If you decide to continue your education after 16, you can get help with the cost of your studies. There are many types of financial help available, but what you can get will depend on your personal circumstances.

What you may be able to claim

If you are under 19 and want to stay on at a school or further education college, or if you want to go on an Entry to Employment (e2e) programme or a course that leads to an Apprenticeship in England, you may be able to get help with your study and training costs.

Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)

An Education Maintenance Allowance can give you up to £30 a week to stay in learning after you leave school. Depending on your progress, you can also earn a series of bonuses, adding up to £500 altogether. The money’s there to pay for travel, books, equipment for your course, or whatever else you want. The amount that you get will depend on your household income and you may be able to get one if you’re at a school sixth form, at college, taking part in an Entry to Employment (e2e) programme or on a course that may lead to an Apprenticeship.Claiming EMA will not affect your parents’ benefit payments if they get any, or your own benefits if you’re a young parent.Learner Support FundsYou may be able to get help from Learner Support Funds to help you with the cost of books, equipment or other learning-related costs. You can get Learner Support Funds at the same time as receiving Education Maintenance Allowance.Help with transport costsIf 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.

Help if you’re studying away from home

Extra help with your costs could be available 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 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 with childcare costs

If you’re under 20 and have children, help with childcare costs could be available through the Care to Learn scheme, whether you’re in school sixth form, college or a work-based learning programme.

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 award is based on your performance at an audition.

Help when you reach 18

If you’re 18 or over, unable to claim other types of financial help but need money for the course you want to do, you may be able to apply for a Career Development Loan. They can help to fund two years of vocational training or education, as well as 12 months of work experience.

You repay the loan once your training is over at a fixed rate of interest.

Source: DirectGov. Crown Copyright