Snowdon Trust’s Disability-Related Study Costs Grants (UK)

Deadline: 8-Sep-23

If you are a student and you have disability-related costs that are not covered by statutory funding, you can apply for a grant to help you meet these expenses.

Disability-related study costs can put you at a financial disadvantage which makes it harder to accomplish education and employability goals.

Funding Information

• You can apply for any amount up to a maximum of £5,000.
• Duration of Funding: They will only ever agree to fund one academic year at a time. All unspent monies will be written back at the end of the year unless a specific extension has been agreed.

What they will fund?

• Disability-related study costs which have not already been covered by statutory funding and are necessary to enable you to fully participate in your studies.
• These might include help with the cost of assistive technology and software, mobility equipment, the additional cost of accessible accommodation, carer’s accommodation, sign language interpreters, note takers or other human support. This list is not exhaustive but your costs need to be related to your studies (not general cost of living or financial hardship) and something that you must pay for to overcome disability-related barriers.

Eligibility Criteria

• Disability
  • The Snowdon Trust can support individuals who identify as experiencing one/multiple/all of the following:
    • A learning difference (e.g. dyslexia, dyspraxia or AD(H)D)
    • A vision impairment uncorrected by glasses (e.g. blindness or partial sight)
    • A hearing impairment (e.g. D/deafness or partial hearing)
    • A physical impairment or challenges with mobility (e.g. climbing stairs or uneven surfaces) or dexterity (e.g. using a keyboard or laboratory equipment)
    • A social, behavioural or communication impairment (e.g. an autistic spectrum condition or Tourette’s Syndrome)
    • A long-term illness or health condition which may involve pain or cause fatigue, loss of concentration or breathing difficulties – including any effects from taking associated medication.
    •  Snowdon Trust cannot accept applications from individuals who experience a mental health condition unless they also identify as living with one or more of the impairments listed.
• Age
  • You must be over 16 to apply for a Snowdon Grant. There is no upper age limit but be aware that grants are more likely to be awarded where you can provide evidence of the future plans your studies will help you achieve.
• Residency status
  • Home and international students studying at a UK registered institution are eligible to apply. If you are an international student, you should be living in the UK for the duration of the grant term. It is your responsibility to ensure you have the appropriate Visa in place for the duration of your studies.
• Place of study
  • The Snowdon Tust will only fund applicants who are studying at a UK registered further education or higher education institution. They cannot provide funding for disability-related study costs in school.
• Level of study
  • The Snowdon Trust will accept applications for disability-related study costs for any course in further education or higher education providing there is a clear link to your future employment or career goals.
  • You can apply to them for funding to support your continuing professional development but they will expect clear evidence of why this cost is not being met by an employer.

What they cannot fund?

• The Snowdon Trust cannot fund costs that
  • are not directly connected to your studies
  • have already been incurred – they will never backdate an award
  • could or should be funded by statutory sources (you cannot apply for a Snowdon Grant INSTEAD of Disabled Students Allowance)
  • are applicable to all students
• Please note,
  • Snowdon Trust will not fund the first £200 towards a laptop in line with DSA funding rules
  • Snowdon Trustwill not fund a Mac upgrade unless you provide clear evidence that your studies will be impeded without it. Personal preference is not sufficient grounds for application.
  • Tuition fees will not normally be funded except in exceptional circumstances. In this instance you must provide clear evidence that this request is directly related to your experience of disability e.g. you may have recently become disabled or your condition or impairment has worsened, requiring you to retrain for a new career path.

For more information, visit Snowdon Trust.