They make it clear that if you don't fill the forms in properly it
will delay your application, so of course students are going to worry
about not answering questions. It's hard enough for students like me
who are postgraduates for whom most of the questions are irrelevant
but there is no 'not applicable box' or any mention of what to do in
the notes (e.g. I don't have a UCAS application number or a UCAS
course code) so you have to handwrite all over it once you've filled
it in electronically. They should definitely be making this clear and
offering to provide students with it electronically even if they can't
download it from the website.

I would be interested to hear Chris Dunlop's comments on this,

Emma



On 22/07/2009, [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>
> I wonder if Chris Dunlop know what's happening?
>
> Sharron
>
>  ________________________________
>  From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of A.Velarde
> Sent: 22 July 2009 14:13
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Student finance england
>
>
>
> i guess this does not comply with DDA 2005 (Specific duty to eliminate
> unnecesary procedures)? Even if they send you an executive summary to
> understand the guidelines on how to tick boxes. Best, Andy
>
>  ________________________________
>  From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Sumara
> Hussain
> Sent: 22 July 2009 13:24
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Student finance england
>
>
>
>
>
> Hi All,
>
> I'm not sure if you're all aware but I thought I should share this with you
> all anyway!
>
> The DSA (short version) application form has been taken off the SFD website
> so I rang them to find out how FT UG students would apply.  They told me the
> reason they had taken the short form off was because students who should
> have been filling in the long version were filling in the short version and
> so to avoid confusion they took the short form off.  Apparently they will
> post out the short form to students but only once they are certain the
> student fits the criteria for the short form (but there is no mention of the
> short form on the website so how would students know it even exists?)
>
> So, as now only the long version of the form exists online, I checked the
> guidance for clarification on what sections should be filled in by certain
> students.  There is absolutely no distinction between different groups of
> students and so this will lead all students filling in all the form (which
> is a waste of time for students who have applied for a student loan as they
> are just repeating themsleves).  Having queried this with SFD the response
> was that students just need to fill in the sections that are relevant to
> them! How will a student know which sections are relevant if there is no
> guidance for them to refer to?!
>
> Anyway SFD have now promised to send me some guidance on how to fill out the
> DSA form for the different student groups.  But there was still no mention
> of them making this clearer on their website.
>
> Kind Regards
>
> Sumara
>
> Sumara Hussain
> Disability Adviser
> Student Support Office
> Rutherford Building (RHB124)
> Goldsmiths, University of London
> SE14 6NW
>
> ( 0207 078 5328
> * [log in to unmask]


-- 
Emma Jane Rowlett (née Wright)
School of Sociology and Social Policy
University of Nottingham

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