Evaluation of Disabled Students' Allowances Research Report

This document describes an evaluation of the Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs) and the support services offered by Higher Education Providers (HEPs) to students with disabilities in higher education. The evaluation, conducted by IFF Research through surveys, qualitative research, and case studies, found that while DSAs are generally effective and positively impact student participation, there are significant issues with the application process, particularly for those with mental health conditions. Students reported varying levels of satisfaction based on disability type, institution tariff, and the time they first accessed DSAs. Key areas for improvement include the need for clearer information, a more streamlined application process, and a broader range of support options. The evaluation also highlighted the efforts of HEPs to promote inclusive learning, though gaps in support remain, especially for mature, part-time, and postgraduate students. Overall, DSAs and HEP support are crucial for disabled students' academic experiences, but enhancements are needed to ensure better awareness and more inclusive practices within HEPs. **This summary was written by an AI model and therefore should not be considered a definitive summary of the report. If you are aware of inaccuracies, please email evaluation.registry@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.**

Description

• Lead department: Department for Education (DfE)
• Evaluation stage: A complete evaluation report
• Other departments: No other departments listed
• Evaluation types: Impact evaluation
• Impact methods: Quasi-experimental method
• Quasi-experimental methods: Difference-in-difference
• Grant information: This intervention is not distributing funding via a grant
• Government Major Project information: This intervention is not a major project
• Policies: No policies provided

Event Dates

• Event Name: Publication of final results
• Event date: January 2019

Evaluation Costs

• Cost: Not provided

Evaluation sharing

• Link(s) to published report(s): Yes
• Links to evaluation plans: No link provided
• Links to published evaluations (DEBUGGING): No final report link found.
• Findings: Not provided
• Permission to share confirmed: Yes