Further Education
If you're 16 – 18, learning is free (and in some cases it remains free at 18+).
Depending on your circumstances, you may be entitled to get financial support while you're learning. You could get:
Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)
EMA is cash in your hands of up to £30 a week to help you carry on learning. The exact amount is based on your personal circumstances.
To qualify for EMA, you must:
- be aged 16, 17 or 18
- have left (or be about to leave) Year 11
- be enrolled on:
- a full-time further education course
- or an LSC-funded Diploma (where available) or a course that leads to an Apprenticeship
- or an LSC-funded Entry to Employment (e2e) course
- have a household income of below £30,810 for tax year 2009/10. (This rule doesn't apply if you're on an e2e course.)
Interested? Visit the EMA website to find out if you qualify, how much you could get and how to apply – or ask your Connexions Personal Adviser for more information.
Learner Support Funds
School sixth forms and colleges have learner support funds available to help certain students with the cost of starting or continuing a course. (They were previously called 'Hardship Funds' or 'Access Funds'.)
The amount of money available and the rules for eligibility varies. If you're having trouble meeting the cost of your Further Education, talk to the Welfare Officer at your college or sixth form or discuss your circumstances with a Connexions Personal Adviser.
Care to Learn
If you're a parent and aged under 20, you may be able to get help with the cost of your childcare and travel costs while you learn. Find out more about Care to Learn or ask a Connexions Personal Adviser for details.
