet the additional costs of making adjustments for most UK national disabled students.

Since each case is assessed on an individual basis, it is very important that you make your requirements known to the University at the earliest possible opportunity so that we can identify what provision you might require and how it might be funded.

You can also apply for financial assistance with disability-related expenses.

If you are an international student you may be eligible for the International Disabled Students' Fund .

Full details of funding for disabled students are available at Get funding | Accessibility and disability services .

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PhD scholarship in Disability, Diversity and Inclusion Studies

The Disability, Diversity and Inclusion initiative invites Expressions of Interest for a PhD. Project proposals are invited from a broad range of disciplines in one or more areas that align with the Initiative’s research focal points, such as social justice, safety, policy or service innovation. The Initiative is committed to creating opportunities for and fostering the development of people with disability. Applicants with disability are strongly encouraged to apply.

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What's on this page?

Funding from your university or college, external funding for disabled students, open day questions for disability funding, get started.

Having an impairment, mental health condition or learning difference shouldn’t prevent you from pursuing your ambitions, although it might mean you have additional costs (e.g. to access specialised equipment).

In addition to student finance options, students in the UK can apply for a  Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) to help cover some of these costs. However, there may be other financial support sources available.

How does student finance work where you live?  Explore our complete guides to undergraduate finance in  England ,  Scotland ,  Wales , and  Northern Ireland .

Scholarships, grants, and bursaries

It’s worth exploring what additional funding might be available from your university or college, such as scholarships, grants, or bursaries . Like a Disabled Students' Allowance, these don’t have to be repaid, so they won’t contribute to the overall cost of going to university.

These bursaries, grants or scholarships may be specifically available to disabled students, to help with general living and study expenses, to help you to achieve a particular goal, or to pursue certain activities. On the other hand, they may be completely unrelated to your impairment or condition – perhaps for specific subject areas, or related to an extracurricular activity you’re involved with, like music or sports , especially if you represent the uni.

You may need to meet certain eligibility criteria or complete an application form explaining why you are deserving of the extra funding so be sure to find out the details – include any application deadlines.

Any funding to help with an impairment or condition shouldn’t interfere with any merit-based scholarships you’ve earned – for example, a scholarship for achieving strong academic grades , or having exceptional athletic or musical ability . However, it is always a good idea to check the criteria and conditions for specific scholarships, to be sure.

Learn what other scholarships, bursaries, and grants are available .

You can tell the uni about an impairment or condition on your UCAS application – this allows them to tell you about any support you might be eligible for, and they can put any adjustments in place ready for your arrival. This could mean extra funding, but it may extend to other benefits or resources you may not know about. Don’t worry – this information is not used to make a decision on your application, and it is only shared with those involved in supporting you or making the arrangements for your support.

Read more about support for disabled students.   

Speak to the student support team to find out what support you might be eligible for – the disability support team or mental health adviser will be able to help . Read our guidance for speaking to the disability support team or mental health adviser .

If you are attending an open day don’t forget to ask what bursaries, grants, and scholarships are available. Read our checklist for disabled students preparing for open days and visits for more advice on what to look for.

Hardship and emergency funds

Universities and colleges set aside hardship funds for students who run into financial problems while studying, and anyone can apply for these. This may be referred to as ‘learner support’ for those aged 19+ and studying a further education course. Specific funds may be available to support disabled students where a DSA can’t help, or you may be given priority consideration to any financial support open to all students. These funds may be repayable, so check before you apply.

Any sort of emergency fund or short-term loan like this should be considered a last resort, when all other avenues of financial support have been exhausted. What’s available will vary, and every application will be judged on an individual basis.

Most undergraduates can apply for hardship funds, provided they’ve received the maximum statutory maintenance support they’re eligible for – including Disabled Students’ Allowances.

As part of your application, you will be asked to explain why you need additional funding and what other methods you have used to resolve your situation. You may also be asked to provide evidence to support your application, like bank statements.

If you’re successful, check if this funding comes with any conditions – especially if you’ve received it for a specific purpose, for example, you may be required to provide receipts as evidence of how you’ve spent the extra money.

Pre-application funding

As you are making your UCAS decisions, you may attend an open day, or be asked to attend an interview, audition or similar event as part of your application journey. For students who may struggle to meet the travel or accommodation costs associated with these events, the university or college may be able to help you with some of these costs – even if you haven’t made your decision yet.

This funding may fall under the university’s widening participation aims which help disadvantaged and under-represented students go to university, and there may even be specific funding for disabled applicants.

As the university or college won’t know much about you if you haven’t submitted your application yet, you may be asked to provide evidence of your circumstances (e.g. a doctor’s letter confirming your impairment or condition), and receipts or estimates of your travel/accommodation costs. Make sure you apply and get approval for this well ahead of your visit. Speak to the student support team for full details.

Charitable organisations

Charities and trusts that support and promote the rights of disabled people, or those with learning differences, long-term illnesses and mental health conditions may provide help to those who wish to access higher education.

This can be through bursaries and grants, as well as networking groups or communities, expert advice, and referral to further services.

You may be familiar with organisations specifically linked to your own impairment or condition, but it’s worth doing some research to find out more. Also, visit the following organisations’ websites to check if there is support for you:

• Scope  is the disability equality charity in England and Wales. 
• The Snowdon Trust  offers a grant to help physically and sensory disabled people in higher and further education meet disability-related costs that are not covered by statutory funding (e.g. DSA) – read more about eligibility for the Snowdon Trust grant and how to apply . 
• The Student Health Association offers a bursary to fund to help disabled students keep up with their studies – find out more and apply on its website .
• Turn2Us is a national charity that helps people in financial hardship – find out more about any grants you may be entitled to.

Don’t forget to check if there is an application deadline. Eligibility criteria and application procedures for any charitable grants or bursaries will vary between organisations, so read all the details before you apply – for example, you may have to explain how you intend to use these funds, provide evidence of the costs involved, or send a reference or supporting statement. Recipients may have to repay an award they’ve received if they use it for a purpose other than that specified in their application. 

Employers and professional bodies

Some employers and professional bodies offer funding to students on certain courses or studying within a particular field. To help nurture young talent and promote diversity within their field or industry, there may also be specific support available to disabled students.

Speak to your course tutor to find out about any professional bodies associated with your course and do some research into key employers in this field of study.

• What funding do you offer disabled students? Are these available to all disabled students, or just those studying specific subjects?
• As well as appropriate evidence to demonstrate a disability, what eligibility criteria do students have to satisfy?
• Is household income a factor for eligibility for these types of funding?
• What hardship or emergency funds are there for disabled students? Are disabled students prioritised when it comes to hardship funds for all students?
• Will you reach out to disabled students to explain what funding they’re eligible for?
• What extra, non-financial benefits can students get alongside this funding?
• If a student is eligible for a disability-related bursary or grant, will that hurt their chances of applying for a separate scholarship or bursary – like a low income bursary, or an academic scholarship?

1. Start with a Disabled Students’ Allowance  — a DSA is the main form of financial support for disabled students. Make sure you know what evidence you will need to apply, and get that ready. Apply as early as possible, preferably at the same time as you apply for student finance. If you plan to apply for other funding related to your condition or impairment, you may need to provide evidence that you applied for a DSA (e.g. your DSA assessment), so check in advance.

Find out more about applying for a DSA.

2. Check all eligibility criteria and application deadlines – for any funding you are thinking of applying for, get any required evidence ready and apply as early as you can.

3. Be transparent – you’re not legally obliged to disclose an impairment or condition to a university or college. However, this allows them to tell you about any funding and support you can access – this can make your transition to higher education much easier, and help you achieve your potential when you are there.

You can share this information on your UCAS application. This is not used to make a decision on your application, and it is only shared with those involved in supporting you or making the arrangements for your support.

4. Know your expenses – having a firm grasp of your living and study costs – plus any extra costs as a result of your impairment or condition– will help when working out your budget, and help you identify where you may experience difficulties.

This will also help you when making an application for any grants or bursaries, as you may be asked to give exact or rough figures for expenses.

Find out how to budget and save money while studying with our student budgeting guide .

You might also like to read

Disabled students' allowance (dsa), students with physical or mental health conditions and learning differences, sponsored articles ucas media service, top ten student money tips, guaranteed accommodation in clearing, how to find a job.

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Disabled Students' Allowance for Postgraduates

If you are a student with disabilities there is no additional statutory funding available to help cover your course fees. The extra support you can apply for is usually to pay for disability-related course costs.

Disability-related support

Under part 4 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) education providers have a duty to make 'reasonable adjustments' to ensure disabled students are not placed at a 'substantial disadvantage' compared to non-disabled students. If you are from the UK and you are on a full-time, part-time or distance learning postgraduate course and have disability-related course costs, you may be eligible for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA). Part-time students must be studying at least 50% of the full-time equivalent course in order to qualify for DSA, i.e. you must complete the course in no longer than twice the time taken to complete an equivalent full-time course. The course must last for a minimum of one-year full-time. Examples of postgraduate study are research and taught Masters courses (MA, MSc, MEd, MPhil), Doctorates (PhD) , Postgraduate Diplomas and Certificates e.g. Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE). However unlike undergraduate DSAs, there is one allowance for all costs. Postgraduate DSAs are assessed by your local authority (LA) in England and Wales or in trial areas by the Student Loans Company, The Department of Employment and Learning (DEL) in Northern Ireland and Students Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).

How much can I get?

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the maximum amount for 2016/17 entry is £10,362 per year, which covers everything. In Scotland, DSAs are available at the undergraduate rates. PGCE and other ITT courses are eligible for DSAs at the undergraduate rates. Most Research Council funded study includes DSAs at the undergraduate rates. Postgraduate DSAs are not means tested, which means your income and savings will not be taken into account when calculating how much you are entitled to. Instead, the amount of support you are entitled to is established by the 'needs assessment' – this is carried out to decide what additional support you need to allow you to do your chosen course.

Who is not eligible for a DSA?

If you have obtained an award from a Research Council or a bursary from the NHS or General Social Care Council, you are not eligible for DSAs from your Local Authority. Instead, you should apply directly to the Research Council, NHS Grants Unit or General Social Care Council. Postgraduate students who receive awards that already include support for disability-related course costs from their institution are also not eligible for postgraduate DSAs.

Further information

For more tips and advice on applying for a postgraduate course, please see:

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10 Fellowships for People with Disabilities

Many fellowships prioritize accepting people with disabilities within their programs. Choosing programs that prioritize diversity and accessibility can positively impact your academic and professional career. This list of fellowships prioritizes providing opportunities for people with disabilities. Students and professionals who are interested in STEM, social change, art, leadership development, and writing should check out this list!

You can bookmark any opportunities that interest you to your free ProFellow account  by clicking the links below.

AAAS Entry Point Program

Entry Point is a signature program of the AAAS Project Point Program. This is a national effort to discover and develop talent among undergraduate and graduate students with disabilities who demonstrated a talent and interest in pursuing a STEM career. The primary goal of the project is to increase the diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce at the professional level. Entry Point! recruits, screens, and refers qualified candidates to company and university research program partners for 10-week summer internships.

Center for Inclusive Policy Fellowship Program

The Center for Inclusive Policy Fellowship Program provides financial support, exposure to global discourse and developments in the policy landscape, and mentoring to people with disabilities from low- and middle-income countries who are actively working on issues of inclusive policy or policy research in support of the rights of people with disabilities as put forth in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Applicants are persons with disabilities in the early or mid stages of their careers. The program offers mentorship, training season, and a fellowship grant of US$ 900 / month to help cover the time they spend on their projects.

EnAble India Soapstone Fellowship

The Soapstone Fellowship is a yearlong full-time program. The participants get an enhanced perspective on the livelihood of persons with disabilities while leveraging their subject matter expertise to benefit the sector. The Fellowship is filled with opportunities to engage with diverse stakeholders and harness the power of the collective. It promises to be an experiential and reflective journey for all. The Fellowship is looking for persons with disability or any individual committed to social change and celebrating the human spirit. The Fellows will receive a monthly stipend of Rs.25,000 during the period of the Fellowship.

Ford Foundation Disability Futures Fellowship

The Disability Futures Fellowship is an initiative administered by United States Artists that aims to increase the visibility of disabled creative practitioners across disciplines and geography and elevate their voices individually and collectively. The fellows are nominated by their peers to both honor legacies of achievement and elevate emerging artistry and ideas. They span multiple generations and practices, ranging from choreography to filmmaking to architecture to design. Ford and Mellon Foundation are supporting three cohorts of disabled creative practitioners whose work advances the cultural landscape. Each fellowship includes a $50,000 grant to advance each artist’s practice, totaling $1 million for each cohort.

Gopen and Crocker Disability Fellowships

The Gopen and Crocker Disability Fellowships are a one-year, part-time work and learning opportunity in Massachusetts. The Gopen Fellowship is for individuals with developmental disabilities. The Crocker Fellowship is for family members of individuals with developmental disabilities. First, you come up with a project idea related to disability advocacy. Then, you spend one year working on your project at the ICI. You will work 20 hours each week on fellowship activities. Fellows get a total of $20,000 for the year. As a fellow, you will get paid every month or every three months depending on your preference.

Inevitable Foundation Accelerate Fellowship

The Accelerate Fellowship is a year-long program that gives mid-level disabled screenwriters $40,000 in funding, bespoke mentorship, industry connections, and the community they need to become industry-leading creators. Ongoing writing workshops and check-ins with the Inevitable team allow Fellows to sharpen their writing and pitching skills. The Accelerate Fellowship is a 12-month program, focused half on writing skills and half on business skills. The Fellowship is for individuals that self-identify as disabled, currently pursuing a career in screenwriting.

Javed Abidi Fellowship on Disability

NCPEDP – Javed Abidi Fellowship on Disability, supported by Azim Premji Foundation is a three-year immersive leadership development program for youth with disabilities looking to build a career in the development sector particularly Disability Rights and Inclusion, with a focus on policy and practice. The fellowship program seeks to give an opportunity to youth with disabilities to delve into and voice issues faced by persons with disabilities at the grassroots with the support of local civil society organizations across India. NCPEDP will also provide a competitive stipend of up to Rs. 25,000 to meet necessary needs and provisional expenses during the fellowship program.

Lime Connect Fellowship Program

The Lime Connect Fellowship Program is designed for accomplished current sophomores/rising juniors who happen to have a disability and are attending a 4-year university in the U.S. The program kicks off with an all-expense paid Leadership & Development Symposium in New York City this summer, where Lime Fellows will receive professional development training, access to our U.S. corporate partners, and potential summer internships. Upon completion of the program, Fellows will join the lifelong experience of the Lime Connect Fellows Community, where they will receive ongoing support such as individual coaching, webinars, and mentoring, as well as continued professional development, community, and networking opportunities throughout their careers.

U Revolution Media Fellowships

Uncomfortable Revolution is offering 4 paid media fellowships to support up-and-coming media talent and give them a launchpad for their future careers. Fellowships last for a total of 6 months, during which fellows receive a $2,000 stipend to develop creative work on the theme of awkward conversations that arise from chronic illness or disability. The 4 fellowship options include projects in writing, the visual arts, podcasts, and video. Authentic stories about any health condition from cancer, HIV/AIDS, and heart disease to mental illness, addiction or eating disorders, and MS or other mobility-affecting illnesses are welcome. Applications from disabled people and people living with chronic illness are particularly encouraged to apply.

