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16-19 Bursary Fund

If you’re aged 16-19, studying or starting a full-time course from September 2011 and think you might struggle with the costs for your studies, schools, colleges and training providers have funds to help you.

The students most in need will be eligible to receive a bursary of £1,200 a year. This group includes:

  • People in care
  • Care leavers
  • People claiming income support
  • Young people with disabilities who receive both Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance

Other students facing financial difficulties may be awarded a bursary at the discretion of their school, college or training provider, who will decide on the amount paid. They will also decide when the bursaries will be paid and will set conditions that students will need to meet, for example, linked to behaviour or attendance.

Information for young people currently receiving EMA

If you applied in 2009/10

If you first successfully applied for EMA in 2009-10, you will continue to receive payments at the same level until the end of the 2011/12 academic year.

If you applied in 2010/11

If you first applied successfully for the maximum EMA payment of £30 a week in 2010/11 you will continue to receive payments, but at the reduced rate of £20 per week until the end of the 2011/12 academic year.

You’re in care, a care leaver, or receive an allowance

If you’re in care, a care leaver, on income support or receive both Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance, your weekly EMA payments will be replaced with a bursary of £1,200 a year from September 2011. You’ll receive that bursary directly from your school, college or training provider.

Other students receiving EMA

If you get EMA at the moment but are not in one of these groups, you can still apply for a bursary through your school, college or training provider.

For more information about EMA, contact the Learner Support helpline on 0800 121 8989 between 9am-5pm Monday-Friday, or visit the Directgov website.

You can get more help and information from:

  • Your Connexions Personal Adviser
  • Your careers teacher or school tutor at school
  • Your Student Support Service if you are in college
  • Your Training Provider if you have started training