FACTSHEET No. 57

Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) & Adult Learning Grants

This factsheet is a basic introduction to grants for 16-19 year olds in full time education and adult learning grants.

The education maintenance allowance

The education maintenance allowance (EMA) scheme is available in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales but is now closed to new applications in England.

EMA is a payment of up to £30 a week (payments are made fortnightly in Northern Ireland and Wales) paid directly to you if you stay on in further education from age 16 to 19. You may also receive additional payments if you remain on the course and make good progress with your learning.

The money is paid into your bank account. If you don't have an account you will need to open one.

Entitlement to EMA depends on your parents income and where you study. It does not affect the benefits of other people in the household.

How do I apply for EMA?

You can no longer apply for an EMA in England.

In Northern Ireland you can get a form from your school, college or local Jobs & Benefits office/JobCentre.

In Scotland you must ask your school, college or Local Education Authority for an application form.

In Wales you must ask your school or college for an application form. If you are an existing EMA student a renewal application form will have been sent to your home address.

You can telephone the following numbers for more information:

  • EMA helpline (Wales): 0845 602 8845
  • EMA helpline (Northern Ireland): 0845 601 7646

You can also find out more information and download an application form from the following websites:

New bursary scheme in England

On 28 March the Government announced a new £180 million bursary scheme to help the most vulnerable 16-19 year olds continue in full-time education.

The scheme is made up of two parts. These are

  • a guaranteed payment to a small group of the most vulnerable
  • a discretionary fund for schools and colleges to distribute

You will be able to get the guaranteed payment of £1,200 a year if you are age 16 to 19 and are in care, a care leaver or on income support.

The discretionary fund will be used by schools and colleges to support any student who faces genuine financial barriers to participation such as costs of transport, food or equipment. The school or college will decide how much to pay and how regularly to pay it. Payment could also be linked to your behaviour or attendance.

There will also be additional transitional arrangements to help those who are part-way through their studies and are currently receiving the EMA. The transitional arrangements consist of two parts:

  • All students who first successfully applied for EMA in 2009/10 will continue to receive payments at the same level until the end of the 2011/12 academic year.
  • Young people now in their first year of post-16 study who were in receipt of the maximum weekly EMA payment of £30 will be eligible for £20 for each week they are in education or training until the end of the 2011/12 academic year.

The Government will carry out an 8 week consultation on the new scheme so the detailed arrangements can be finalised in time for allocations to be made to learning providers for the 2011/12 academic year.

Age 19 or over in England

In England you can get up to £30 a week if you are eligible for an adult learning grant.

You must be studying for the on a full time course with at least 12 hours of class time and attending college regularly.

The course must lead to your first full Level 2 or first full Level 3 qualification. These are:

  • level 2 qualification (five GCSEs at A*-C or an NVQ2) or
  • level 3 qualification (two A2 Levels or an NVQ3)

Your learning provider will be able to confirm if the course you intend to study is classed as a ‘full’ Level 2 or Level 3 qualification. You could also contact Next Step on 0800 100 900.

Payments are based on an assessment of your income (or your joint income if you live with a partner who's in paid employment) not your parents, even if you still live at home.

You can find out more about adult learning grants from the DIrectGov website at http://tinyurl.com/aduh2a.

Age 19 or over in Wales

In Wales you can get an Assembly Learning Grant which is aimed to encourage people aged 19 or over and living in Wales to continue with their education.

It is a payment of up to £1,500 if you are studying full time and up to £750 if you are part time. It is dependent on your household income.

You can find out more from the Student Finance Wales website at http://tinyurl.com/2wc6qa7.

ILA Scotland

If you are age 16 or over ILA Scotland pays up to £500 a year towards the cost of learning. ILA Scotland is a Scottish Government scheme for people with an income of £22,000 a year or less or who are on benefits.

There are two types of account available:

  • £200 accounts – If you are interested in learning something new or brushing up your skills. 
  • £500 accounts –  If you want to study a part-time higher education or professional qualification course such as a Higher National Certificate (HNC), Higher National Diploma (HND) or a Degree. 

You can only have one type of account open at any time. For more information call the ILA Scotland helpline free on 0808 100 1090 or visit the ILA Scotland web page at http://tinyurl.com/6rf3os.

Where can I get more information?

You can find more information on the following websites

The Scottish Executive website also produces a guide, Helping you meet the costs of learning, at www.scotland.gov.uk.

Updated 8 April 2011