Funding for staying on at school or college (EMA)
Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA)
You may be able to claim an educational maintenance allowance (EMA) of up to £30 a week during term time if you are staying on at school (or college) full time and you’re a 16- to 19-year-old from a family with a low income. Children of asylum-seekers are also eligible whether or not they have the right of permanent residence within the UK. You can only get an EMA if you’ve reached your school leaving age.
The amount you get depends on your parents’ income. The money goes directly into your bank account every two weeks.
You may also get two bonuses of £150 (paid in January or February and June or July) if you meet targets set out in your learning agreement.
The learning agreement states that you will go to school regularly. If your attendance falls below a certain level, you lose the allowance.
Ask your school (or college) for an EMA application form. Also visit the EMA website at http://www.emascotland.com/ for more information. Note that you must normally have been living in Scotland for at least 3 years.
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