Writeability Fellowship Program

The Writeability Fellowship supports emerging writers with disabilities with tailored professional development support such as manuscript assessments, curated programs of workshops, and/or mentoring. Writeability aims to remove some of the barriers that have traditionally prevented people with disabilities from connecting with writing and publishing. It provides tools and information to support people with disabilities who want to tell their own stories in their own way. Writeability is for anyone who experiences barriers as a result of their particular impairment or condition.

Interested in finding many more opportunities like these?  Sign up for the ProFellow database, which includes more than 2,400 funded opportunities for professional development and graduate school.

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FREE TRAINING: How I Secured 6-Figures in Scholarships & Graduated Debt-Free

The Scholarship System

Paying for college begins here

71 Grants and Scholarships for Disabled Students

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Updated on August 22nd, 2023

Figuring out how to cover the cost of college is challenging for all students, including students with disabilities. Fortunately, college scholarships and grants for disabled students can make a significant difference. Along with being money for college that doesn’t have to get paid back, there’s usually less competition for these awards since not all students are eligible to apply.

Scholarships can help students make nearly any college affordable, all while letting them avoid costly student loans. If you and your student want to learn more about the scholarship application and search process,  sign up for our free college scholarship webinar ! Take a quick trip over to http://thescholarshipsystem.com/freewebinar to reserve a spot today.

Ultimately, there’s a slew of grants and scholarships for disabled students. If your student has a disability and is looking for ways to make their college education more affordable, here’s what you need to know.

• 1 Can You Get a Scholarship for Being Disabled?
• 2 What Is a Student Disability Scholarship?
• 3 Mental Health Scholarships
• 4 Scholarships for Students with Physical Disabilities
• 5.1 Grants for Disabled Females
• 6 Disability Scholarships for Graduate Students

Can You Get a Scholarship for Being Disabled?

Disability scholarships and college grants are available for students with qualifying mental or physical conditions. Some focus on specific types of disabilities, such as hearing impairments, autism, or mobility challenges. Others are more general and open to students with either any disability or a wide array of disabilities.

Some examples of scholarships for students with any type of disability include:

• Canines for Disabled Kids Scholarship
• Google Lime Scholarship
• HPFY Beyond Disability Scholarship
• INCIGHT Scholarship
• Lime Connect Pathways Scholarship for High School Seniors
• Microsoft Disability Scholarship
• NBCUniversal Tony Coelho Media Scholarship
• RJ Mitte Breaking Barriers Scholarship
• VSA International Young Musicians Award Program

However, most of these scholarships have eligibility requirements beyond the student having a disability. For example, students may need to meet or cross a GPA threshold or commit to a particular major. Additionally, they may need to submit specific materials, such as a scholarship essay and letters of recommendation . Official documentation from a medical professional showing their formal diagnosis is also a requirement in some cases.

As with all types of scholarships, students need to review the rules carefully to determine if they’re eligible to apply before beginning their scholarship application. That way, they can focus their energies in the best possible direction.

What Is a Student Disability Scholarship?

A student disability scholarship is a financial aid award that reduces a student’s out-of-pocket college costs. These scholarships are specifically designed to make college more affordable for students with disabilities, ensuring that higher education is more accessible to this specific segment of the population.

Which disabilities qualify for an award can vary. Some student disability scholarships are broad, allowing any student with a cognitive, behavioral, emotional, or physical disability to apply. Others are targeted to specific disabilities or may even limit applicants to individuals who’ve received particular treatments for their conditions. However, the goal of the scholarship is always to help students with disabilities achieve their educational – and career – goals.

When a student receives a disability scholarship, the funds typically work similarly to other kinds of scholarships. In many cases, the money is initially sent directly to the student’s school, allowing the college to direct the funds toward qualifying costs, such as tuition and fees or room and board .

In some cases, scholarship money that isn’t needed by the college is then given to the student. However, this only occurs if the award is set up to help pay for other expenses, such as transportation, equipment, supplies, and more. Many scholarships don’t allow the money to go toward anything except for expenses directly from the school, and some may even limit it to specific kinds of costs. As a result, students need to review the rules to help them plan effectively.

Mental Health Scholarships

Mental health scholarships are a subset of the disability scholarships that target students with various mental illnesses. For example, students who experience depression or anxiety may qualify, as well as students with bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, and more.

Some are also open to students with cognitive impairments or learning disabilities. For example, students on the autism spectrum may qualify for specific awards.

As with all kinds of college scholarships, the eligibility requirements will vary from one award to the next. Similarly, what’s needed to complete an application may be different with each scholarship. However, students with mental health diagnoses should explore as many opportunities as possible, allowing them to find as many potential awards as possible.

Here is a list of mental health scholarships that students should check out:

• Bryent Smothermon PTSD Awareness Scholarship
• Elevate Mental Health Awareness Scholarship
• Elizabeth Schalk Memorial Scholarship
• Fred J. Epstein Youth Achievement Award
• Individualized Education Pathway Scholarship
• JC Runyon Foundation Scholarship
• Jewish Community Services (JCS) Scholarship
• Kelly Law Team Autism Scholarship
• Kerry Magro Scholarship Program
• Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship
• Jared Monroe Foundation Scholarship
• Marion Huber Learning Through Listening
• Schwallie Family Scholarship
• The Center for Reintegration Scholarship Program
• Varghese Summersett Autism Scholarship

Scholarships for Students with Physical Disabilities

Scholarships for students with physical disabilities are a group of awards that target students with an impairment related to the physical function of a part of their body. For example, students with mobility challenges or who rely on a wheelchair may qualify for some awards. Similarly, students with significant hearing or sight loss may be eligible for other scholarships.

As with all scholarships, the exact requirements can vary. Along with having a qualifying medical condition, a student may need to meet or exceed a minimum GPA, or other criteria may be part of the equation. Since that’s the case, students need to review all of the rules carefully to determine their eligibility.

Here are some scholarships for students with physical disabilities that can serve as an excellent starting point:

• 180 Medical Scholarship Program
• com Scholarship
• Cochlear Americas Academic Scholarships
• Dylan’s Journey Memorial Scholarship
• Fred Scheigert Scholarship Program
• GLHF Education Scholarship
• Help America Hear Scholarship
• HFA Educational Scholarship
• Jackson-Stricks Scholarship
• John D. Sherman Scholarship
• Lighthouse Guild Scholarship
• Little People of America Scholarship Program
• Millie Brother Scholarship
• Pfizer Hemophilia Scholarship Program
• Sertoma’s Scholarship for the Hard of Hearing or Deaf
• Team See Possibilities Scholarship
• Wells Fargo Scholarship Program for People with Disabilities

Grants for College Students with Disabilities

For students with disabilities, college grants are an excellent way to help reduce how much they need to cover out-of-pocket for their education. As long as the student meets the performance-related requirements (if there are any), the money doesn’t have to get paid back. Since that’s the case, these awards are an excellent way to avoid student loans or other types of debt, potentially allowing a student to graduate debt-free.

As with other awards for students with disabilities, having a qualifying condition is typically mandatory to apply. Precisely what makes a student eligible does vary, however. Some may be open to students with practically any type of disability, while others target students with specific ones. Since that’s the case, students need to make sure that they review any and all requirements before submitting an application, allowing them to concentrate on awards that they have the highest chances of securing.

Here is a list of grants for college students with disabilities that students should check out:

• AAHD Frederick J. Krause Scholarship on Health and Disability
• Academy of Special Dreams College Scholarship Fund
• ACB Scholarship Program
• ALA Century Scholarship
• Allegra Ford Thomas Scholarship
• Anne Ford Scholarship
• Assistive Technology Awards for Students with Learning Disabilities and Dyslexia
• Avonte Oquendo Memorial Scholarship for Autism
• Beth Carew Memorial Scholarship Program
• BMO Capital Markets Lime Connect Equity Through Education Scholarship
• Carole L. Patterson Endowed Scholarship
• Cheryl Conkling Memorial Scholarship
• Christopher Mark Pitkin Memorial Scholarship
• Dale M. Schoettler Scholarship for Visually Impaired Students
• com College Scholarship
• Joseph James Morelli Legacy Foundation Scholarship
• Mays Mission Scholarship
• Organization for Autism Research’s Scholarships
• Powering Education Scholarship
• Ruby’s Rainbow Scholarship
• Sunwise Capital Autism Scholarship
• Teresa Haven Scholarship for Students with Disabilities
• Test Prep Insight $1,500 Scholarship
• The Ability Center College Scholarship
• The John Lepping Memorial Scholarship: Disabled Students
• Will Rogers Memorial Scholarship

Grants for Disabled Females

If your student is female and also has a disability, there are some awards they may be eligible for that aren’t open to as many applicants. When eligibility is limited to women and girls, there’s usually less competition. That’s particularly true if applicants are either restricted to students with disabilities or preference is given to students with disabilities.

As a result, female students with disabilities should explore these options to determine if they are eligible. Here are a couple of grants for disabled females that can help reduce the cost of college:

• American Transmission Co. Scholarship
• BioMatrix Millie Gonzalez Memorial Scholarship

Disability Scholarships for Graduate Students

While some of the disability scholarships above are open to undergraduate and graduate students, there are also awards that specifically target grad students with disabilities. These are designed to make earning a higher-level degree – such as a Master’s or Doctorate – more affordable for students with qualifying conditions.

Often, these have eligibility requirements beyond a qualifying disability. For example, they may limit applicants to students studying specific majors. Additionally, they typically have academic performance-related requirements, such as minimum GPAs.

While the eligibility rules are potentially stricter than what students may see with other awards, disability scholarships for graduate students are a boon for those who qualify. Here are a few options students may want to explore:

• Foundation for Science and Disability Graduate Student Grant
• George H. Nofer Scholarship for Law and Public Policy

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Best Scholarships for Students with Disabilities in 2024

Apply below right now to the best Scholarships for Students with Disabilities. Exclusive scholarships found only on Bold.org!

Robert and Suzi DeGennaro Scholarship for Disabled Students

Eligibility criteria:.

• Background : Physical disability

Social Anxiety Step Forward Scholarship

• Background : Anxiety disorder

Denise K. Emberton Memorial Scholarship

• Education Level : High school senior or undergraduate student
• GPA : 3.5 or higher
• Field of Study : Special education
• Future Goals : Teaching low-incidence/Autistic students

Sparkle and Succeed Scholarship

• Gender : Female-identifying
• Background : Has ADHD
• Education Level : High school

Straive Accessibility Scholarship

• Education Level : Undergraduate or graduate student
• Background : Has a disability
• Field of Study : Computer science, web development, digital design, or related a STEM field

Dwight "The Professor" Baldwin Scholarship

• Education Level : High school, undergraduate, or graduate student
• Background : Physical or mental disability

Promising Pathways - Hard of Hearing Scholarship

• Education Level : Undergraduate student
• Hearing : Wears hearing aid or cochlear implants to assist with hearing

Candi L. Oree Leadership Scholarship

• GPA : 3.0 or higher

J.E. Anderson Family College Scholarship

• Background : First-generation college student

RonranGlee Special Needs Teacher Literary Scholarship

• Education Level : High school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student

James Gabriel Memorial Scholarship

• Education Level : High school junior or senior
• Background : Survived a Congenital Heart Defect

Dylan's Journey Memorial Scholarship

• Education Level : High school, undergraduate, graduate
• Disability : Learning Disability: ADHD, NF, Dyslexia, etc.

Frank and Patty Skerl Educational Scholarship for the Physically Disabled

• Background : Has a physical disability

Joseph A. Terbrack ALS Memorial Scholarship Fund

• Education Level : High school student
• Background : Impacted by ALS (personally, through a family member, etc.)

Bryent Smothermon PTSD Awareness Scholarship

• Background : Military veteran or child of a military veteran

Chief Lawrence J. Nemec Jr. Memorial Scholarship

• Experience : Volunteer as a firefighter or EMT

Cat Zingano Overcoming Loss Scholarship

First-generation college students scholarship.

• Education Level : High school senior or current undergraduate student

Carlos F. Garcia Muentes Scholarship

• Immigration status : First or second-generation immigrant
• Legacy Status : First-generation college student

"The Summer I Turned Pretty" Fan Scholarship

Capcut meme master scholarship, fall favs: a starbucks stan scholarship, bubba wallace live to be different scholarship, robert lee, sr. and bernice williams memorial scholarship.

• Background : Underrepresented minority (BIPOC, women, LGBTQ+, and/or disabled)

AMPLIFY Diversity in Technology Scholarship

• Status : Underrepresented group

Ace Spencer Rubin Scholarship

• Education Level : Must be a high school or undergraduate student
• Background : Must have a significant physical disability

RJ Mitte Breaking Barriers Scholarship

Snap finance “funding the future” scholarship.

• Education Level : 3rd or 4th year undergraduate

EDucate for Eating Disorder Survivors Scholarship

• Education Level : High school or undergraduate student
• Experience : Has struggled with an ED or has been affected by a loved one's ED

Diverse Abilities Scholarship

• Citizenship Status : U.S. citizen or permanent resident

About Scholarships for Students with Disabilities

Since 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandates universities and post-secondary schools to provide equal access to higher education for students with disabilities . By accommodating the needs of their disabled students and providing the appropriate educational resources and services, students with disabilities can pursue higher education in a more accessible way.

Several colleges have initiated recruitment strategies and established financial aid programs specifically for students with disabilities. In addition, a variety of private organizations grant scholarships aimed at supporting students with disabilities and assisting them in overcoming challenges such as learning disabilities, environmental hurdles, or health complications to achieve their academic goals in higher education.

An excellent source to save money is scholarships. Bold.org has a plethora of scholarships for students. Create a Bold.org profile and use the scholarship search feature to access hundreds of exclusive scholarships, including exclusive grants to pay off student loans .

What Is a Disability Scholarship?

A disability scholarship is a type of scholarship focused on providing financial aid to students with disabilities who are pursuing their college education. This type of scholarship is meant to assist students with disabilities to pay for their college tuition and educational expenses so that they're able to complete their degrees .

There are many opportunities that award scholarships to support students with disabilities. The top five disabilities reported to college institutions by undergraduate students are learning disabilities, ADHD, psychiatric disabilities, mental or physical disabilities, health/chronic disabilities, and mobility restrictions.

During the 2019-2020 academic year, approximately 21% of undergraduate students and 11% of postgraduate students indicated that they have a disability.

Types of Scholarships for Students with Disabilities

The types of available scholarships for disabled students can vary based on the scholarship's eligibility criteria. There are more general scholarships that disabled students can be eligible for and apply for. General scholarships are usually either essay or no-essay scholarships.

No-essay scholarships are typically the easiest to apply for since they require less time and effort on the applicant’s part. However, that means that no-essay scholarships are also easy for  everyone else  to apply for.

You may have a better chance with essay scholarships where you can write about your personal experience with your specific type of impairment or disability . See the Bold.org   Best Tips for Writing a Scholarship Essay  for suggestions on how to make your scholarship essays better.

Look for scholarships specifically for your state or scholarships specifically available to those pursuing a certain major. Some scholarships have additional qualifications such as academic excellence, gender identity, race, age, etc. Some scholarships are for specific education levels and can be exclusively for high school students, high school seniors, undergraduates, or graduate students. Always make sure to check the requirements before spending time on your application.

