The Student Room Group

DSA Laptops.. HELP!

Hi everyone,

So I’ve had my needs assessment completed by the DSA and it has been sent to whoever.
So I have a few questions ...
There’s 3 quotes with different laptop options.
Can some please explain what it means? What laptop is it?
WKH15 Notebook 15 - 15.6in Core i5-8265U’

15.6 Inch Notebook Core i5-8250U’

WKH Notebook
Core i5-8250U

Do I find out what laptop it is before putting £200 towards it?
If I do decide I’d like a specific laptop and am happy to contribute more, will they upload the software still?

I’m really struggling to actually understand the assessment needs report tbh. I don’t really get the deal 😭
Original post by Hello1234789Xxx
Hi everyone,

So I’ve had my needs assessment completed by the DSA and it has been sent to whoever.
So I have a few questions ...
There’s 3 quotes with different laptop options.
Can some please explain what it means? What laptop is it?
WKH15 Notebook 15 - 15.6in Core i5-8265U’

15.6 Inch Notebook Core i5-8250U’

WKH Notebook
Core i5-8250U

Do I find out what laptop it is before putting £200 towards it?
If I do decide I’d like a specific laptop and am happy to contribute more, will they upload the software still?

I’m really struggling to actually understand the assessment needs report tbh. I don’t really get the deal 😭

i5-8250U and i5-8265U are the names of processors, both of which are very similar and very good for what is essentially a £200 laptop. WKH appears to be the name of a brand that provides laptops for DSA, but just the brand name, processor and screen size (WKH15 presumably denotes a 15" display) isn't enough to determine which specific models of laptop are being offered here.

But yeah, if you can make use of a cheap laptop then the laptops being offered here have better processors than you'll find elsewhere without spending £400+ or buying used.
Original post by Hello1234789Xxx
Hi everyone,

So I’ve had my needs assessment completed by the DSA and it has been sent to whoever.
So I have a few questions ...
There’s 3 quotes with different laptop options.
Can some please explain what it means? What laptop is it?
WKH15 Notebook 15 - 15.6in Core i5-8265U’

15.6 Inch Notebook Core i5-8250U’

WKH Notebook
Core i5-8250U

Do I find out what laptop it is before putting £200 towards it?
If I do decide I’d like a specific laptop and am happy to contribute more, will they upload the software still?

I’m really struggling to actually understand the assessment needs report tbh. I don’t really get the deal 😭

Hi.
Don't worry too much about this initial report its a load of gobbledygook and basically the only people that understand it are DSA.
What happens is that when you have your assessment the assessor has to send off at least 2 quotes for equipment and then DSA decide which one you get. From the look of what you've put they all appear to be very similar, they are all Notebooks around 15.6 inchs with a core-i5 type processor.
I don't know if it will be the same for you as I didn't get a laptop through DSA as mine was up to standard, but they provided all my software on memory sticks. But i'm sure that if you did decide to upgrade and they upload the software for you then they would just put this on the upgraded laptop.
Reply 3
HelloI am a student who has to work with Photoshop and store loads of pics. So the cheap regular laptops DSA offering are not enough for my course requirements. Also my assesor says that I have to pay for the upgrade. I dont have an extra £600-700. But at the same time I am not able to use their laptop in my course also. Should DSA provide me the laprop that meets my Study needs or not? They are telling me that they don't have to. Then what is the all point!?
Original post by Greta777
HelloI am a student who has to work with Photoshop and store loads of pics. So the cheap regular laptops DSA offering are not enough for my course requirements. Also my assesor says that I have to pay for the upgrade. I dont have an extra £600-700. But at the same time I am not able to use their laptop in my course also. Should DSA provide me the laprop that meets my Study needs or not? They are telling me that they don't have to. Then what is the all point!?

What laptops are they offering you?
Reply 5
Only one option. HP 14 inch notebook i5. 1035GI, 8GB, 256GB SSD
Reply 6
Only one option.
HP 14 inch notebook i5. 1035GI, 8GB, 256GB SSD
Original post by Greta777
Only one option. HP 14 inch notebook i5. 1035GI, 8GB, 256GB SSD


That laptop has a recent quad core processor, it's not a cheap laptop and will be fine for Photoshop. More power is obviously nicer but it's not like they aren't offering you something that's fit for purpose. If you need more space than that for storing your images then you can pick up a 2TB portable hard drive for a little over £50 (possibly a little under as we get closer to Black Friday) for holding your library.
(edited 4 years ago)
Original post by Greta777
Only one option. HP 14 inch notebook i5. 1035GI, 8GB, 256GB SSD

Good luck my friend T_T
Reply 9
Thanks for the encourgement. It costs £400. I have never seen that you can have a computer for photoshop with this kind of money! I wonder if 8GB is enough?
Original post by Greta777
Thanks for the encourgement. It costs £400. I have never seen that you can have a computer for photoshop with this kind of money! I wonder if 8GB is enough?

