Educational Maintenance Allowance

Did you know that students can get up to £30 per week to help with the cost of coming to College to study? 

• What is EMA?
  
  EMA is a weekly payment of £10, £20 or £30, depending on your household income.  This money is intended to help with the day-to-day costs when you stay on at school or College - such as travel, books and equipment for your course.  It is paid weekly and is dependent on your attendance, punctuality and progress at College.  There are £100 bonuses if you stick with your course and make good progress.
  
  Who will be entitled to EMA?
  
  You can get EMA if:
  
  
• your household has an income of £30,810 or less, and
• your course involves at least 12 hours of guided learning per week
  
  To get EMA you must also:
  
  
• be a UK national (born here or have UK citizenship or a UK passport)
  
• have 'indefinite leave to remain' or refugee status, or
• come from a European Union or European Economic Area country and have lived in the UK for three years.
  
  What do I need to do to apply for EMA?
  
  You can pre-register from February 2005 on the EMA website: www.ema.dfes.gov.uk   Application forms will be available from April onwards and can be collected from your local Connexions Centre, or Lisa Fry, the Student Support Manager at Woodhouse College.  Alternatively, you can telephone the EMA helpline on 0808 1016219 and ask to have one sent in the post from April onwards.  REMEMBER, if you think you qualify for EMA - open a bank account NOW.
  
• If your son/daughter does not qualify for an EMA, they may be able to get financial assistance from the Learner Support Fund which the College is given by the Government. They may be able to claim financial assistance to help with things like books, travel, field trips or equipment.  This fund is also available to EMA students in particular cases of hardship.  You will be interviewed by Lisa Fry and then if you are successful, you will be awarded an amount which will be paid in five instalments throughout the year.

If you have any queries about financial assistance, please telephone Lisa Fry - Student Support Manager on 020 8492 8223.