If you're pursuing or plan to pursue an accredited college or vocational school, trade school, or community college, apply for scholarships for students with disabilities to reduce your college costs and make higher education more affordable.

Best Scholarships for Students with Disabilities

Many federal aid scholarships exist to provide disabled students with financial assistance. Whether you are a high school senior or graduate student earning your bachelor's degree or graduate degree, you may benefit from these scholarships for disabled students that can help you fund your post-secondary education so you can reach your academic goals.

Here are some of the best scholarships for disabled students exclusively on Bold.org with upcoming deadlines:

Scholarships for High School Students with Disabilities

• Scholarships for High School Freshmen
• Scholarships for High School Sophomores
• Scholarships for High School Juniors
• Scholarships for High School Seniors
• Scholarships for High School Students

Scholarships for Disabled College Students

• Undergraduate Scholarships
• Scholarships for College Freshmen
• Scholarships for College Sophomores
• Scholarships for College Juniors
• Scholarships for College Seniors
• Scholarships for Community College
• Scholarships for College Students
• Scholarships for Graduate Students
• MBA Scholarships
• PhD Scholarships  
• Master's Degree Scholarships

Scholarships for Disabled Veterans

Many military veterans who decide to pursue post-secondary education may have a documented disability that can affect their learning and require accommodation. In 19-2020, 28% of undergraduate student veterans and 20% of graduate student veterans reported having a disability.

For any disabled veterans pursuing higher education who are in need of financial aid, you can also consider applying for military scholarships on Bold.org that may be applicable to you.

• Military Scholarships
• Veteran Scholarships

A scholarship program may offer an annual scholarship or a one-time award. Be sure to read the scholarship description to understand fully the scholarship you wish to apply for.

Common Support Measures for Students with Disabilities

Institutions of higher education typically offer support services to students who disclose their disabilities and seek accommodations. The most commonly offered accommodations included :

• Modified exam formats or extended time for exams
• Tutoring support for coursework
• Services like reading assistance, note-taking, or transcription
• Help with registration or the option for early registration
• Specialized equipment or assistive technology
• Interpretation services for sign language
• Alternatives to standard course requirements, such as course substitutions or exemptions

How to Apply for Disability Scholarships

Applying for disability scholarships involves several steps designed to help students with disabilities secure financial support for their education. Here's a general guide on how to go about it:

Research Scholarships

Start by researching scholarships specifically designed for students with disabilities . Look for scholarships offered by universities, non-profit organizations, foundations, and government agencies. Websites dedicated to scholarship searches and disability advocacy groups can be valuable resources.

Understand Eligibility Criteria

Each scholarship has its own eligibility criteria . Carefully review these requirements to ensure you qualify. Criteria may include the type of disability, academic achievements, area of study, and financial need.

Gather Required Documentation

Most scholarships will require documentation of your disability . This could include medical records, a doctor's note, or documentation from a school counselor or disability services office. Make sure to have these documents ready and ensure they are up-to-date.

Prepare Your Application Materials

In addition to the application form, you might need to prepare other materials such as a personal statement or essay, letters of recommendation, transcripts, and a resume. Tailor these materials to highlight your experience as a person with a disability and how that has shaped your academic and personal achievements .

Write a Strong Personal Statement

Your personal statement or essay is a chance to tell your story and explain how the scholarship will help you achieve your educational and career goals . Be honest and open about your challenges and successes as a student with a disability.

Apply Early

Pay attention to application deadlines and try to submit your applications early . This will give you enough time to address any issues that might arise during the application process.

Remember, applying for scholarships can be a competitive process, so apply for as many as you qualify for to increase your chances of receiving financial aid.

Applying for Bold.org Scholarships

Creating a profile on Bold.org   is the first step to applying for scholarships . On your Bold.org profile, it is easy to find scholarships for students with disabilities. Using the filters, you can sort through the site's available scholarships by the 'Disability' category or click on one of the disability scholarships listed on this page. Once you find available scholarships that you are eligible for, you can start the application process.

Select one scholarship that suits you and read through the description to find useful information like the eligibility requirements, the application deadline, selection criteria, and required materials.

You may even have to submit an essay based on a given topic. Be sure to put time and effort into your scholarship essays . Finding scholarships that best fit your experience can help make your essay more personal. Be diligent in the quality of your submissions and how you present yourself, as it can make all the difference.

The application process is simple and conducted at your own pace . If you wish to complete the application process at a later time, the bookmark tool allows you to save scholarships so you can return later.

To apply, simply click the 'Apply Now' button once you've completed the application materials, and you'll be entered into the scholarship.

Tips for Applying for Scholarships for Students with Disabilities

Targeted scholarship search.

Initiate your quest by identifying scholarships specifically designed for students with disabilities . These scholarships often recognize the unique challenges you've faced and value the diverse perspectives you bring. Understanding the eligibility criteria and objectives of each scholarship can help you find the best matches for your personal situation.

Showcase Your Journey

In your application essays, shine a light on your experiences, focusing on how your disability has contributed to your personal growth, resilience, and determination . Share stories of overcoming obstacles, achieving goals, and the lessons learned along the way, as these narratives can resonate strongly with scholarship committees.

Strategic Recommendations

Seek out letters of recommendation from individuals who not only know you academically or professionally but also understand the nuances of your disability and how you've navigated related challenges . These letters should reflect your strengths, adaptability, and the positive traits you've developed through your experiences.

Organized Application Process

Diligently track scholarship deadlines and required materials to ensure timely and complete submissions . Utilize calendars, reminder apps, or planning tools to organize your application tasks, preventing any last-minute rushes or missed opportunities.

By employing these strategies, you can effectively convey your unique story and qualifications, positioning yourself as a compelling candidate for scholarships that acknowledge and celebrate the strengths and capabilities of students with disabilities.

Students can find disability scholarships by searching the Bold.org scholarships page and browsing the "Disability" category. Depending on your type of disability or background, students may even be able to apply for "Mental Health" scholarships if their disability is mentally related. Or, disabled veterans can consider applying for "Military" scholarships. Other relevant or more general scholarship awards can be found on Bold.org.

Eligibility is simple to check on Bold.org. Each scholarship will have a clear list of all eligibility requirements in the description. If your profile matches those requirements, then you'll be eligible to apply. If your profile information does not match the list of requirements, Bold.org may block you from applying for that scholarship. That's why it's important to fully complete your profile information.

On Bold.org, there is no limit to how many scholarships you can apply for or earn. You can even apply and earn several scholarships in more than one category.

Ph.D. Students

The College of Engineering has identified a variety of funding resources for our new and current graduate students both internal to the University (e.g., department/program, College of Engineering, Rackham Graduate School and University of Michigan campus) as well as external (e.g., national labs, corporations, organizations, etc.)

Please note: Students are encouraged to consult Innovation Partnerships prior to beginning a fellowship opportunity if they will be developing any innovations created through their paid research work at UM.

College of Engineering Funding for Ph.D. Students

All Michigan Engineering doctoral students are guaranteed full funding, provided they continue to meet all the milestones on the path to their doctorate. The package includes:

• Tuition and fees
• University Health Insurance
• Monthly living stipend

Exact funding amounts vary by department, and students coming from a master’s program typically receive four years of funding. Students coming directly from a bachelor’s program receive five years of funding. The package can come from a combination of sources, including the College of Engineering, Rackham Graduate School, Graduate Student Research Assistant (GSRA) appointments, Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) positions and External fellowships and awards. To learn more, contact your department/program of interest directly.

Additional University Funding Opportunities

In addition to Michigan Engineering departments and programs, explore these resources.

• Graduate Student Research Assistant (GSRA) appointments
• Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) positions
• Michigan Engineering (Co-Curricular Experiences – program on hold for 23-24 ),  Community Grants , Emergency, Featured Awards , PhD Funding Support Guidelines ,  Tauber Institute for Global Operations )
• U-M Rackham Graduate School 
• U-M Employment Opportunities

Students are also encouraged to consider funding resources internal to the University listed on the  UM Library website  such as:

• Center for the Education of Women (CEW)  works to break down barriers and increase access through funding. Open to all U-M students, staff, faculty, and surrounding community, they offer opportunities for scholarships, emergency grants, sponsorship’s, fellowships, and more for a range of situations and life circumstances. 
• Dow Sustainability Fellows Program  provides a range of awards for graduate students and post-docs committed to working on sustainable solutions to national and international challenges.
• Ginsberg Center  provides grants, scholarships, and paid internships administered by the Ginsberg Center, in support of service-learning and civic engagement projects and programs. Offered to students and student groups.
• Rackham Graduate School  administers various funding opportunities for graduate students.
• Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD)  provides guidance and funding resources for students with disabilities.
• Students with Children
• Veterans and Military Services  provides guidance and scholarships for veterans and those in military service.

External Funding Opportunities

The following are external, non-University scholarship opportunities that may be of interest to University/College students.  Inclusion of an external scholarship opportunity is intended only as a resource for students, and does not express or imply any University involvement with, or endorsement of, the external program.

An * indicates that a fellowship  may  be open to international students.

• ACM SIGHPC/Intel Computational & Data Science Fellowships  *
• Air and Waste Management Association Scholarship  *
• Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Program  *
• Alexander Graham Bell College Scholarship Awards  *
• Amelia Earhart Fellowship *
• American Association of University Women (AAUW) American Dissertation Fellowships
• American Association of University Women (AAUW) International Fellowships
• American Concrete Institute (ACI) Fellowship and Scholarship Programs  *
• American Council of the Blind Scholarship  *
• American Galvanizers Association’s (AGA) Galvanize the Future: A Richard L. Brooks Memorial Scholarship  *
• American Indian College Fund Full Circle Scholarship
• American Meteorological Society (AMS) Graduate Fellowships
• American Nuclear Society (ANS) Scholarships  *
• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Jack E. Leisch Graduate Fellowship  *
• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Trent R. Dames and William W. Moore Fellowship  *
• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Waldo Smith Hydraulic Fellowship  *
• American Society of Mechanical Engineers Scholarships  *
• American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE) Scholarships
• American Water Works Association Scholarships
• American-Scandinavian Foundation Academic Fellowships and Grants to Study in Scandinavia
• Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) STEM Majors Scholarship for Diversity Students
• ASCO Engineering Scholarship
• Associated General Contractors (AGC) Education & Research Foundation Graduate Scholarships in Construction and Civil Engineering
• Belgian American Educational Foundation (BAEF) Fellowships for Study or Research in Belgium
• Brown and Caldwell Scholarships
• Buildium Women in Technology Scholarship  *
• Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW)  *
• Center for Space Nuclear Research (CSNR) Summer Fellowship Program  *
• Clare Boothe Luce Program
• Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) Smithsonian Institution Fellowship
• Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) Multi-Country Fellowships
• DAAD Study Scholarships  *
• Data Incubator Data Science Fellowship  *
• Daybreak Games G.I.R.L. Scholarship
• DOE NNSA Stewardship Science Graduate Fellowship
• DOE Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) Program
• Dow Sustainability Fellows Program
• Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program  *
• East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes for U.S. Graduate Students (EAPSI)
• Electrochemical Society Scholarships and Fellowships *
• ExxonMobil LOFT Fellowship
• Ford Foundation Dissertation Diversity Fellowships
• Ford Foundation Fellowship Programs
• Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowships
• Foreign Languages & Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships (University of Michigan Fellowship)
• Fulbright U.S. Student Program  *
• Generation Google Scholarship  *
• Geological Society of America Research Grants  *
• German Chancellor Fellowship  *
• Google Lime Scholarship  * 
• Google Student Veterans of America Scholarship  *
• Graduate Fellowships for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Diversity (GFSD)
• Great Minds in STEM HENAAC Scholarship  *
• Helping Women in STEM *
• Hertz Foundation Graduate Fellowship Award
• Hired Scholarship
• Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Scholarships
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund
• Howard Hughes Medical Institute International Student Research Fellowship  *
• IBM Ph.D. Fellowship Awards Program  *
• Influenster Scholarship for Women in STEM  *
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Fellowship in Electrical History  *
• Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineering Scholarship  *
• International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE) Scholarships and Grants  *
• John von Neumann Fellowship  *
• Joseph L. Fisher Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships  *
• Kosciuszko Foundation Tuition Scholarship Program
• KSEA-KUSCO Scholarships  *
• LANL-African American Partner Program
• Link Foundation Doctoral Research Fellowships in Ocean Engineering and Instrumentation  *
• Link Foundation Energy Fellowships  *
• Luce Scholars Program
• MAES Scholarships  *
• Michigan Council of Women in Technology MCWT Scholarship  *
• Michigan Department of Civil Rights
• Michigan Space Grant Consortium Graduate Fellowship Program
• Michigan Stormwater-Floodplain Association
• Microsoft Research Graduate Women’s Scholarship  *
• Microsoft Research PhD Fellowship Program  *
• NASA Graduate Student Researchers Project
• NASA Harriett G. Jenkins Predoctoral Fellowship Project (JPFP)
• National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) Lawrence F. Skibbie Graduate Scholarship Award
• National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship (NDSEG)
• National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals
• National Research Council of the National Academies Research Associateship Program
• National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
• National Security Education Program (NSEP) David L. Boren Graduate Fellowships
• Native Forward Scholars Fund  *
• NOAA Sea Grant Great Lakes Summer Fellows Program
• NOAA Sea Grant Knauss Marine Policy Fellowships
• Oak Ridge Institute for Science & Education Graduate Scholarships  *
• Out to Innovate Scholarships  *
• Pathways to Science (Doctoral Fellowships)  *
• Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
• PEO International Peace Scholarship  *
• Phi Kappa Phi Graduate Fellowships  *
• Point Foundation Scholarship  *
• Roberto Rocca Fellowships for Doctoral Studies  *
• SAE Doctoral Engineering Scholarship
• Sandia National Laboratories, President Harry S. Truman Fellowship in National Security Science and Engineering
• Schlanger Ocean Drilling Fellowship  *
• Scholarships.com *
• Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future  *
• Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC) Graduate Fellowship Program  *
• Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid of Research Program (GIAR)  *
• SME Scholarships for Graduate Students  *
• Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) Graduate Scholarships  *
• Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Scholarships  *
• Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) O.H. Ammann Research Fellowship  *
• Straight North STEM Scholarship  *
• Symantec Research Labs Graduate Fellowship  *
• The GEM Fellowship Program
• The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships
• Thermo Fisher Scientific Antibody Scholarship Program
• Toptal Scholarships for Women*
• Ultimation STEM Scholarship
• U.S. Department of Defense Science, Mathematics & Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship
• U.S. Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (DOE-CSGF)
• U.S. Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration Stewardship Science Graduate Fellowship
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security Nuclear Forensics Graduate Fellowship Program
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Presidential Management Fellows Program
• United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Merck Graduate Science Research Dissertation Fellowships
• Winston Churchill Foundation of the United States Scholarship
• Women in Defense Scholarship
• Women in Engineering Empowerment Scholarship
• Women in Technology Scholarship
• Women Techmakers Scholars Program  *
• Yanmar/Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Scholarship
• Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellowship

Disabled Students UK report offers an insight into the experiences of disabled PhD students

Disabled Students UK’s latest report was created in collaboration with Pete Quinn Consulting and the BBSRC funded Oxford Interdisciplinary Bioscience Doctoral Training Partnership, and assesses the current situation for disabled PhD students in STEM. It recommends 4 solutions to improve the disabled student experience:

• Address gaps in the provision of individualised support and clarify which bodies are responsible
• Strengthen the crucial supervisor-supervisee relationship
• Make the physical and sensory environment more accessible 
• Allow students to study at a pace that suits different bodies and minds

In light of this report, we spoke to a couple of doctorate students who have received Snowdon Trust support, to hear their insights on the report and their own experiences.