Photoshop is a program with a low floor and a high ceiling, but going in as an undergrad then a decent 4core/8thread processor and 8GB of RAM is a perfectly decent starting point. If you do find your workload would benefit from more RAM, it's likely to be an easy upgrade as most HP laptops at this price point have user-upgradable memory.
Original post by Greta777
HelloI am a student who has to work with Photoshop and store loads of pics. So the cheap regular laptops DSA offering are not enough for my course requirements. Also my assesor says that I have to pay for the upgrade. I dont have an extra £600-700. But at the same time I am not able to use their laptop in my course also. Should DSA provide me the laprop that meets my Study needs or not? They are telling me that they don't have to. Then what is the all point!?

Hiya,
I am having this exact issue with them now and I am honestly furious about it. Can you tell me what you did in the end please? I'm really hoping you got additional funding and set a precedent or something!
Reply 12
Original post by Maria_Martin
Hiya,
I am having this exact issue with them now and I am honestly furious about it. Can you tell me what you did in the end please? I'm really hoping you got additional funding and set a precedent or something!
The DSA is in place to offset additional costs you face as a disabled student. Every student is required to use Photoshop on your course so it is expected you supplement the provided laptop to account for this.
Original post by username612415
That laptop has a recent quad core processor, it's not a cheap laptop and will be fine for Photoshop. More power is obviously nicer but it's not like they aren't offering you something that's fit for purpose. If you need more space than that for storing your images then you can pick up a 2TB portable hard drive for a little over £50 (possibly a little under as we get closer to Black Friday) for holding your library.

The issue here though and that im currently arguing is that the yearly quota from the government for dsa is upto £26k per year per student! So there is no reason for sfe to ask for further contribution to equipment?
I as an artist and mixed media photographer and arts performer have provided proof that the laptops they provide are not good enough to process the software needed for cross purposes and the processors ability to run multiple applications simultaneously alongside the software provided to assist with my disabilities?
I have asked for a mac book pro, a printer, and printing allowance alongside the recommended utility software. Overall the cost of equipment would not be more than 3k?
And obviously considerably less the year after as id only need access to print allowance?
Besides the opinion that “we should be greatful”? For what? Less than 1/8th of our actual government recommendation for disability funding?
If they are only willing to pay £1700 for EVERTHING….then they should advertise it as such and not offer the stupid and unrealistic £26k per year!
I would never expect or want to use the full £26k but its not unreasonable to ask for equipment our courses require and departments use?
That puts disabled students at a disadvantage to non disabled students?
Its wrong and it definitely unjust!
Hey I’m also having same problem atm with DSA. Needs assessor requested macbook for me as it’s the only operating system my dyspraxia works with (others I find complex and difficult and not compatible
With my other assistive technology) but DSA refused to award this despite or ALL proofs and the needs assessor recommendation. It’s seems that’s DSA are doing everything they can not only to delay the process (4 Months into my course no laptop and failing everything as nothing to work on) but they are also clearly trying to cut corners and save money anywhere they can in the Hope students don’t have enough willpower after the complex process to complain that their needs are not being met (which is a breach of disabilty rights due to their agreement with the GOV to provide this). Stand up for your rights. Appeal, complain and back it up documents from your uni about what you need for your course and also evidence to prove your disability and additional written info as to why you believe their decision is wrong. I’m in the process of this right now. It’s stressful, the assessment company studynet have not been very helpful and their assessment write up
Was poor, rushed and lacked certain details. Good luck!
Original post by Greta777
HelloI am a student who has to work with Photoshop and store loads of pics. So the cheap regular laptops DSA offering are not enough for my course requirements. Also my assesor says that I have to pay for the upgrade. I dont have an extra £600-700. But at the same time I am not able to use their laptop in my course also. Should DSA provide me the laprop that meets my Study needs or not? They are telling me that they don't have to. Then what is the all point!?

Hi @Greta777

That is great you have applied for DSA already and got the ball rolling - well done! I received DSA myself (I am a final year student) and they helped supply me with a laptop which I paid the initial £200 when I began my course three years ago. I had been interested in upgrading the laptop myself, but like you couldn't afford the extra £500. However, my course didn't need me to have a higher-quality laptop.

My understanding from their website is that they should help provide equipment that meets your study needs if you do not already have one, see here the information about laptops:

https://www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowance-dsa

Your assessor usually assesses your needs concerning your studies, then DSA usually follow those recommendations.

You could speak to your prospective university and see if they have any financial support or bursaries available to help students in your situation, some like mine do.

Another option you have if the laptop being supplied doesn't meet your assessment and study needs is to raise a complaint with DSA directly:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/student-loans-company/about/complaints-procedure#making-a-complaint

I hope that helps and that you get a suitable laptop sorted asap. Good luck with your studies!

Lucy :smile:
(Official Uni of Salford Student Rep)
The WKH stands for workhorse specification and 15 the screen size.

DSAs sone actually find laptops on the basis of you needing a laptop for your course. That’s why the £200 contribution is there. Any funds that are approved for a computer are simply to upgrade the spec so you run the assistive software such as dictation and text to speech.

It’s been the government’s policy for 10 years now , that course related computing requirements (ie running photoshop) are outside of the scope of dsa. The provision of and access to this component of your course is your university’s responsibility.

Quick Reply