What is EMA?

Basically, EMA is cash in your hands to help you carry on learning. If you’re 16, 17 or 18 and have left, or are about to leave, compulsory education, then it could be for you. 

EMA spells fewer money worries with up to £30 a week during term time – leaving you to get on with your studies.

To find out if you are eligible, see ‘EMA: how much, how often’.

• EMA: how much, and how often?

Why keep learning?

Everyone has different dreams and aspirations for the future. That’s why continuing to learn and train is so important.  It can help you work out what you enjoy, what you’re good at and how to get what you want from life.

Luckily there are all types of courses covering lots of different subject areas – both inside and outside the classroom.

So what do you fancy? Agriculture and horticulture? Office and administration? Digital media?  Science and technology? Travel, tourism and hospitality?

And what type of course would suit you best? A levels? Diplomas? GCSE resits? e2e? A course that leads to an Apprenticeship?

To find out what courses are available in your area, just take a look at your local 14-19 prospectus.

• Find your local 14-19 prospectus (do it online section)

Or if you’re not yet at the stage where you know what sort of course you want to do, just follow the below link.

• Choices at 16: what's right for you

What could EMA do for you?

Whatever you decide to do, EMA could help you with the cost of books, travel, equipment or anything useful to continue learning. 

It’s worth up to £30 a week, and it’s paid straight into your bank account, not to your parents or your college.

What’s the catch?

There’s no catch. As long as you attend regularly and work hard, there should be no problem in receiving EMA. 

And if you stay in learning, it could affect what you earn - the latest research shows that learning a new skill and getting a new qualification can actually mean more money in your hands,increasing your annual salary by up to £3,000.

Interested? Your next step is find out whether you qualify, and how much you could get.