When I was accepted for my PhD role, I made sure that my supervisors flagged me to the disabled students services at my institution and have been supported by them throughout my studies. I think I am very lucky with the supervisors I have and the fact that I work in a disability research group certainly helps with them understanding my needs.

Adam , who is studying PhD Psychology, feels he had a positive experience in terms of the provision of the support he needs, and with his relationship with his supervisors. He does however echo the points in the report about how study environments are still not completely accessible, and shares his frustration on how slow this can be to change.

Desks are quite close together which results in my wheels being kicked on an almost daily basis. I get a lot of neuropathic pain, which can be triggered by someone kicking my wheels, so this can lead to me having to go home with pain issues. Another big issue is a lack of direction around who is responsible for my safety when the fire alarm goes off. There have been a few occasions where I have been left in the building by myself after everyone else has evacuated the building.

As a self-funded international student, the situation for Julie Ann , studying Science and Innovation Studies, has been much more challenging. 

What self-funded means for me is that I am taking out an enormous amount of student loans and that means there’s a pressure on me to do my work as expeditiously as possible in order to not take out more funding than absolutely necessary. When I need an extension or have to take a break because of my illness or disability, the school doesn’t recognise that this is medical for me and I’m still charged over £11,000 a term.

She notes a lack of funding for disability services and lack of education for staff on how to treat students with a disability. She has faced discrimination and frequent microaggressions, and feels that even when supervisors understand a student’s needs, they aren’t equipped to put this support in place. Disabled students continue to carry the huge burden of advocating for their needs completely alone.

I don’t mind disclosing my disability or disclosing my needs, but where it becomes burdensome is when I have to generate a binder-full of documentation that includes years worth of scans, and letters, and “proof”. The worst part is that so much at the university is decentralised. When you need something in another department none of it transfers so you start all over again.

Julie Ann suggests two further solutions;

• Assess every student’s (disabled and non-disabled) needs when they join a university, so disabled students aren’t treated as an additional burden to the system. This would also benefit other student groups, such as those who have different learning styles and speakers of English as a foreign language
• There should be an outside force putting pressure on universities to make necessary changes in staff training and funding for disability services. This could be from a change in policy or a radical shift from funders

Until it’s brought to light and made very egregiously understood that this cannot continue… it will persist.

Disabled Students UK is the largest disabled student-led organisation in the UK, and is the number one change making organisation in the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 .

Find out more about the report, and access it in full here .

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Top 97 Scholarships for Disabled Students in June 2024

Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

Learn about our editorial policies

If you are a student with “disAbilities,” as we like to say, you landed in the right place! As the list below demonstrates, there are many scholarships for disabled students, both physical and mental in nature. Our list also includes scholarships for certain inflammatory diseases and cancer. Some of these scholarships for disabled students require documentation, so give yourself ample time to complete the applications!

Why choose Scholarships360

We helped over 4 million students find scholarships in 2023

We've spent over 4,000 hours reviewing 3,000 scholarship programs

13+ years of experience helping students make smart education decisions

The Scholarships360 Research Team reviews all scholarships individually and strives to exclude any scholarship where any of the below applies:

• The scholarship requires a fee to apply
• The scholarship provider’s privacy policy allows for the misuse of student data
• The scholarship requires paid membership in an organization (with certain exceptions for reputable trade organizations and others)
• Student are required to sign up for a site or service to apply*
• The scholarship seems primarily used for lead generation** or idea harvesting purposes***
• The scholarship website has many grammatical errors and/or advertisements
• The scholarship or scholarship providing organization seem untrustworthy
• There is no evidence the scholarship was previously awarded
• The scholarship has not been awarded in the past 12 months
• There is no available contact information

If you believe a scholarship has been published in error, please reach out to [email protected] and we’ll take a look!

* There are certain exceptions to this, for example if the sponsoring organization is a major corporation or nonprofit with its own scholarship application system. ** Lead generation scholarships will require students to sign up for an app or website and require minimal (if any) application requirements. ***Idea harvesting scholarships will require students to submit blog posts or other materials that companies may use for marketing purposes.

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Offered by Ascent Funding

As you soak up the summer vibes and look ahead to the next school year, it's never too early to start thinking about your internship… Show More

As you soak up the summer vibes and look ahead to the next school year, it's never too early to start thinking about your internship or job! Whether you're figuring out what interests you, checking out career resources, or picking up skills for your dream job, we want to know: Do you have what you need to enter the next phase of life, post-graduation? Ascent is committed to your long-term success and is giving away $10,000 to one lucky winner for sharing your feedback and ideas on what you need to build the skills and confidence to thrive in the workplace. To apply, complete these three easy steps below: Step 1: Visit the “Summer of Success Scholarship” to complete a quick survey and contact form. Step 2: Follow @ascentfunding on Instagram and like the post. Step 3: Tag 3 friends below that would benefit from this scholarship! Be sure to end your comment with #AscentSponsored. Disclaimer: Deadline to apply for Ascent’s $10,000 scholarship prize (1) is September 2nd at 8:59AM PT. To apply and see official rules, visit the “Summer of Success Scholarship” link here: AscentFunding.com/Scholarships. Show Less

L.I.F.E. Scholarships

Offered by Lupus Inspiration Foundation for Excellence

Are you a full- or part-time undergraduate or graduate (excluding PhD) student with a systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) diagnosis? If so, the L.I.F.E. Scholarships might… Show More

Are you a full- or part-time undergraduate or graduate (excluding PhD) student with a systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) diagnosis? If so, the L.I.F.E. Scholarships might be a great opportunity for you! Dedicated to bringing attention to lupus itself and supporting students affected by the disease, the scholarship awards at least $500 to multiple students each year. In order to apply, you must submit an approximately 500-word essay detailing how lupus has affected your life, in addition to other required materials. If you’re passionate about lupus awareness and want some helping pay for college, we encourage you to apply! Show Less

Jack Scura Fund Annual Scholarship

Offered by Scura, Wigfield, Heyer, Stevens & Cammarota LLP

Are you a current or incoming student at an undergraduate program in New Jersey? Further, do you have an intellectual disability, severe physical disability, or… Show More

Are you a current or incoming student at an undergraduate program in New Jersey? Further, do you have an intellectual disability, severe physical disability, or psychiatric disability? If so, you may be eligible for the Jack Scura Fund Annual Scholarship. Each year, the scholarship provides a $10,000 scholarship to the top New Jersey applicant with a disability, distributing the award evenly over the recipient's upcoming Fall and Spring semesters. To apply, interested students must submit a 600-800-word essay answering "Recount a time you have faced a challenge or setback in your life. How has this experience molded you into the person you are today?" If this sounds like a good opportunity for you, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

$10,000 CollegeXpress Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by CollegeXpress

Annual $10k scholarship from CollegeXpress open to all high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.

Learning Disability Resources Foundation Awards Program

Offered by Learning Disability Resources Foundation

The Learning Disability Resources Foundation Awards Program is funded by the Learning Disability Resources Foundation, an organization that strives to create, discover and stimulate innovative… Show More

The Learning Disability Resources Foundation Awards Program is funded by the Learning Disability Resources Foundation, an organization that strives to create, discover and stimulate innovative services to meet the unmet needs of individuals with learning disabilities. Every year, their Learning Disability Resources Foundation Awards Program provides a laptop or tablet to multiple college or graduate students with Dyslexia, ADHD, or other learning disabilities who are not in their final year/semester of study. If this scholarship sounds like a fit for you, keep on reading for more application details. Show Less

HPFY Beyond Disability Scholarship

Offered by Health Products For You

Are you a current or incoming undergraduate student living with a documented disability? If so, the HPFY Beyond Disability Scholarship may be a great opportunity… Show More

Are you a current or incoming undergraduate student living with a documented disability? If so, the HPFY Beyond Disability Scholarship may be a great opportunity for you. Each year, the scholarship awards $1,000 to the top applicant with a disability who will be attending an undergraduate program in the United States. To be considered for the scholarship, interested applicants must submit a ~500-word essay "that speaks to [their] personal trials and triumphs in life related to [their] disability and how it has defined the person [they] are today." If this sound like a good opportunity for you, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

Niche $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Niche

Easy scholarship open to all high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year!

Anders Tjellstrom Scholarship

Offered by Cochlear

Are you a current or incoming post-secondary student who uses Baha or Osia Cochlear Hearing Implants? If so, you may be eligible for the Anders… Show More

Are you a current or incoming post-secondary student who uses Baha or Osia Cochlear Hearing Implants? If so, you may be eligible for the Anders Tjellstrom Scholarship! Each year, the scholarship awards $2,000 to multiple top applicants who are also U.S. or Canadian citizens and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. The scholarship was named in honor of Anders Tjellstrom, one of the co-collaborators responsible for the creation of the first bone conduction hearing implant. If you're a Baha or Osia Cochlear Hearing Implant user who is currently or will soon be enrolled in college, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

Graeme Clark Scholarship

Are you a current or incoming post-secondary student who uses Cochlear Nucleus Hearing Implants? If so, you may be eligible for the Graeme Clark Scholarship!… Show More

Are you a current or incoming post-secondary student who uses Cochlear Nucleus Hearing Implants? If so, you may be eligible for the Graeme Clark Scholarship! Each year, the scholarship awards $2,000 to multiple top applicants who are also U.S. or Canadian citizens and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. The scholarship was named in honor of Graeme Clark, the foundation Professor of the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Melbourne, whose University Department's work led to the first research implant "bionic ear" being "switched on" in 1978 and the first Nucleus® Implant in 1982. If you're a Cochlear Nucleus Hearing Implant user who is currently or will soon be enrolled in college, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

$25k “Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Bold.org

Open to high school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students.

Public Safety Officer or Employee’s Child Survivor Grant Program

Offered by Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development

Are you a Missouri college student and public safety officer who has been left disabled in the line of duty? Alternatively, are you the child… Show More

Are you a Missouri college student and public safety officer who has been left disabled in the line of duty? Alternatively, are you the child or spouse of a public employee who was left killed or disabled in the line of duty? If so, consider applying for the Public Safety Officer or Employee's Child Survivor Grant Program. The program is open to college students under 24 years of age in Missouri who either have been left disabled themselves or have a relative who was left disabled or killed in the line of duty. Missouri's Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development provides this program to provide support to public employees and their families, especially those who have experienced hardships and challenges. Thus, every year, the Department awards multiple applicants with funding to partially cover their tuition at a Missouri college or university. If you or a family member has been killed or disabled in the line of duty, you may be eligible for this opportunity. Show Less

Flatiron School Access Scholarship

Offered by Flatiron School

Are you attending the Flatiron School and are from an underrepresented community or background? If so, consider applying for the Flatiron School Access Scholarship! The… Show More

Are you attending the Flatiron School and are from an underrepresented community or background? If so, consider applying for the Flatiron School Access Scholarship! The scholarship is open to underrepresented students enrolled in a Flatiron School program who are looking for financial assistance to afford their schooling costs. Eligible applicants include women, underrepresented minorities, people with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ+ students, and low-income students. Through the Access scholarship, the Flatiron School hopes to provide opportunities for students who are motivated despite the challenges they face. Thus, every year, select scholarship applicants are chosen to earn up to $5,000 to help cover tuition for full-time programs. If you are a Flatiron School student from an underrepresented community, we encourage you to apply! Show Less

$1,000 Appily Easy College Money Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Appily

This easy scholarship from Appily is open to U.S. high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, 2027) and college transfer students. One scholarship will be… Show More

This easy scholarship from Appily is open to U.S. high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, 2027) and college transfer students. One scholarship will be awarded each month. Show Less

Canines for Disabled Kids Scholarship

Offered by Canines for Disabled Kids, Inc.

Are you under the age of 18, have a disability, and have been accepted for membership by a guide dog training program? If so, consider… Show More

Are you under the age of 18, have a disability, and have been accepted for membership by a guide dog training program? If so, consider applying for the Canines for Disabled Kids Scholarship! The scholarship is open to minors with physical disabilities, psychological disabilities, or who are on the Autism Spectrum. In addition, applicants must have been accepted by a guide dog training program. The scholarship is funded by Canines for Disabled Kids, a non-profit organization that supports child-canine service teams to promote independence and social awareness. The scholarship recipients are awarded between $250 and $5,000 to help pay for their guide dog training program. Applications are considered semiannually, with deadlines typically on both the last day of December and May. If you could use some help paying for your guide dog training program, we encourage you to apply! Show Less

Sunwise Capital Autism Scholarship

Offered by Sunwise Capital

The Sunwise Capital Autism Scholarship is funded by Sunwise Capital, an organization that provides business owners the capital to achieve financial credibility resulting in their… Show More

The Sunwise Capital Autism Scholarship is funded by Sunwise Capital, an organization that provides business owners the capital to achieve financial credibility resulting in their business. Each year, their Sunwise Capital Autism Scholarship awards $500 to multiple high school graduates, undergraduates, and life skill students with autism. If this scholarship sounds like a fit for you, keep on reading for more application details. Show Less

How to win scholarships for students with disabilities

Now that you’ve got a list of great opportunities to apply for, it’s time to start working on your applications. We can help you begin your scholarship essay , write your scholarship resume , and tailor your writing to 250 word or 500 word limits . Here are a few more guides that can help you succeed in your scholarship applications:

• Ultimate guide to finding and winning scholarships
• How to win local scholarships
• “Show, Don’t Tell” essay primer
• How to respond to a “Why do you deserve this scholarship?” prompt

What counts as a disability?

Remember, there are many different definitions of a disability out there. Unfortunately, there is no universal answer to this question. When it comes to scholarships for disabled students, you’ll want to read each scholarship closely to see what falls under their definition of a disability. Many use the definition provided by the ADA . Others are meant specifically for one disability. For example, the Allergies Shaped My Life Foundation Scholarship is specifically for students with severe allergies, such as a peanut allergy.

Other scholarships for disabled students may include learning disabilities, mental disabilities, and chronic illnesses. Your best bet is to go through this list and read the terms of each opportunity closely if you think you might qualify.

Frequently asked questions

Can i apply for scholarships for disabled students if i have a learning disability.

Typically, yes! Every scholarship sets its own rules as to what counts as a disability. Oftentimes, learning disabilities will count under the general umbrella of disabilities. However, there may be times when a scholarship is only meant for students with physical disabilities.

Always be sure to read the scholarship rules thoroughly before applying, and don’t forget to check out our list of scholarships specifically for students with learning disabilities .

What do I need to prove I have a disability?

Each scholarship will have its own rules as for what proof you need to submit of your disability. Oftentimes, this will come in the form of a doctor’s note. Be sure to check in with your scholarship provider to see what they need from you to prove that you are eligible.

Are there scholarships for disabled students?

