Financial Support
Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)
Education Maintenance Allowance is a weekly payment of up to £30 per week plus two bonus payments of £100, for students between the ages of 16-18 on a full time programme. Payments are made directly into a bank account and students can claim EMA for up to 3 years.
How to apply for EMA: Get an application pack from your school or college or telephone the EMA Helpline on 0800 121 8989.
Adult Learning Grant (ALG)
Adult Learning Grant is a weekly payment of up to £30 per week for students aged 19+ who are studying towards their first full level 2 or first full level 3 course and must be a full time programme.
How to apply for ALG: Get an application pack from your college or contact the ALG Helpline on 0800 121 8989.
Adult Learners
The majority of adult courses are free if students are in receipt of means tested benefits such as Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance, Housing/Council Tax Benefit or Working Tax Credit with a Household income less than £15,276 per year. Even if students are not receiving benefits but are on a low income they may be able to apply to the colleges Learner Support Fund for help towards course fees, please contact Student Services for more information.
Learner Support Fund
Learner Support Fund is intended to support students with extra costs incurred as a result of attending college. This usually contributes to the cost of Course Fees, Exam fees, Travel and Childcare. Please contact Student Services for more information.
Higher Education
The Government offers a wide range of student financial support in the form of grants, loans and university/higher education institution bursaries. This means you get financial help when you need it but don't have to pay back your loans until you leave your course and are earning more than £15,000 per year. To ensure you have all the information you need to work out what financial support you may be eligible for, how you get it and when you need to repay, a new service - STUDENT FINANCE ENGLAND - has been created. A wide range of material is available to download from their website - www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance, or you can call 0845 300 50 90.
Financial support is available for full and part time undergraduate HE students, Students on Postgraduate and Professional courses may also be entitled to support, through Career Development Loans and some other grants. For more details please contact the college.
Apprenticeships
Unemployed Apprentices can apply for Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)which is an allowance of up to £30 per week. Funding may also be available to support travel costs.
Employed Apprentices will get paid by their employer; it is often no less than other new entrants to work. That's a pretty good deal, considering that your employer is also investing their time in your future. Like any other employee, you will be liable for National insurance and Income Tax.