Finance

Money Matters

Learning is vital to future success in work and adult life, so you can often get help with learning costs. Up to the 31st December 2010 the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) scheme was available but it closed to new applicants on 1 January 2011. Those currently receiving the EMA will receive weekly payments for the rest of the 2010/11 academic year while studying.

The EMA is being replaced by a new bursary for those aged between 16 and 19 who face financial hardship while in full-time education. Those most in need, including young people in care, care leavers or claiming income support will be guaranteed a bursary of £1200 from September 2011.

Find out more at www.education.gov.uk/16to19/studentsupport/a0076147/16-to-19-bursary

However schools, colleges and training organisations currently have funds they can use, at their discretion, to help students who are experiencing hardship and need financial support to help them to start or stay on their course. These funds are limited, so they will want to target them to learners who have most need. If you are having financial difficulties, speak to student support services or a tutor at your school, college or training provider.

Find out more at www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/14To19/MoneyToLearn/index.htm

From September 2012 EMA will be replaced by a new £180m bursary scheme to help the most vulnerable 16-19 year-olds

The Government has announced a new £180 million bursary scheme to help the most vulnerable 16-19 year-olds continue in full-time education. The scheme will start in September 2011 and the money will be distributed by colleges.

The scheme is made up of two parts:

  • The most vulnerable 16-19 year-olds will be given guaranteed bursaries of £1,200 a year. These include children in care, care leavers and those on income support. Income support is paid to young people such as teenage parents, young people with severe disabilities, teenagers living away from their parents and young people whose parents have died. This is more than they would have received through the Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA)
  • Schools and colleges will then have the discretion to award bursaries to support any student who faces genuine financial barriers to participation such as costs of transport, food or equipment.

Schools and colleges will have flexibility to pay larger or smaller bursaries as they see fit to any young people without unnecessary bureaucracy.

Schools and colleges can also decide if the bursary is paid weekly, monthly or annually and whether it is linked to behaviour or attendance.

Transitional arrangements

Transitional arrangements will help those who are part-way through their studies and are currently receiving the EMA.

The transitional arrangements are as follows:

  • The most vulnerable students currently receiving the EMA (young people in care, care leavers and those on income support) will be eligible for a guaranteed bursary of £1,200 a year, in place of their current weekly payments
  • All other students who successfully applied for the EMA in 2009/10 will continue to receive payments at the level set out in their EMA guarantee for each week they are in education or training, until the end of the 2011/12 academic year
  • All other students who successfully applied for the maximum weekly EMA payment of £30 in 2010/11 will be eligible for £20 for each week they are in education or training, until the end of the 2011/12 academic year

Find out more at www.education.gov.uk/16to19/studentsupport/a0076147/16-to-19-bursary

Care to Learn

The Department for Education will continue to provide child care support to all parents in England who are under 20 when they start a course in 2011/12.

For the longer term the Department for Education will work with the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) to consider how older parents are supported to continue their education including those who are 19 when they begin a course.

Care to Learn can pay for childcare and reimburse students' related travel costs while they learn. The maximum amount that can be claimed is £175 a week in London and £160 a week elsewhere. Childcare payments are made direct to the childcare provider. The childcare must be Ofsted-registered, and if it is provided by a relative then they must live in a separate household to the child and be providing care for other children too.

Find out more at www.direct.gov.uk/caretolearn

Dance and Drama Awards

Dance and Drama Awards offer reduced tuition fees and income-assessed support with living and learning costs at some of the leading independent dance and drama schools in England. The awards are given to students who display the most talent and potential at their audition; should two people display equal talent, the award would be given to the person from the lower-income household. There are a limited number of awards available for students who wish to train for a career in the performing arts.

If a student is over 19 at the start of their course in September 2011, the Department for Education will guarantee funding for the 2011/12 academic year only. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is considering the future arrangements for learner support for individuals aged 19 and over.

Find out more at www.direct.gov.uk/danceanddrama

Residential support

If you want to study a specialist course at a residential college, or a subject not available at a school or college in your local area, then you may be able to get help with the costs of studying away from home.

Find out more at www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/14To19/MoneyToLearn/index.htm

Contact details

For further information about money matters contact the Learner Support Service on 0800 121 8989 or log on to www.direct.gov.uk