Yes, there are many scholarships out there specifically for disabled students! Whether your disability is physical, mental, or a learning disability, there are opportunities waiting for you. Check out our list above to find vetted scholarship opportunities for disabled students.

Resources for students with disabilities

American psychological association: reasonable accommodations explained.

This article is an excellent place to start if wondering exactly what accommodations you are legally entitled to in college. Knowledge is power, so empower yourself by learning your rights!

National Center for College Students with Disabilities Clearinghouse

This database offers an amazing number of quality resources about disabilities and higher education all in one place.  

National Resources for Students with Disabilities in Higher Education

This is a great website to find a variety of resources for college-bound or current college students with disabilities.

Additional scholarship lists to explore

• Top mental health scholarships
• Top scholarships for students with ADHD
• Easy scholarships to apply for
• Top scholarships for students who are visually impaired
• Top scholarships for cancer survivors
• Top scholarships for students who are deaf or hard of hearing
• Top learning disabilities scholarships
• Scholarships for students with a disabled parent
• Top scholarships for students with diabetes

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35 Schol­ar­ships for Students with Dis­abil­i­ties Top 35 Schol­ar­ships

Ready to start your journey.

In most cases, applicants will need to have a documented disability as an eligibility requirement to receive a disability scholarship. It’s important to note that there are many disability scholarship opportunities. Different groups offer these scholarships based on varying criteria.

Applicants may have chances to apply for one or more of these scholarships before they receive a diagnosis. Still, an applicant will generally need proof of a disability before they can find scholarships, financial aid for students with disabilities , or anything like free college tuition for disabled students.

The nature of the disability will play a strong role in what kind of scholarships, grants, or financial aid for students with disabilities is available. Some scholarship or grant providers do offer free college tuition for disabled students, while some others may only offer help in different ways.

1800wheelchair.com Scholarship

The 1800wheelchair scholarship is given to students who use wheelchairs, scooters, and powerchairs for mobility. Students who win the award are asked to work through their mobility obstacles, find areas on campus where mobility may be an issue, and explore what types of conveniences are available to them on campus. Students must meet a general list of eligibility requirements that must be completed before a scholarship is given. There are two $500 disability scholarships awarded each year. The deadline for submission is May 30.

1800wheelchair was founded in 1997, with the goal of providing mobility options to individuals who needed assistance. The company not only offers a full line of wheelchairs, power chairs, and scooters, they also offer expert advice and professional service on every level. The company offers scholarships to students with disabilities as a way of giving back to those they are working so hard to help.

AAHD Frederick J. Krause Scholarship on Health and Disability

The AAHD Frederick J. Krause Scholarship is available to undergraduate/graduate students who are at the sophomore level or above. They must be enrolled in studies associated directly associated with disabilities and healthcare. They must also be attending an accredited university. Students who have a strong record that includes community service or volunteering will get special consideration. Applicants must also be living in or residents of the United States. Each disability scholarship is limited to $1000 with the deadline to submit an application being November 15. Scholarships will be awarded in January of the following year.

The American Association on Health and Disability strives to advocate for individuals who are disabled at all levels of society from local to national levels. The goal is to minimize the obstacles and restrictions that individuals with disabilities experience on a regular basis. The organization relies on advocacy, research, and education to achieve its goals. The scholarship is named after Frederick J. Krause who dedicated his life to serving individuals with disabilities. Over the years, Krause worked with numerous agencies and associations who were dedicated to advocating or assisting individuals with disabilities.

AbbVie Immunology Scholarship

The AbbVie Immunology Scholarship was created to provide scholarships for students with disabilities who are dealing with one or more inflammatory diseases. Students who have been diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, Juvenile idiopathic arthritis, or other types of inflammatory disease are encouraged to apply for the scholarship. By providing this scholarship to students with these disabilities, the ultimate goal is to allow them more opportunities to become active and productive members of society. The scholarship is for $15,000 and submissions must be received before the December 5th deadline.

Abbvie is a company comprised of communicators, researchers, and specialists within the manufacturing industry who work together to create innovative products to help individuals who have been diagnosed with various types of disabilities, chronic health conditions, and life-threatening illnesses. By offering these disability scholarships, Abbvie is doing what they can to assist students with disabilities get the education they deserve.

American Council of the Blind Scholarship

The American Council of the Blind Scholarship is now a joint effort between the Council of the American Foundation for the Blind and the Council of the Blind. Scholarships are offered to help students in post-secondary programs cover various financial needs. This includes fees, tuition, the cost of room and board, as well as other costs they may incur during the process of getting their education. Students must be legally blind, attend school full time, and maintain a GPA of 3.0. They must also be active within their community. Scholarships range in amount from $2,000 to $7,500. The deadline to submit an application is February 15th.

The American Council of the Blind is made up of over 70 chapters (state). In conjunction with several affiliate groups, they work with individuals who are blind or visually impaired to assist them in finding opportunities within their communities. The ultimate goal is to nurture a culture in which peer support, direct action, acceptance, and diversity are commonplace.

American Foundation for the Blind

The disability scholarship offered by the American Foundation for the Blind is a joint effort with the American Council of the Blind. The two groups came together to create a scholarship for students with disabilities who were enrolling in school at the freshmen level of higher. The disability scholarship is designed to assist with post-secondary educational costs that include room and board, general fees, and tuition. In order to qualify for the scholarship, the student must attend class full time, carry a 3.0 GPA, and work 32 hours or more each week. They should also be involved in community or school activities.

The ultimate goal of the American Council of the Blind is to reduce the limitations that are placed on individuals who are legally blind or who are visually impaired in some way. The organization strives to provide opportunities to those who are disabled while promoting understanding and mobilizing leaders who can make a positive change when it comes to improving the best practices for dealing with research and creating new policies.

American Speech Language Hearing Foundation

The disability scholarship offered by the American Speech Language Hearing Foundation is for graduate students only and is intended to be given to a student with a Student With a Disability Scholarship pathway. Students must be enrolled full time and pursuing either a Master’s degree or a doctorate. Candidates in both the research and clinical programs are encouraged to apply for the scholarship. There are 15 general graduate scholarships valued at $5,000 each and nine scholarships that will be awarded for special purposes. These are also worth $5,000 each.

The scholarships for students with disabilities that are awarded by the American Speech Language Hearing Foundation are provided to students who are currently attending school in a graduate degree program. The program must be directly related to communication sciences and disorders. The funds provided must be used to pay for education-related expenses such as tuition, equipment, room and board, etc.

Boomer Esiason Foundation’s General Academic Scholarships

The Boomer Esiason Foundation General Academic Scholarships are for students who have been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis or who have parents with the disease. The disability scholarships/grants are given out four times a year. Applicants must demonstrate both need and accomplishment in academic studies. The grants are provided directly to the student’s chosen school and are used to cover their room and board. The student’s overall character, community service, scholastic achievement, and potential as a leader are all considered in the decision to award the scholarship. The amount of the scholarship is $5,000. There are several deadlines throughout the year based on what time the student applies.

The Boomer Esiason Foundation is dedicated to assisting individuals and their families who have been affected by cystic fibrosis to get the education they need to pursue their chosen careers. The group offers scholarships to students with disabilities who are pursuing advanced educational degrees in research and development of various programs and treatment options associated with cystic fibrosis.

C.A.R.E.S. Scholarship

The C.A.R.E.S. (Cultural and Recreational Enrichment Scholarship) Program is offered by the Kentucky Hemophilia Foundation. The scholarship program strives to offer students with hemophilia opportunities to continue their education and participate in cultural and recreational activities. It is hoped that through the use of these disability scholarships, the student will find renewed self-esteem and the physical, mental, and emotional development they need to have the highest possible quality of life. Four $500 scholarships are awarded each year to students who either have hemophilia or are the immediate family member of someone with the disease. Deadlines are January 15 and July 15.

The C.A.R.E.S. Program was originally funded by Cathy Cieslak of Louisville, Kentucky. She decided to start the program to help other students like her son who had been diagnosed with hemophilia. The ultimate goal was to provide cultural and recreational opportunities for students who were dealing with hemophilia. Cathy continues to work diligently with the Kentucky Hemophilia Foundation to provide these scholarships for students with disabilities.

Council of Citizens with Low Vision International - The Fred Scheigert Scholarship

The Fred Scheigert Scholarship Program is offered by the Council of Citizens with Low Vision International. It awards three competitive scholarships each year to students who have been diagnosed with low vision and are attending school full time. Students must meet the visual acuity required to be considered. They must also meet the academic guidelines. If selected as a finalist, the student will be interviewed over the phone and notified of their acceptance the following spring. Each disability scholarship is worth $3,000. The deadline for filing is March 15th. The earliest date for submission is January 1st.

The Council of Citizens with Low Vision acts as an advocate for individuals who have been diagnosed with low vision. Its goal is to provide individuals with the technology, resources, and services they need to make the most of what vision they have. It also gives individuals diagnosed with low vision an opportunity for their voices to be heard in terms of what opportunities are being made available to them.

Cystic Fibrosis Scholarship Foundation

The Cystic Fibrosis Scholarship Foundation offers disability scholarships for students who are preparing to graduate high school as well as for students who are already enrolled in college/university classes. Scholarship awards are based on financial need, leadership capabilities, and overall academic achievement. Students must be able to enroll in at least 9 credit hours each semester to qualify. The scholarship can be used for books, room and board, and tuition. All awards are paid directly to the student’s school of choice. The Foundation offers single year scholarships as well as multiple-year scholarships for students with disabilities. Most scholarships are worth $1,000. The deadline to submit an application is March 27.

Established in 1999, the Cystic Fibrosis Scholarship Foundation works to provide financial assistance for students who have been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. By offering these disability scholarships, the hope is to provide students with an opportunity to continue their education and reach the personal goals they have set for themselves.

Disability Care Center - Disabled Student Scholarship

The Disabled Student Scholarship was established to provide students who have been diagnosed with a health condition that makes it difficult to attend school. These debilitating conditions can be either mental or physical in nature. The condition must be severe enough to disrupt their day to day activities and have an impact on their quality of life. In addition to the written essay and other eligibility requirements, the student will have to submit a letter from their physician detailing their disability and its limitations. Nine credit hours are required for students pursuing a Masters’ degree or higher. Disability scholarship amounts are $500. The deadline to apply for the scholarship is August 1st.

The Disability Care Center is part of the Social Security Administration and offers scholarship opportunities to students who have been diagnosed with a disability or are pursuing a degree in the field of special education. All of the eligibility requirements for scholarships for students with disabilities must be met in order to be considered.

Dr. E. Bruce Hendrick Scholarship

The Dr. E. Bruce Hendrick Scholarship provides scholarships for students with disabilities, primarily those who have been diagnosed with spina bifida or hydrocephalus. The goal is to encourage students with these two conditions to pursue their education and become independent and productive adults who are responsible for their own future. The disability scholarships can be used at any technical/trade school or accredited college/university. Career institutes and schools of business are also acceptable. The number of scholarships and their overall amounts will change from year to year. Scholarships are for one year only. The deadline to submit an application is April 30.

Hydrocephalus Canada is an organization dedicated to helping individuals with hydrocephalus and spina bifida have as normal a life as possible. Increasing awareness and improving the quality of life of individuals with these two disorders is of the utmost importance. By providing these scholarships for students with disabilities, Hydrocephalus Canada hopes to provide opportunities to students who wish to pursue their education and make a better life for themselves and their families.

DREAM Institute HEAP Scholar Award Scholarship

Dream Institute HEAP Scholar Award Scholarship provides financial awards to Oklahoma residents in high school that have a learning or physical disability. The scholarship is for in-state colleges and universities and can be applied to tuition, dorms, fees, books and supplies, or tutoring if the student requires assistance for full-time enrollment. Eligibility for the disability scholarships is reviewed annually. Students that qualify are required to take an orientation provided by HEAP/DREAM Institute Scholarship Fund. Students learn valuable skills with note taking, goals, scholastic expectations, career and personality assessments, and techniques to transition from high school to post-secondary school.

The DREAM Institute is a non-profit 501c3 and any donations are tax deductible.The were awarded The Standards of Excellence by the Oklahoma Center for Non Profits. In addition to scholarships, DREAM provides services and mentorship to students with physical or learning disabilities.

Elaine Chapin Fund

The Elaine Chapin Fund (MS) provides financial support for post-secondary education of St. Louis students affected by multiple sclerosis. This may be either directly or as a family member of someone with MS. Students must be enrolled in 12 credit hours and live within a 125-mile radius of the office with proof of residency. Students must turn in an essay and 2 letters of reference for consideration. Applications open November 1.

The Elaine Chapin Fund was started in honor of Elaine’s long battle with MS that ended November 1, 2008. She was a loving and caring mother that remained positive till the end. The day that her son graduated from college was one of her proudest moments a few months before she passed away.

FSD Science Graduate Student Grant Fund

The FSD Science Graduate Student Grant Fund is for students that are in their fourth year of undergraduate study. Students must be searching for scholarships for students with disabilities that extends to their graduate study project or thesis in the science field. Students pursuing Mathematics, Science, Medicine, Computer Science, or Engineering qualify. Students must write a 250 word essay describing what the grant will be used for. Two letters of recommendation are required. One of the letters should be from their academic research advisor.

The Foundation for Science and Disability (FSD) is a part of the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service. The non-profit organization was started in 1975 to promote integration of students with disabilities pursuing graduate degrees and careers in science. The goal of the FSD is to remove barriers that may otherwise hinder the success of these students.

Guthrie-Koch Scholarship

The Guthrie-Koch Scholarship is one of the few scholarships for students with disabilities related to PKU diagnosis and a follow a low protein PKU diet. Any student that is enrolled in a post-secondary college or a freshman, sophomore, or junior is considered eligible for the Guthrie-Koch Scholarship. Applications open mid October and no certain GPA is required. Students may be from any part of the world, but they must write their application in English.

The Guthrie-Koch Scholarship was created in memory of Dr. Robert Guthrie upon his death in June 1995. Guthrie worked 30 years in newborn screening for PKU, preventing more than 20,000 children from mental retardation that is caused by untreated PKU. Dr. Richard Koch was a long-time colleague of Guthrie and died in September 2011. Both are honored in this scholarship to their decades of dedication to PKU testing and treatment.

INCIGHT Scholarship has provided more than 850 scholarships for students with disabilities since 2004. Students may be enrolled in any post-secondary institution or graduate school to be eligible. Disabilities qualify as anything covered under ADA including 504s and IEPs. A new requirement since 2019 is that students must permanently reside in Washington, California, or Oregon. Students will receive notice of confirmation or award by June. Financial need is not a factor in selection. Academics are not a deciding factor in the process, rather community involvement and motivation to attend higher education. Funds are sent bi-annually directly to the school’s financial aid office. All INCIGHT Scholars are required to complete 30 hours of community service or volunteer at one INCIGHT event.

INCIGHT is a non-profit 501c3 corporation formed in 2004 that provides life skills and academic support to people with disabilities in California, Washington, and Oregon. They provide a variety of resources including financial, housing, transitional life skills, entrepreneurship, and coaching.

