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GrantWales

Education Maintenance Allowance (Wales)

Student Finance Wales, within a national scheme set by the Welsh Government

Description

Wales's equivalent of England's 16-19 Bursary Fund — a weekly payment of £40 for 16-18 year-olds from lower-income households in further education, higher than both Scotland's and Northern Ireland's EMA rate. Intended to help with the everyday costs of staying in education, such as travel, meals, and course materials.

Amount

£40 a week for 2026/27

Deadline

Rolling / no fixed deadline

Eligibility summary

  • Available in: Wales.
  • Open to individuals — not restricted to businesses.
  • Relevant income bands: earning under the Personal Allowance.
  • Relevant age groups: under 18.
Notes
Administered by Student Finance Wales rather than local councils. Distinct from England's 16-19 Bursary Fund and from Scotland's and Northern Ireland's own EMA schemes, which pay lower weekly rates (£30 in both cases) under their own eligibility thresholds.
Requirement
Aged 16-18, in full-time further education in Wales, from a household with income below the scheme's threshold (thresholds for the Welsh scheme are set higher than Scotland's).

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How to apply

Apply via Student Finance Wales' website; must reapply each academic year and maintain agreed attendance to keep receiving payments.

View official source

Other areas' version of this scheme

Education Maintenance Allowance (Wales) is run locally — here's the same scheme in other areas.

Grant

Education Maintenance Allowance (Northern Ireland)

Department for the Economy (Northern Ireland)

Northern Ireland's equivalent of England's 16-19 Bursary Fund — a weekly payment of £30, paid fortnightly, for 16-19 year-olds from lower-income households staying on at school or moving into further education college, with two additional one-off £100 bonus payments available for meeting attendance/progress targets set by the school or college.

£30 a week (paid fortnightly), plus up to two £100 bonus payments (January and June) for meeting agreed targetsRolling / no fixed deadlineNorthern Ireland
Grant

Education Maintenance Allowance (Scotland)

Local councils (school pupils) and colleges (Scotland), within a national scheme set by the Scottish Government

Scotland's equivalent of England's 16-19 Bursary Fund — a weekly payment of £30 for 16-19 year-olds from lower-income households who stay on at school or move into further education college, intended to help with the everyday costs of studying (travel, meals, materials). Paid fortnightly and subject to maintaining attendance and agreeing a learning plan with your school or college.

£30 a week, paid fortnightly, subject to attendanceRolling / no fixed deadlineScotland

Last verified: 1 August 2026. See the footer disclaimer — this is general information, not financial or tax advice.