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Hello Jenni, I'd just like to challenge the Scottish Executive comment. I am a PhD student and was pleased to hear that I was finally going to get DSA to purchase some much need equipment. However when I looked into the funding I realized that SAAS had been very clever and only actually fund students on courses they support - i.e. not PhD's. In effect this means that the SE/SAAS is not really that great a win as (I believe) a vast number of students are still left with out any way of financing the additional expense. I am funded by a departmental studentship so technically my university is my funding body. I'd be interested to hear if any universities (like the research committee's)pay DSA's to their postgraduate students. It seems to me that there must be a lot of people in my position (think about it - if each department in the UK offers at least one studentship per year that leaves a lot of people without DSA or an equivalent, and that is without even considering the faculty and university wide studentships). I'm thinking about taking this up with my institution so any help would be much appreciated... Thanks, adele -----Original Message----- From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jenni Dyer Sent: 08 September 2005 11:07 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Postgraduate DSAs This is to let you know how Skill is progressing this issue. When Parliament reconvenes in October, Skill will be sending a briefing about issues for disabled students across the post-16 education sector to the new Education Select Committee. This briefing will include a section on how the limit on DSA amounts for both postgraduate students and those who have more complex needs (thereby exceeding their DSA limits) are a real barrier to such students being able to access their education on a level playing field. This briefing will also be copied to the relevant people in the DfES. Skill Scotland successfully lobbied the Scottish Executive on this issue and the SE recently introduced postgraduate DSAs at undergraduate rates for Scottish students (funded through SAAS). In addition, the Research Councils, in the main, pay DSAs to their students at undergraduate rates. We will keep our members informed of progress on this issue Jenni Jennifer Dyer Policy Director - Higher Education Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities Chapter House, 18-20 Crucifix Lane, London SE1 3JW Direct line: 020 7450 0644 (voice) Main line: 020 7450 0620 (voice/text) Fax: 020 7450 0650 Information Service: 0800 328 5050 (voice), 0800 068 2422 (text), [log in to unmask] Tuesday 11.30am-1.30pm Thursday 1.30-3.30pm Website: www.skill.org.uk London Marathon 2006 - run for charity, run for Skill. Guaranteed places available. Email [log in to unmask] Skill is a registered charity no. 801971 and a company limited by guarantee no. 2397897 Promoting equality in education, training and employment for disabled people -- The University of Stirling is a university established in Scotland by charter at Stirling, FK9 4LA. Privileged/Confidential Information may be contained in this message. If you are not the addressee indicated in this message (or responsible for delivery of the message to such person), you may not disclose, copy or deliver this message to anyone and any action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it, is prohibited and may be unlawful. In such case, you should destroy this message and kindly notify the sender by reply email. Please advise immediately if you or your employer do not consent to Internet email for messages of this kind.