Money to learn
Learning is vital to your success in work and adult life so you can often get help with your learning costs.
Jump Menu:
- Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)
- Discretionary support funds
- Care to Learn
- Scholarships and study awards
- Where to find out more
Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)
You may be eligible for this if you decide to stay in full-time education or training, do a work preparation programme (e2e), or a Programme Led Apprenticeship. The EMA:
- is a weekly payment of £10, £20 or £30 to help with day-to-day expenses - it's paid straight into your bank account so if you haven't got one, get one now
- is paid when you attend regularly, work hard on your course/programme, and meet the standards of behaviour and progression set out in your learning agreement
- pays you a bonus if you do well and meet the targets set out in your learning agreement when you start the course/programme
- is calculated by looking at your household income (if this is above £30,810 you won't be eligible for an EMA - the household income does not include anything you earn from part-time work)
- does not affect any benefits that your parents/carers get.
Find out more at www.direct.gov.uk/ema 
.
Discretionary support funds
These can be used to help students aged 16 and over with the costs associated with further education. It is targeted at those in greatest need and can be accessed by contacting the Student Support Officer at your school or college. Find out more at www.direct.gov.uk .
Care to Learn
If you're a young parent in education or training, this will help you with childcare and travel costs. You don't have to do a course that leads to a formal qualification, but you must be under 20 on the day you start your course. To find out more, speak to your Connexions personal adviser or go to www.direct.gov.uk/caretolearn .
Scholarships and study awards
These are for people who attend, or who plan to attend, college to study for specialist qualifications in areas such as dance, drama and sports. The money they provide is to help with living costs and tuition fees that government funding does not cover. Scholarships and awards are limited in number so there is great competition for them. If you want to find out more, speak to your subject teachers, coaches, Connexions personal adviser and college student services.
Where to find out more
Get more information about financial help from the booklet Financial help for young people. You can order a free copy from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) helpline on 0870 900 6800 quoting reference LSC-P-NAT-070158. You can also download it from:
What next?
Don't forget about financial support for higher education.
