Financial help while studying

You can get financial help while studying in two ways: either an Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) or a Discretionary Award.

Education Maintenance Allowance

EMA is a fortnightly payment of up to £60 for students who are aged 16 to 19 years on or between 2nd July 2007 and 1st July 2008.

It is paid directly to young people from households with an income of £31,580 or less who stay on in education after they reach statutory leaving age (i.e. after the end of their compulsory schooling).

Further Education Awards

Further Education Awards normally fall into one of the three following categories;

Under 19 Further Education Awards
Further Education Awards
Advanced Further Education Awards

Contact your local Education and Library Board for more information.

Further education
- Colleges and courses
- Financial help while studying
- Education and Library Boards
- Background to the further education sector
- Review of Further Education - FE Means Business
Higher education
Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)