John Lepping Memorial Scholarship: Education Assistance for Disabled Youth

The John Lepping Memorial Scholarship: Education Assistance for Disabled Youth from LEP Foundation offers disability scholarships to anyone with a disability living in New York, New Jersey, or Pennsylvania. The first requirement is a desire to continue their education to a post-secondary institution. Physical or psychological conditions are given consideration to scholarship recipients who provided proof of their disability with a note from a physician. Students must provide proof of residency and official documentation of attendance in a vocational school, college or university for the upcoming year. A one-page essay is required to show the nature of your condition and how the scholar or their family has been financially challenged due to their disability. Three letters of recommendation and official school transcripts are required. Only award recipients will be notified due to the high volume of applicants.

The LEP Foundation created the John Lepping scholarship to honor disabled students because John Lepping was extremely proud of the determination it took for some disabled students to overcome their setbacks. Lepping understood that resources could be in short supply due to overwhelming medical costs. The LEP Foundation also provides scholarships for students diagnosed with cancer.

Karman Healthcare Mobility Scholarship

The Karman Healthcare Mobility Disability Scholarship for students with disabilities related to mobility that use a mobility device. Scholars must excel academically and have a high regard for disability awareness in America.Every year applicants are asked to write an essay on a chosen theme. The theme for 2020 is to pick an experience from your own life and explain how it has influenced your development. Students must be 16 years old and enrolled in an accredited university or college in the US. A cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required. Applicants must provide an image of themselves and a doctor’s note that offers proof of a mobile disability that requires use of a daily mobility device. Winners will be contacted by phone or email. Funds will be managed directly through the scholar’s financial aid office and Karman Healthcare.

Karman Healthcare is a manufacturer of mobility devices, including all types of wheelchairs. They are based out of California and have a network of dealers and distributors in over 22 countries.

Landmark College - Vocational Rehabilitation Grants

Landmark College — Vocational Rehabilitation Grants are packaged financial aid opportunities for disability scholarships based upon need. The college participates in private and federal grant programs. An application to Landmark college should include a $75 application fee, transcripts, and a diagnosis of a learning disability, ADHD, or autism as determined by a professional. If there is not an official diagnosis, applicants may write an essay or provide psycho-educational evaluation within the past 3 years of applying. Students must complete a personal interview with at least one counselor’s or instructor’s recommendation.

Landmark College was first formed in 1985 as a college for students with dyslexia but now they offer higher learning to a neurodiverse population. The college is based out of Putney, Vermont. Landmark College is known for a generous award policy to attend their school. If a student has outside resources, they must report them to Landmark College. This could affect their financial aid package or reduce portions of the Landmark College institutional scholarship.

Lime Connect - BMO Capital Markets Equity Through Education Scholarship

The BMO Capital Markets Lime Connect Equity Through Education Scholarship from Lime Connect is designed specifically to help students interested in a career in Financial Services. BMO Capital markets provides scholarships to students with disabilities with the purpose to support a diverse workforce.The scholarship is open to current undergraduates or graduate students interested in business/commerce school, computer science, engineering, physics, math, statistics or any related major. Students must have a 40% course load to qualify. Students must apply with a current CV or resume, letter of reference from a teacher, advisor, or manager, and current transcripts.

BMO Capital Markets is a non-profit 501c3 with a foundation that is backed by major corporation’s donations such as Google and major banking and financial institutions. They have raised over $17.9M to over 3,000 students. Applicants to any of their scholarships are also eligible to apply to the BMO Capital Markets Summer Internship program.

Lime Connect - Pathways Scholarship for HS Seniors

Lime Connect released disability scholarships for high school students in 2019 named Lime Connect Pathways Scholarship for High School Seniors . The scholarship is available to US or Canadian residents applying to a four-year college. Students are allowed to say that they don’t know what college that they’re going to yet and update the application before decisions are made for reward. Scholarships are based on school grades and merits but financial need is also taken into consideration. An essay and resume must be provided upon application. Letter of reference must be provided and final verification of acceptance to a four-year institution is required before receiving the award mid to late July.

Lime Connect has a variety of scholarships and the Pathways Scholarship is funded from their annual Lime Connect Century Ride. Lime Connect is consistently offering new scholarships. If you don’t meet the requirements of one listed here, you can sign up to receive notifications of new scholarships that are up and coming.

Lime Connect/Google-Lime Scholarship

Lime Connect/Google-Lime Scholarship is one of the Lime scholarships for students with disabilities in collaboration with Google. The purpose of the award is to provide assistance for STEM students with invisible disabilities. Recipients are chosen mid July and issued to winners by the end of August. Students that show academic strength and devotion to computer science are required to submit current enrollment in an undergraduate or graduate school. Transcripts, resume, and current enrollment must be provided with an essay expressing the student’s passion for computer science. Letters of recommendation from an advisor, professor or supervisor are required and may be submitted as late as one week after the deadline. Scholarships are paid directly to the scholar.

Recipients of the Google Lime Scholarship are invited to the Google Scholars’ Retreat at Googleplex in Mountain View, CA. Google has proudly supported the Lime Connect scholarships since 2008 with scholarships and retreats for students with disabilities. Over 90% of students with disabilities are considered invisible disabilities such as ADHD or Autism Spectrum Disorder but not exclusive to those named.

Lorraine Nelson Herrick Scholarship in Arts and Sciences

The Lorraine Nelson Herrick Scholarship in Arts and Sciences is offered to UC Boulder students searching for disability scholarships only. Students may be enrolled to attend, a current undergrad, or enrolled in graduate school. Students will receive special consideration if they are a resident of Colorado, have multiple sclerosis, and have declared an anthropology major–none of the former listed are requirements. Students are required to supply documentation of their disability. Incoming freshman will be notified of awards in early April. Continuing students are notified in mid April. Transfer students are notified in mid July. Graduate students may contact the school if needed. If no word is received by May, the student most likely did not receive an award.

The CU Boulder Scholarship Application is a revolutionary way to apply to over 500 scholarships in one general application at the university’s website. Prospective students should log in to the Admissions Application Status Page and apply for scholarships. Current students may apply through their Buff Portal.

Microsoft disAbility Scholarship

The Microsoft disAbility Scholarship anchored through the Microsoft Global Diversity and Inclusion program offers disability scholarships for high school students exploring careers in the technology industry, including vocational and academic colleges. To be considered, students must live with a disability as defined by WHO. Students must demonstrate a financial need and have a GPA of 3.0. They must declare a major in engineering, law, business, or related fields. When students apply, they must include extracurricular activities, work experience, unofficial transcripts, three essays, and two letters of recommendation.

Microsoft’s disAbility Scholarship is a part of their Global Diversity and Inclusion program which is paid through the Seattle Foundation at the recipient’s Financial Aid Office. The main goal of Microsoft’s Global Diversity and Inclusion program is to decrease unemployment bias for underserved demographics. Students are notified at the end of April if they qualify.

Nicholas J. Deleonardis Scholarship of The American Sign Language Project

The Nicholas J. Deleonardis Scholarship of The American Sign Language Project does not necessarily fall into the category of scholarships for students with disabilities. It is designed for students enrolled in full-time college with a proposal for noninvasive technology to improve communication between Deaf and hearing people. Students must have and maintain a GPA of 3.0 during their scholarship period. US residency or citizenship is required. A 500-1000 word letter of recommendation from a teacher is required with a 3-5 page description of the student’s proposed project along with a 1-page personal statement.

The American Sign Language Project requires the application to be filled out fully. If the proposal is accepted, students will receive the first half at the Financial Aid Office of their college. The second half is received when the proposed project is complete. ASLP is looking for a new and innovative project that has never been suggested before and reserves the right to not distribute the scholarship if no applications meet requirements.

Rheumatoid Patient Foundation Scholarship Program

Rheumatoid Patient Foundation Scholarship Program was created to provide disability scholarships for students or students with parents that have rheumatoid disease. They have offered $1,000 scholarships every year that are sponsored by various companies and supporters of RPF. The scholarship is designed for people already in a post-secondary school. Students must complete an essay with several prompts given when application time opens up.

RPF recognizes that patients with RD have changing needs, which may sometimes require a career change to accommodate their disability, especially due to loss of income and continual healthcare needs and hardship. The 2020 scholarships are sponsored by Crescendo Bioscience, which manages autoimmune and inflammatory diseases through molecule and blood testing.

Ruby’s Rainbow Scholarship

Ruby’s Rainbow Scholarship awards disability scholarships to students over 18 years with Down syndrome. Students must be graduating from high school, have a high school diploma, or be in a post-secondary institution. Scholarships must be used within one academic year. Decisions for Spring applications are made in June and all applications are confirmed by email. Students must apply the scholarship toward the Fall semester. Students must reapply every year. Scholarship applications open in January for the Spring deadline.

Ruby’s Rainbow Scholarship was created for the sole interest of providing scholarships to students with Down syndrome. Enrollment does not have to be an undergrad degree–non-degree, vocational schools, and certificates also qualify. Students may only apply the scholarship towards housing, transportation, or food if the cost is a part of the tuition fee. Scholarship funds may apply 10% of scholarship to textbooks and supplies with a receipt provided for reimbursement. Ruby’s Rainbow has over 35 prominent sponsors including Whole Foods, major hotels, clinics, and law firms.

Scott and Kim Verplank Foundation

The Scott and Kim Verplank Foundation provides renewable annual college scholarships for students with disabilities pertaining to Type 1 Diabetes up to $10,000 for tuition, fees, and books.Students must renew their application every year. A GPA of 3.0 is required and commitment to extracurricular activities. The application process begins in January and ends April 15. Students will know that their applications are complete when the online submission is accepted. A Supplemental Survey and Budget process may be requested during the time of review.

The Scott and Kim Verplank Foundation started when the family dealt with T1D in their family. The Verplanks privately fund much of the scholarship along with other donations. An annual celebrity golf tournament is hosted to raise additional funds.

Sertoma’s Scholarship for the Hard of Hearing or Deaf

Sertoma’s Scholarship for the Hard of Hearing or Deaf offers scholarships for students with disabilities to high school and graduate students pursuing a 4-year degree in a four-year college. Community college, vocational schools and graduate degrees don’t qualify. Students must have a minimum 40dB bilateral hearing loss. US citizenship is required. A cumulative GPA of 3.2 is required. Over 800 scholarships have been provided in the past 10 years.

Sertoma operates nationwide while still transforming lives for hearing health on the local level with services and clubs. They provide an additional scholarship for graduate students, too.

Soozie Courter Hemophilia Scholarship Program

Pfizer Hemophilia Scholarship Program offers the Soozie Courter Hemophilia Scholarship Program for students with hemophilia to assist their educational needs. Scholarships are provided to students with type A or type B hemophilia. Students must have a high school diploma or GED and be currently enrolled in community, undergraduate, graduate or vocational school.

The Soozie Courter scholarship is in its 22nd year of supporting the hemophilia community. Pfizer does not require students to be using any of their treatments to be considered. It is recommended that transcripts for application are requested by March 29.

The Ability Center

The Ability Center Disability Scholarships only require that you have a disability of any type that may require additional assistance not provided to a traditional student. Scholarship recipients must be from Lucas, Wood, Fulton, Henry, Ottawa, Defiance or Williams county in Ohio or Monroe or Lenawee county in Michigan. They must have a GPA of 3.0 and be enrolled in a post-secondary degree program. Students must write an essay and provide past activities or employment records to qualify. Three references and transcripts are required.

The Ability Center provides help to individuals with disabilities in other ways than scholarships. They are very active in the community through support of other programs and services, housing, life skills, assistance dogs, and equipment loans.

UCB Family Epilepsy Scholarship

The UCB Family Epilepsy Scholarship Program provides disability scholarships to students with disabilities. They offer over 33 one-time scholarships to students. Thirty students will be awarded $5,000 each. Two students will receive $10,000 each through The Epilepsy Leader Scholarships. One student receives $10,000 through the Joe D’Souza Memorial Scholarship. Students must be US residents and enrolled in an associate, undergrad, grad or trade school to qualify. A physician letter is required. Students that exhibit extracurricular activities and positive role model qualities receive consideration. The application process includes a one-page essay, three letters of recommendation, and

The UCB Family Epilepsy Program has awarded over $2.4M to over 500 students since 2005. They are based out of Smyrna, GA and focus solely on scholarships for students with epilepsy.

Varghese Summersett PLLC Annual Scholarships

Varghese Summersett PLLC Annual Scholarships offers a variety of scholarships with two scholarships for students with disabilities focused on autism and Down syndrome. Recipients must demonstrate an interest in law or criminal justice. These scholarships for students with disabilities vary slightly because they are for students younger than 15 years of age. The may be submitted by a teacher, friend, relative, or parent. The scholarship can be used for educational or recreational opportunities. Applicants should include the name, photo, and a video letter or story submitted on the website to qualify. Applicants must agree to allowing the student to be featured on the website.

Varghese Summersett offers more than just disability scholarships. They have criminal justice essay contests for any students in a post-secondary or graduate school. Varghese Summersett is a law firm based out of Fort Worth, TX that has personally experienced the need for assistance to children with Down syndrome and autism.

Wells Fargo Scholarship Program for People with Disabilities

The Wells Fargo Scholarship Program for People with Disabilities requires the applicant to identify with a long-term and recurring disability that affects their life in a jajor way. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA and plan to enroll in undergrad studies. Full time students are eligible to reapply for another 3 years and part time students may apply for an additional 7 years. Renewal requires a 2.5 cumulative GPA. Students are notified in March of their application status. Payments are made August 1. Only the first 700 applications will be considered every year.

Wells Fargo commits $1M to Scholarship America to manage their scholarships and provide tuition assistance. Wells Fargo provides this scholarship in honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Applications become available every fall in October. Notifications when applications open may be requested on the website.

Do I Have to Have a Documented Disability to Get a Disability Scholarship?

People who receive assistance for their disabilities already, such as those receiving SSI benefits or vets receiving VA assistance, may wonder will disability pay for college. SSI doesn’t directly cover college costs, but those on disability can often find state or local programs that will help them save for college or attend.

The GI Bill is still in effect for vets , so they can still look to those benefits to help them. In all cases, students and prospective students will have to do research to find the national, state, and local programs that offer financial aid for students with disabilities.

Those programs exist, and there’s a lot of them, so applicants shouldn’t waste any time trying to find solutions that can lead to low cost or free college tuition for the disabled.

What are Some Disabilities that Have Special Scholarships?

Practically every named disability has a scholarship, grant, or other opportunity associated with it. Students who search for these scholarships can narrow the lists down by specific disabilities. Some examples of disabilities with special scholarships include:

Autoimmune disease scholarships exist to help applicants and students meet the challenge of attending school while dealing with their specific illness. As there are many types of autoimmune diseases, applicants should also consider looking for autoimmune disease scholarships by the name of the specific disease as well.

For example, Lupus, MS, Psoriasis, and Graves’ disease are all very different types of illnesses. Some scholarships or grants may only go towards people with a specific illness. For example, applicants can look for things like:

• Crohn’s disease scholarships
• Arthritis scholarships
• Cerebral palsy scholarships
• Chronic pain scholarships

Applicants can also go as far as looking for scholarships by drilling down to very specific ailments. For example, arthritis scholarships or chronic pain scholarships are out there, but there are various types of arthritis and chronic pain can stem from any of several illnesses.

