Students Finance Wales - Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA)

What EMA gives you

You will receive £40 per week (about 46 EUR), which will be paid into your bank account every two weeks. This is intended to help cover the costs of continuing your education after you have reached school-leaving age. You can receive this benefit throughout the school year, and it can continue for up to three years, provided you meet the eligibility criteria. The full amount of £40 is paid to households whose income is below the income threshold. The money comes from Student Finance Wales and is funded by the Welsh Government. To continue receiving the payment, you must meet the attendance requirements set by your school or further education college.

Who can apply

• Age: It is 31 August of the year in which you start your degree, 16, 17 or 18.
• Where you live: On your first day at school, you’ll be living in Wales.
• Nationality: You are a British national, an Irish citizen or have ‘settled status’, and have been living in the United Kingdom and on the British Isles for 3 years. People of other nationalities living in Wales may also be eligible under certain circumstances.
• Where you study: You are attending a school or university in the United Kingdom that takes part in the EMA scheme. It does not necessarily have to be in Wales.
• Course: An academic or vocational course up to level 3, for example GCSEs, AS/A-Levels, BTEC, NVQ or basic qualification courses. This must be a full-time course at school. At a university of applied sciences, the course must comprise at least 12 teaching hours per week and last for at least 10 weeks.
• Household income: £24,570 or less if you are the only young person in the household, or £27,273 or less if there is more than one. Former care home residents and people receiving income support or Universal Credit do not need to provide details of their income.
• Not already funded: You are not taking part in any paid training or any other publicly funded work-based programme, nor are you receiving any corresponding funding for people over the age of 19.

How to apply

You can apply online via a Student Finance Wales account; the process takes around 30 minutes. You can also use a paper application form from your school or college. The application period for 2026/27 is already open, and you can apply even before you receive your GCSE results or have decided where to study. Apply early to ensure your funding is confirmed before the term begins. The final deadline for a school year is at the end of August following the start of that school year.

How realistic are your chances?

The EMA is not a means-tested grant: if you meet the criteria regarding age, place of residence and income, you will receive the payment. The main criterion is your household income, so whether you are eligible ultimately depends on the figures. Apply for the grant as early as possible so that the money is available when your studies begin, and ensure you meet the attendance requirements set by your school or university in order to continue receiving the grant.