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Financial help with learning

Whether you decide to stay on in full-time education or learn through work, there is financial help available. The type of help you can receive - and how much money you’re entitled to - will depend on your personal circumstances.

Financial help if you are learning through work

If you’re learning through work, you may be entitled to some of the help described on this page.

On top on this, there are specific types of financial help available to young people who are learning and working at the same time.

To find out more, see ‘Skills for work if you’re under 19’.

• Skills for work if you're under 19 (education and learning section)

Education Maintenance Allowance

Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) can give you up to £30 a week to stay in learning after you leave school. Depending on your progress and attendance, you can also earn bonuses.

The amount that you get will depend on your household income.

You can apply for EMA if you are:

• in full-time education at school sixth form or college, for example studying AS or A levels
• taking part in an Entry to Employment programme
• on a ‘Programme Led Apprenticeship’ (this is a programme designed to lead you towards an ‘Employer Led Apprenticeship’, where you will work for an employer)

EMA is paid on top of any other financial help the government gives you, so it won’t affect any household benefits that you or your family may be claiming (like Income Support, Child Benefit or Working Tax Credit).

• EMA (education and learning section)

Help with childcare costs

If you're under 20 and have children, you could get help with childcare costs through the Care to Learn scheme. You can apply whether you're in school sixth form, college or on a work-based learning programme.

• Care to Learn (education and learning section)

Help with transport costs

If you travel by public transport to and from your school sixth form, college or a further education institution, you may be able to get help with the cost from your local authority.

If you're on an Entry to Employment programme or on a course that leads to an Apprenticeship, you should speak to your learning provider to find out whether they can offer you any help with your transport costs.

• Get help with transport costs (education and learning section)

Help if you're studying away from home

You could be entitled to extra help with your costs if you want to attend:

• one of the 51 Specialist Residential Colleges or Centres, which mainly offer courses in agriculture, horticulture and art and design
• specialist courses beyond a daily travelling distance through a national Residential Pilot Scheme - this only applies where there is no course available locally

If you're on an Apprenticeship and you've been asked to work or study away from home, your employer or college may be able to help with any extra costs.

• Help if you're studying away from home (education and learning section)

Discretionary Support Funds

You may be able to get help from Discretionary Support Funds with buying books, equipment or other learning-related costs if you’re studying at a college or school sixth form.

You can get Discretionary Support Funds at the same time as receiving an Education Maintenance Allowance.

• Discretionary Support Funds (education and learning section)

Dance and Drama Awards

Dance and Drama Awards are national scholarships for the most talented dance and drama students. They are available at some of England's leading private performing arts institutions. The awards are offered to the students who demonstrate the most potential to succeed in the profession.

The award will pay for the majority of your tuition fees, but you'll also be expected to make a contribution.  You could also get extra money to help with your living costs.

• Dance and Drama Awards (education and learning section)

Help with going to university

If you’re thinking about going into higher education, you can apply for loans and grants to help with fees and living costs.

• Student finance (education and learning section)

More useful links

• Benefits you can claim
• Career Development Loans (education and learning section)