At the same time, applicants should understand that they’re not limited to scholarships for a particular type of disability, just that it’s a good place to start. It can help for applicants to work backward by looking for their very specific illness, then the larger category of that illness, and then for general disability scholarships, followed by more traditional grant and scholarship opportunities.

Examples here focused on illnesses, but these tips for finding scholarships apply to every type of disability, whether they’re physical, psychological, genetic, or anything else. For example, applicants with mobility issues can look for scholarship opportunities specifically for those with that condition.

Are there Government Grants for Disabled Adults to Go to School?

College grants for disabled adults exist at the federal and state level. In some cases, these grants exist at the local level as well. For federal grants disabled adults can look to the Federal Student Aid program which offers numerous types of assistance in the form of grants, scholarships, work-study programs, loans, and various other forms of aid.

However, states also offer college grants for disabled adults in various forms. Federal grants disabled adults obtain can supplement state grants or vice versa. Applicants should thoroughly check their official state websites and do some research online to see if they can find anything specifically tied to disabilities, such as rare disease scholarships or parent disability scholarships.

Some opportunities exist for people who suffer a disability but are also in a specific type of living situation. For example, parent disability scholarships tend to focus on people who have a named disability but also have children to raise.

Some states also partner with colleges to create opportunities for students with disabilities. All of this points to the fact that applicants will need to do heavy research to find all the grants, aid, and scholarships available to them.

Many colleges will have this type of information as well, so applicants who want to attend a specific school can ask for suggestions from that school’s financial aid office. Some government grants for disabled adults may only apply to certain schools or programs.

Related Rankings:

Scholarships for Students on the Autism Spectrum

Scholarships for Students with Learning Disabilities

30 Best Colleges for Students with Learning Disabilities

10 Education Support Resources for Disabled Veteran Students

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What Funding Is Available For Disabled Postgraduate Students In The UK?

Find your perfect postgrad program search our database of 30,000 courses.

• by Charlotte King
• In Funding , Study in UK

There are some great funding options  – such as bursaries and scholarships. Plus, you can apply for a student-specific loan from Prodigy Finance , a private loans company that offers loans that are tailor-made to the individual student’s requirements. And for postgraduate students  in the UK who have a disability, there are a few extra funding sources available that can help with those additional costs.

Disabled Students' Allowance

For students with a learning difficulty, a mental health problem or a long-term illness there is a Government-funded grant system that you can apply to called the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA). It is available to both full-time and part-time PG students and the amounts awarded are based on individual requirements rather than income. 

How much can you receive? 

For postgraduate students in England, Wales or Northern Ireland in 2018-2019 the total amount is up to £10,993 and this is increasing to £20,000 for the academic year of 2019-2020 to bring it closer to the funding offered to undergraduates. Scottish postgraduate students receive a single allowance for basic costs of £1,725, an additional payment of up to £5,160 for specialist equipment and up to £20,520 for non-medial personal help, which are the same amounts that are available for undergraduate students. The amount available has changed slightly for 2022, to see the latest figures read our blog, UK Government Postgraduate Funding For 2022 .

What does it cover?

The DSA can cover non-medical personal help, specialist equipment and there is a general allowance for any additional costs. 

How is the DSA assessed?

The grants are not means tested, so it does not matter what your household income is, the amount awarded is dependent on your needs. There is also a requirement to provide proof of your condition. For physical illness, disability or mental illness this is usually in the form of a letter from your doctor or consultant. For those students with learning difficulties, this is usually in the form of a letter of diagnosis from a psychologist or a specialist teacher. This means that you will receive the funding that you need rather than an amount based on your household income. 

Who is eligible for DSA?

Any student with a long-term life affecting disability or disorder may be eligible. This can be a disability, illness, mental ill-health or learning difficulty. Students who qualify for the NHS Disabled Students' Allowance, or if you are getting similar support from another source like your university or local authority, you are not eligible for the DSA. 

What postgraduate courses are eligible?

Any part-time or full-time postgraduate course qualifies as long as the course qualifies for student financing for tuition fees from Student Finance England, Student Finance Wales, Student Finance Northern Ireland or the Student Awards Agency For Scotland. 

How to apply for DSA

Depending on where you are resident you apply online via your local Student Finance board (or the Student Awards Agency For Scotland).

Scholarships & bursaries

You should check what scholarships and bursaries are available at your institution, as universities will often offer scholarships and bursaries to specific postgraduate students for a wide range of reasons. You can also apply for a Postgrad Solutions Study Bursary worth £500 once you have received an offer to study a PG program from your university.

An additional funding option for postgraduate students with or without a disability is a private personal loan from a company that specialises in loans for students. Prodigy Finance is one company who offers student tailor-made loans with terms and conditions that are ideal for students.

Find out more here .

Number of Postgraduate Students with a Disability in the UK

Here is a table showing the number of postgraduate students with a disability in the UK:

Please note that the information here does not constitute financial advice. Prodigy Finance is one of many potential funding options for international postgraduate students. Other student funding options are available and Postgrad.com advises you to research all your options thoroughly before making such a commitment. Postgrad.com accepts no responsibility for your choice of loan and does not endorse or support Prodigy Finance. Prodigy Finance Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, and entered on the Financial Services Register under firm registration number 612713.

Related articles

Prodigy Finance

UK Government Postgraduate Funding For 2022

Higher Education Now More Accessible To Disabled Students Due To New Technologies

Disabled Students Entitled To Additional Funding

Things To Check As A Disabled Student

Postgrad Solutions Study Bursaries

Inoka Bogoda Nov. 19, 2019, 10:44 a.m.

Dear Sir/Madam I am a Sri Lankan disable person. I like to complete my post-graduate degree in the UK. Please help me to achieve my goal. Thank you Inoka

