Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)

EMA is being scrapped in England, and possibly Northern Ireland and Wales, in January. If you're worried, read on.

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EMA (Educational Maintenance Allowance) allows you to earn money whilst continuing your studies. You told us what you thought of EMA.

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"You must apply for EMA from the country you're studying in"

What's happening with EMA in England?

EMA in England will come to an end in January. If you applied for EMA for this academic year (2010-2011) you will continue to receive payments until the end of the academic year. No decision has been made regarding EMA in Wales and Northern Ireland yet. Students in Wales and Northern Ireland should check the BBC and the websites for EMA in Northern Ireland and EMA in Wales for information. There are no plans to get rid of EMA in Scotland.

I can't afford to keep studying - what shall I do?

If you are unable to afford books, stationary and transport, you can apply to your school or college for money from the learner support fund. You might be expected to provide proof of income when you apply. These funds are not available for people doing apprenticeships, work based courses, Learn Direct courses or a New Deal programme.

What is EMA?

EMA is a payment to help you keep studying. So, if you're 16, 17 or 18 years old and you've left, or are about to leave, compulsory education you could get extra cash just to keep studying.

How much money can I get through an EMA?

Depending on your circumstances and which part of the UK you're from, EMA is worth up to £30 a week, paid directly into your bank account. Everything depends on your household income. Amounts vary in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, so check the websites below for the country you will be studying in.

Students are often asked to sign a learning agreement and your payments could be linked to this agreement. If you meet targets set by your tutor you may qualify for cash bonuses. If you fail to turn up to your course, you may not get that week's EMA.

I'm Scottish/Welsh/Northern Irish. How do I get EMA?

EMA is available throughout the UK but you must apply for EMA from the country you're studying in. So, if you're from Cardiff but going to live in Glasgow, you should apply for Scottish EMA.

Each country has its own EMA website:

What courses can I do on EMA?

In England you need to be studying one of the following:

A full-time further education course at a college or school
A Learning and Skills Council (LSC)-funded Diploma (where available) or a course that leads to an Apprenticeship
An LSC-funded Entry to Employment (e2e) course (if your e2e course started on or after 30 June 2008, you'll get the maximum £30 weekly EMA payment, regardless of your household income)

In Northern Ireland, you need to be doing:

AS/A2
GNVQs
NVQs
GCSEs
Basic Skills Level 1

Any course that attracts a training allowance will not be covered by EMA. This includes Further Education (FE) Bursaries or Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) Bursaries.

In Scotland, you need to be doing:

Any full-time course at college or school, including at least 21 hours' of guided learning each week

In Wales, you need to be doing:

An academic or vocational course up to and including Level 3
Full-time at school, or
A minimum of 12 guided hours at college

By Emma Rubach

Updated:06/12/2010

Did you know?

The amount of EMA you receive isn't affected by any money you earn from having a part-time job, and won't make any difference to any benefits your parents get, or to your income support.

Jargon Buster

DARD Bursary:: Money from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) in Northern Ireland that doesn't have to be paid back.
Household income:: When you're applying for EMA, the earnings of two adults in your house – usually your mum and dad or your main carers – will be taken into account to decide whether you qualify.

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A campaign has launched to save EMA in England - visit the Save EMA website to find out more.
Find out more about EMA by viewing these short videos – they give you a taste of what kind of course you can do.
Decide what you'd do with the money. Use this budget calculator to help you save and spend more effectively and make the most of your allowance.
Find out whether you can get EMA for the course you want to do by visiting the EMA website for the country you want to study in. For example, in England, DirectGov can help you find out what's available in your area by searching their database.
To get EMA you have to have a bank account, so if you don't already have one, find out how to open an account now.

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