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Education Maintenance Allowances (EMAs)

EMAs are part of the Scottish Executive's agenda of encouraging access to, and participation in, further and higher education by young people from low-income families.

EMAs are financial support for 16 – 19 year olds who stay on in full time non advanced education after their statutory school leaving date (i.e. those continuing in post-compulsory education).

To be eligible for an EMA in 2011/2012 the student must:

  • Have been born between 1 March 1992 and 28 February 1996.
  • Have a household income of £22,403 or below (for families with more than one dependent child in the household)* or
  • Have a household income of £20,351 or below (for families with a single dependent child in the household)
  • Be in full-time non-advanced education (up to SVQ level 3).

*Dependent children are all those up to the age of 16 and those over the age of 16 and up to the age of 25 if they are still in full-time education.

Following assessment of the application, weekly payments will be paid at £30.

Students become eligible for an EMA in August if they turn 16 between 1 March and 30 September and in January if they turn 16 between 1 October and 28 February. Eligibility is reassessed each academic year.

  • To be eligible for weekly payments the student must complete a learning agreement with the school.
  • Payments are made fortnightly in arrears to the student's bank account depending on attendance and compliance with the requirements of their learning agreement.

Application forms are available from schools and Marischal College Customer Service Centre as well as  Woodside Access Point, Kincorth Customer Access Point and Mastrick Access Point. A form can also be downloaded from the links on the right. Completed forms should be sent to the address shown on the front of the application form.

Information can also be found on the Scottish Government's EMA web site www.emascotland.com

Contacts

  • Moyra Forbes
    Education Maintenance Allowances
    Support Services
    Education Culture and Sport
    Business Hub 13
    Second Floor North
    Marischal College
    Broad Street
    Aberdeen
    AB10 1AB
    Phone: 01224 523898
    Fax: 01224 522022
    Email: MForbes@aberdeencity.gov.uk

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