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	University of Houston
	Jun 29, 2024   2024-2025 Graduate Catalog (Catalog goes into effect at the start of the Fall 2024 semester)     2024-2025 Graduate Catalog (Catalog goes into effect at the start of the Fall 2024 semester)   >    > Graduate Student Funding: College of Technology Scholarships Students are encouraged to apply for scholarships and can refer to the college website for a list of current scholarships and deadlines . Requirements and deadlines for scholarships vary by scholarship. Assistantships Graduate student assistants are graduate students in good standing enrolled full-time who hold a graduate student appointment requiring the performance of such duties as classroom instruction, academic advising, reading papers and examinations, supervision, or research responsibilities. There are five graduate student appointment categories at University of Houston, including the positions of teaching fellow (TF), teaching assistant (TA), instructional assistant (IA), research assistant (RA), and graduate assistant (GA). We have 461 disability PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships All disciplines All locations Institution All Institutions All PhD Types All Funding disability PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships Para-athletes’ negotiations of menstruation, disability, and their athletic identity: a qualitative investigation (vc24077), phd research project. PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches. Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only) This research project has funding attached. It is only available to UK citizens or those who have been resident in the UK for a period of 3 years or more. Some projects, which are funded by charities or by the universities themselves may have more stringent restrictions. Critical, Decolonial and Neurodiversity Affirming Appproaches in Studying Communication and Disability Self-funded phd students only. This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts. Representations of illness and/or disability and/or the National Health Service in British film and television Sub-continent religious traditions, disability (non-normative bodies), ableism, microaggressions and the law, gif cdt: public perceptions of carbon capture & storage (ccs), competition funded phd project (students worldwide). This project is in competition for funding with other projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be successful. Unsuccessful projects may still go ahead as self-funded opportunities. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but potential funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information. Digital hydraulic fluid power technologies Funded phd project (students worldwide). This project has funding attached, subject to eligibility criteria. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but its funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information. GIF CDT: Scaling industrial decarbonisation with data and finance Gif cdt: understanding user needs for the adoption of hydrogen energy products, gif cdt: advancing decarbonisation technologies: a focus on dispersed high-energy use sites, study of ionospheric propagation disturbances, funded phd project (european/uk students only). This project has funding attached for UK and EU students, though the amount may depend on your nationality. Non-EU students may still be able to apply for the project provided they can find separate funding. You should check the project and department details for more information. GIF CDT: Engaging marginalised communities in energy developments Identifying challenges towards dietetic rehabilitation in the recovery of survivors of critical illness, competition funded phd project (uk students only). This research project is one of a number of projects at this institution. It is in competition for funding with one or more of these projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be awarded the funding. The funding is only available to UK citizens or those who have been resident in the UK for a period of 3 years or more. Some projects, which are funded by charities or by the universities themselves may have more stringent restrictions. GIF CDT: Advancing Low Carbon Fuel Infrastructure: A Quantitative Whole System Approach to Enable Sustainable Energy Solutions and Mobility Revealing abledment: ableism and the body politic. FindAPhD. Copyright 2005-2024 All rights reserved. Unknown    ( change ) Have you got time to answer some quick questions about PhD study? Select your nearest city You haven’t completed your profile yet. To get the most out of FindAPhD, finish your profile and receive these benefits: Monthly chance to win one of ten £10 Amazon vouchers ; winners will be notified every month.* The latest PhD projects delivered straight to your inbox Access to our £6,000 scholarship competition Weekly newsletter with funding opportunities, research proposal tips and much more Early access to our physical and virtual postgraduate study fairs Or begin browsing FindAPhD.com or begin browsing FindAPhD.com *Offer only available for the duration of your active subscription, and subject to change. You MUST claim your prize within 72 hours, if not we will redraw. Do you want hassle-free information and advice? Create your FindAPhD account and sign up to our newsletter: Find out about funding opportunities and application tips Receive weekly advice, student stories and the latest PhD news Hear about our upcoming study fairs Save your favourite projects, track enquiries and get personalised subject updates Create your account Looking to list your PhD opportunities? Log in here . Filtering Results How Federal Pandemic Aid Impacted Schools Posted June 26, 2024 By Elizabeth M. Ross Disruption and Crises Education Finances Education Policy Education Reform Student Achievement and Outcomes K–12 schools received nearly $190 billion in federal relief during the COVID-19 pandemic, 90% of which went directly to local districts. Financially disadvantaged districts received the most aid money, but how effective was the money at helping students make up the learning they missed during the pandemic? Answers can be found in new research which measured the impact of the spending by looking at the average test scores in reading and math from the spring of 2022–2023, for students in grades 3–8. The researchers were not able to assess which intervention strategies were the most effective because school districts were not required to report how they spent the funds they received. Professor Thomas Kane , economist and co-author of the new report from the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University and The Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University, explains the role that federal relief money played in the academic recovery story in 29 states. Could you summarize what you found out about the impact of the federal relief money on student achievement during the 2022 to 2023 school year? We found that $1,000 of federal aid per student that a district spent during the 2022–2023 school year was associated with a 0.03 grade equivalent rise in math achievement (or approximately 6 days of learning) and in reading, the effects were somewhat smaller, a 0.018 grade equivalent (or approximately 3 days of learning). So, the effects were not huge. I think readers might look at that and say, oh gosh, that's a small effect. But what people don't realize is just how strongly related to longer-term outcomes test scores are. So, although the impacts per dollar spent were not large, given the relationship between K–12 test scores and earnings later in life, our estimates imply they were large enough to justify the investment.  In the conclusion of your report, you say that the average recovery was actually larger than what you expected based on your estimate of the effect of the spending. Why was that?  We were surprised when we first got the 2022–2023 data and saw the total magnitude of the gains that year. They were 170% as large as the average annual improvement during the last period of rapid growth in achievement, between 1990 and 2013, in math and double the improvement in reading during that time period. In this report, we investigated the role that the federal aid played in that growth. Our primary challenge was sorting out how much of the growth was due to spending, versus how much of the growth was related to community poverty — since poorer districts received more aid on average. We took several different approaches to doing that — for instance, using state differences in the Title I formula on which the funding was based and finding high-poverty districts which received large grants (because of the state they were in or because of anomalies in the aid formula) and similarly high-poverty districts with much smaller grants but similar prior trends in achievement. We tried multiple approaches and found similar answers each way we looked at it. We're still surprised, partially because of the news over the past few years of districts spending the federal relief on athletics fields and across-the-board pay raises and the implementation challenges districts faced when trying to implement tutoring or recruiting students to summer school. But the dollars seem to have had an impact. "Imagine if, at the beginning of the pandemic, the federal government did not even try to coordinate efforts to develop a vaccine. Instead, suppose they took all that money and sent it to local public health departments, saying, 'You figure it out.' Some would have succeeded, but many would have failed. That’s exactly what happened in the K–12 response."  Professor Thomas Kane In your report you suggested that parental help at home, efforts on the part of teachers and students, and possibly increases in spending at the local level may have played a role in the recovery effort. And it's interesting because I remember the last time I talked with you , you mentioned your concerns about the lack of coordination with the spending of the federal relief money. Is that still a concern?  Yes, in some ways the federal aid was like the first stage of a rocket — it got us started but was broadly focused and ultimately insufficient to get us all the way there. Part of that was due to a lack of coordination. Each district was developing and implementing plans largely on their own. It could have been much more effectively spent. For instance, research suggests that the cost effectiveness ratio for a high-dosage tutoring program was roughly 10 times as large as the cost effectiveness we found for each $1000 in aid spent.   In the report, we also recommend efforts states should be doing now to continue the recovery, because it's pretty clear that there won't be another federal package, given what's happening in Washington. It’s alarming, but it’s just not on the radar screen of most governors — including here in Massachusetts, where the highest-poverty districts have actually lost additional ground since the pandemic. States have spent the last few years watching districts spend down their federal pandemic relief dollars, not recognizing that the recovery will not be complete when the federal dollars run out. Simply going back to business as usual will leave a lot of our neediest communities further behind than they were before the pandemic. So, we're hoping that these results become a call to action at the state and local level. It’s in governors and state legislators’ hands now. If they don’t step up, poor children will end up bearing the most inequitable and longest lasting burden from the pandemic.  The aid did, by our estimates, seem to have a disproportionate effect on high-poverty districts, mostly because they got a lot more money. But that wasn't enough to completely offset the losses. The highest-poverty districts remain behind as well as the middle-income districts. The wealthiest districts we anticipate will be back to 2019 levels soon, not because they received much federal aid — they did not — but because they did not fall very far behind in the first place. Are there lessons to be learned overall from the pandemic recovery effort?  I do think it would have been beneficial to give federal regulators and state governments more opportunities to coordinate local efforts — like to plan statewide tutoring programs or to plan statewide summer learning programs. Most of the bigger districts would have had the staff to plan their own efforts, but the medium and smaller districts, they didn't necessarily have the bandwidth to be thinking about planning for major summer learning initiatives and tutoring programs. I think granting states, and the federal government, more say in approving local recovery plans, in ensuring that what districts were planning were sufficient to help students catch up and giving states more money to coordinate efforts would have helped.  Imagine if, at the beginning of the pandemic, the federal government did not even try to coordinate efforts to develop a vaccine. Instead, suppose they took all that money and sent it to local public health departments, saying, “You figure it out.” Some would have succeeded, but many would have failed. That’s exactly what happened in the K–12 response. 90% of the federal aid went directly to local school districts. Some figured it out, but many did not. States and districts should have plans on the shelf for what happens in the next pandemic. I'm sure there are individual schools that will say that they know exactly what they would do next time. But there has not been that sort of learning at the state level — since most states just took a back seat. I have not heard much planning at the state or federal level about what they would do differently next time — and how they might plan for a major tutoring initiative or assembling materials for summer learning, etc. We're not going to have better coordination next time unless somebody starts planning now.  The latest research, perspectives, and highlights from the Harvard Graduate School of Education Related Articles New Research Provides the First Clear Picture of Learning Loss at Local Level Despite Progress, Achievement Gaps Persist During Recovery from Pandemic New research finds achievement gaps in math and reading, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, remain and have grown in some states, calls for action before federal relief funds run out To Get Kids Back on Track After COVID: Shoot for the Moon Find Aid You Need Whether you’re taking your first steps toward a college degree or you’re a parent planning for your child's educational future, HESC is here to help you understand the paths to financial support to make higher education accessible and affordable. 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By using our website you consent to our use of cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy I agree Career Advice Advancing in the Faculty Supporting Dissertation Writers Through the Silent Struggle While we want Ph.D. students to be independent, our practices can signal that we’re not available to support them when they need it, writes Ramon B. Goings. By  Ramon B. Goings You have / 5 articles left. Sign up for a free account or log in. shapecharge/iStock/Getty Images Plus Consider the following discussion. A student tells me, “I have so much going on right now. I’m trying to write this dissertation, take care of my mom and raise my kids. I’m giving to everyone else and have nothing left to write.” “Thanks for sharing,” I respond. “Have you reached out to your adviser to discuss what is happening and see what resources you might be able to access?” “My adviser said they will meet with me when I have a document ready for them to review. They are too busy,” the student says. “I’ve just been struggling in silence and don’t know what to do.” This conversation highlights the reality for many doctoral students—they may experience hardships in silence. The doctoral journey is an interesting experience during which students are provided structure through coursework and then, once they enter the dissertation phase, that structure is removed. They usually are in a position where they have to manage everything themselves. As faculty members, we try to provide the space of intellectual curiosity for our students and allow them to explore their dissertation topics. However, while we want students to be independent, our practices can signal that we are not available to support them when they need it. What are some strategies that we should consider implementing to support our students who too often struggle in silence? Below are three that I have implemented in my chairing process. Create an environment where students can share. Students want to meet our expectations and standards. Yet in efforts to not burden us, some students may choose not to reach out to us when they are experiencing challenges. In some instances, they also do not come to us due to the fear—and, at times, the reality—that they will face adverse consequence for doing so. While that can occur during the coursework phase, it is even more common when students are writing their dissertations, because they believe they must be independent scholars and figure everything out on their own. To combat those situations, we as dissertation chairs must first create an environment where students can feel comfortable to share what they are going through. One simple way to foster that type of relationship is to first ensure that you make time to meet regularly with your advisees. While that may seem to be an obvious practice, I often hear from doctoral students, like the one in the opening vignette of this article, that they find it challenging just to get on their chair’s calendar. That can unintentionally signal to them that we as faculty members are not available. As a faculty member, I know we have many demands on our time. To support my students, I have dedicated times each week when students can meet with me as needed. Making the time consistent on my calendar allows me to ensure other activities do not get in the way of meeting with students. To be more efficient, I created a special Calendly meeting link that has time slots open for students to schedule. Programs should also have regular faculty meetings to discuss student academic progress, along with any well-being challenges such as mental health and/or life challenges. Sometimes a student is more comfortable talking with a faculty member who is not on their dissertation committee, and having such conversations can provide a space for all faculty members to learn what is going on and potentially troubleshoot before a student’s difficulties gets worse. Choose your words with care. As dissertation chairs, our words hold significant power with our advisees. Those words become even more important when our students are experiencing personal and/or professional challenges. To illustrate this point, I offer you one word that, when used, can be a trigger for students: concern. Students have told me that if we use the word “concern” when talking with them, it signals something is drastically wrong with what they are doing. So if I am relaying information—especially feedback—to students, I ask myself the following before I speak: Is what I need to share truly a concern? For example, some students receive a concern comment when minor or moderate editorial changes—grammar, syntax, formatting and the like—are needed. While those must be fixed, they don’t usually rise to the level of concern that impacts the integrity of the study, a misalignment between the research questions and methodology. Can I express my thoughts in a more detailed way rather than just expressing concern? In the example above, if I thought the student’s editorial work needed updates, I would explain that to them and provide examples on how the student can make the changes that I am requesting. I am certainly aware that interpretation is important, but while students can take feedback from us on their work, I have learned to be reflective about what I say. It can influence their self-confidence, a key component for completing the dissertation process. Editors’ Picks University of Arizona’s Controversial UAGC Consolidation Moves Forward A New Guide for Responsible AI Use in Higher Ed Higher Ed Has Questions for Biden and Trump Understand your role is not a problem solver but solution facilitator. When I talk with other faculty members, some are quick to declare they are scientists, not therapists, so supporting their students’ distinct life challenges isn’t in their job description. I also agree that it’s not our role as faculty members to solve students’ problems for them. But we can provide a listening ear and, most of all, connect students to the various resources that can support them in their decision making. For instance, a chair I know was advising a doctoral student who was communicative when writing their proposal and moved through the process fairly quickly. Then, after the student collected their data, the chair noticed that the student slowed down their progress and that when they met the student exhibited some uncharacteristic behaviors. Fortunately, the two had established a positive rapport, so the faculty member was able to learn that the student was unexpectedly taking on caregiving responsibilities for a sibling while experiencing some housing instability. In that case, the faculty member was able to connect the student with a campus resource for caregivers and, through it, the student was able to find housing support. I know many faculty members are already engaging in the practices that I’ve suggested, but I continue to encounter doctoral students at the dissertation phase who are suffering in silence. I invite you to share with me in conversations on X any other successful strategies you’ve implemented to support your doctoral students. My mission is to bring to light some of these ideas so we can make our graduate programs spaces where our students can flourish. Ramon B. Goings ( @ramongoings ) is an associate professor in the language, literacy and culture doctoral program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and founder of Done Dissertation . Generative AI and the Problem of (Dis)Trust A year and a half into the generative “AI” moment, the ability to trust students may be the biggest casualty, Jacob R Share This Article More from advancing in the faculty. 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Sign Up, It’s FREE 336 IMAGES 71 Grants and Scholarships for Disabled Students Funding higher education for disabled students Fundraiser by Srestha Chakraborty : Help fund a disabled neuroqueer Funded PhD Opportunity: Policy changes for inclusion of disabled Disability Scholarships for Higher Education PhD students in STEM (Report) • Disabled Students UK VIDEO "Moe Doe" TOP Fellowships for SC, ST, OBC, Minority, Disabled Students DS Offer Holders Online Presentation 2024 Liberal Arts and Disabled Student Programs & Services (DSPS) Grand Opening Funding MS/PhD Funding strategies: Lessons from the past 4 years COMMENTS Funding Postgraduate Education for Disabled Students There are two parts to the Scottish postgraduate funding: from 2024/25 academic year, a tuition-fee loan of up to £7,000 is available for tuition fees and paid directly to your university and £6,900 is available for living costs. You will make repayments on an income-contingent basis, at 9% of income over £27,660 a year. Top Scholarships for Grad Students with Disabilities American Foundation for the Blind. Amount: $1,000-$2,500. Deadline: Late May. Visual disabilities: AFB offers numerous scholarships to graduate students with visual disabilities, including one for individuals studying a topic related to rehabilitation or education of blind individuals. Graduate School Success for Students With Disabilities The National Foundation for the Blind reports that 13.7 percent of individuals with a visual disability hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while a study by Hands & Voices found that approximately 2.1 percent of all students with hearing disabilities currently hold a master's degree. The section that follows was designed to create awareness ... PhD Study with a Disability, Chronic Illness or Learning Difficulty The first step in completing a PhD while managing a disability or illness is the applications process. Applying for a PhD with a disability may seem a little daunting. But your experience doesn't necessarily have to be any different to that of another student. You won't normally have to disclose a disability when applying for a PhD. Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) for PhD Study Wales - £31,831. Northern Ireland - £10,469. Disabled PhD students in Scotland receive DSA at the undergraduate rate. This breaks down into a basic allowance of up to £1,725, a large items allowance of up to £5,160 and a non-medical personal help allowance of up to £20,520. You may also submit additional claims for travel expenses. Get a studentship to fund your doctorate Our expectations for research organisations, supervisors and students are set out in the statement of expectations for doctoral training. You could get: a minimum stipend of £19,237 per year for your living costs, which is paid to you in regular instalments. support for your tuition fees (minimum £4,786 per year) Tailored Resources and Learning Support for PhD Students with Disabilities For PhD students with disabilities, the ATA can provide funding for assistive technology that enables students to complete academic tasks like notetaking, writing, and conducting research. PhD students can use this funding to purchase speech-to-text software, specialized keyboards, Braille printers, and a variety of other tools that help ... Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Goldsmiths Disabled Students' Scholarships - Scholarships for UK nationals to study an undergraduate degree at Goldsmiths, University of London. Oxford-Wadham Graduate Scholarship for Disabled Students - Open to home, EU and overseas students, this scholarship provides 100 percent of the home/EU tuition fee rate and a grant for living ... Funding for disabled students in higher education Funding for disabled students in higher education. This information applies to England and Wales. Student loans can help with course fees and living costs while you study. You can apply for funding to cover extra costs if you are disabled. This includes Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) and bursaries from universities or charitable trusts. Funding for disabled applicants Some financial support and funding opportunities may be available for disabled applicants. If you're awarded funding from one of the seven Research Councils, you will be eligible to apply for Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs) from your funding body. If you are a home student funded by a body that does not have Disabled Students' Allowances ... PhD scholarship in Disability, Diversity and Inclusion Studies The Disability, Diversity and Inclusion initiative invites Expressions of Interest for a PhD. Project proposals are invited from a broad range of disciplines in one or more areas that align with the Initiative's research focal points, such as social justice, safety, policy or service innovation. The Initiative is committed to creating opportunities for and fostering the development of people ... Scholarships, grants, and bursaries: Disabled students These bursaries, grants or scholarships may be specifically available to disabled students, to help with general living and study expenses, to help you to achieve a particular goal, or to pursue certain activities. On the other hand, they may be completely unrelated to your impairment or condition - perhaps for specific subject areas, or ... Disabled Students' Allowance for Postgraduates In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the maximum amount for 2016/17 entry is £10,362 per year, which covers everything. In Scotland, DSAs are available at the undergraduate rates. PGCE and other ITT courses are eligible for DSAs at the undergraduate rates. Most Research Council funded study includes DSAs at the undergraduate rates. 10 Fellowships for People with Disabilities The AAAS Entry Point Program is a national effort to discover and develop talent among undergraduate and graduate students with disabilities who demonstrated a talent and interest in pursuing a STEM career. ... The Accelerate Fellowship is a year-long program that gives mid-level disabled screenwriters $40,000 in funding, bespoke mentorship ... 71 Grants and Scholarships for Disabled Students Disability Scholarships for Graduate Students. While some of the disability scholarships above are open to undergraduate and graduate students, there are also awards that specifically target grad students with disabilities. These are designed to make earning a higher-level degree - such as a Master's or Doctorate - more affordable for ... Best Scholarships for Students with Disabilities in 2024 The types of available scholarships for disabled students can vary based on the scholarship's eligibility criteria. There are more general scholarships that disabled students can be eligible for and apply for. General scholarships are usually either essay or no-essay scholarships. ... Scholarships for Graduate Students; MBA Scholarships; PhD ... Ph.D. Students Open to all U-M students, staff, faculty, and surrounding community, they offer opportunities for scholarships, emergency grants, sponsorship's, fellowships, and more for a range of situations and life circumstances. Dow Sustainability Fellows Program provides a range of awards for graduate students and post-docs committed to working on ... Disabled PhD Students The legal rights of disabled PhD students in the UK are protected by the Equality Act 2010. This stops a higher education institution from discriminating against you on the basis of a disability. It also prevents you from being disadvantaged because of your disability (for example, by being unable to access buildings and facilities). Disabled PhD students experiences in new DSUK report Disabled Students UK's latest report was created in collaboration with Pete Quinn Consulting and the BBSRC funded Oxford Interdisciplinary Bioscience Doctoral Training Partnership, and assesses the current situation for disabled PhD students in STEM. It recommends 4 solutions to improve the disabled student experience: Address gaps in the provision of individualised support and clarify which ... Top 97 Scholarships for Disabled Students in June 2024 Multiple awards worth $250 - $1,800. Deadline Jun 30, 2024. Grade Level College Students. Get Started. The Hearing/Visually Impaired Student Grant Program was established to provide funding for undergraduate Wisconsin residents, enrolled at in-state or eligible out-of-state public or independent institutions,…. 35 Scholarships for Students with Disabilities 35 Schol­ar­ships for Students with Dis­abil­i­ties. In most cases, applicants will need to have a documented disability as an eligibility requirement to receive a disability scholarship. It's important to note that there are many disability scholarship opportunities. Different groups offer these scholarships based on varying criteria. Funding For Disabled Postgraduate Students For postgraduate students in England, Wales or Northern Ireland in 2018-2019 the total amount is up to £10,993 and this is increasing to £20,000 for the academic year of 2019-2020 to bring it closer to the funding offered to undergraduates. Scottish postgraduate students receive a single allowance for basic costs of £1,725, an additional ... PhD Funding and Benefits Students in the Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology PhD program receive up to five years of financial support that includes tuition, a full stipend, and health and dental insurance. This financial support remains in place through the entire program as long as the student continues to make good progress toward the degree (including ... Graduate Student Funding Requirements and deadlines for scholarships vary by scholarship. Assistantships Graduate student assistants are graduate students in good standing enrolled full-time who hold a graduate student appointment requiring the performance of such duties as classroom instruction, academic advising, reading papers and examinations, supervision, or ... Department of Higher Education Providing up to $3 million in financial assistance in the form of $3,000 grants to eligible students re-enrolling at a qualifying institution. ... Students from all parts of Ohio pursuing careers in the STEM fields gathered in the Statehouse Atrium to display and discuss their work as part of the annual Choose Ohio First Scholar Showcase. disability PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships University of Reading School of Psychology & Clinical Language Sciences. This project focuses on examining language, communication and disability from a critical and decolonial perspective. Specifically, the project uses an intersectionality approach in understanding the construction of disability and the impact of such construction on labelled ... How Federal Pandemic Aid Impacted Schools We found that $1,000 of federal aid per student that a district spent during the 2022-2023 school year was associated with a 0.03 grade equivalent rise in math achievement (or approximately 6 days of learning) and in reading, the effects were somewhat smaller, a 0.018 grade equivalent (or approximately 3 days of learning). Find Aid You Need Federal Grants may be awarded based on financial need, as demonstrated on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and do not need to be repaid. Additional federal grants may be awarded based on intent to teach in a school that serves low-income families or students whose parent or guardian was a member of the U.S. Armed Forces and ... Prospective Graduate Student Contact Form Niagara Region 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1 Canada +1 905-688-5550 Dissertation chairs can better support Ph.D. student writers (opinion) While we want Ph.D. students to be independent, our practices can signal that we're not available to support them when they need it, writes Ramon B. Goings. Consider the following discussion. A student tells me, "I have so much going on right now. I'm trying to write this dissertation, take care of my mom and raise my kids. I'm giving to everyone else and have nothing left to write ... assignment essay homework phd report review speech thesis