Funding for Under 18s
If you’re under 18 when your course starts, you will be assessed for an Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA). You must have reached the statutory school leaving date (i.e., turned 16 on or before 30 September). If you turn 16 between 1 October and the end of February, you’re eligible from January.
Student Under 18
Funding Details
You could get the funding below to help with your studies. Funding amounts depend on household income unless otherwise noted.
|
Funding Type |
Details |
|
Course Fees |
Free for Home/Scottish students. |
|
EMA |
£30/week if household income is below £24,421 (1 child) or £26,884 (2+ children). |
|
Travel Costs |
Covered if over 2 miles from college. Free bus travel for under 22s with an NEC. Not income-assessed. |
|
Study Costs |
Paid directly to your faculty for books, kits, uniforms, and other essentials. Not income-assessed. |
|
Disability Support |
Help for additional needs (e.g., interpreters, taxi). Not income-assessed. |
|
EMA Away from Home |
Up to £49.91/week for students living away from home on top of EMA. |
Your weekly EMA award depends on your parent(s)’ gross yearly income and how many dependent children live in the household (including you):
|
Household Income |
Dependent Children |
Weekly EMA Award |
|
Up to £24,421 |
1 (just you) |
£30 |
|
Above £24,421 |
1 |
Not eligible |
|
Up to £26,884 |
2 or more |
£30 |
|
Above £26,884 |
2 or more |
Not eligible |
Additional Support
If you live in your own home, or at a term-time address because your parents live too far from the college, you might get an EMA Away from Home allowance. This is paid from the FE Bursary fund and can be up to £49.71 per week.
How your parents’ income affects the EMA Away from Home allowance:
|
Parent(s) Income |
EMA Away from Home |
1 Other Child |
1 Other Student |
|
£20,351 or less |
£49.71 |
£49.71 |
£49.71 |
|
£25,000 |
£36.85 |
£40.39 |
£43.38 |
|
£35,000 |
£11.10 |
£14.54 |
£30.46 |
|
£40,000 |
£0 |
£1.63 |
£24.00 |
Note: If your parents support other children or students, this can reduce how much they’re expected to contribute, so your allowance might be higher.
Example Situations
- Emma, 16, lives with her parents, who earn £20,000. She gets £30/week EMA, free tuition, study costs, and free bus travel (since she’s under 22).
- Liam, 17, lives away from home with a tenancy agreement. His parents earn £25,000 with one other child. He gets £30/week EMA, £40.39/week EMA Away from Home allowance, free tuition, study costs, and free bus travel.
- Fatima, 16, lives with her single parent, who earns £30,000. She gets no EMA but receives free tuition, study costs, and free bus travel.
Key Deadlines
- First Payment on Time: Apply at least 4 weeks before course starts.
- Backdated Payments: Apply within 6 weeks of course start.
- Final Deadline: 31 March 2026.
Application Requirements
Information Required
- Personal details
- Residency
- Education
- Student’s income
- Parent(s)’ income
- Bank details
- Travel details
Documents Required (not exhaustive)
- Proof of identity (e.g., passport, birth certificate)
- e-Visa (for non-UK nationals)
- Student’s income (e.g., payslip, SA302, Universal Credit statement)
- Parent(s)’ income (e.g., P60, SA302, Universal Credit statement)
- Proof of living arrangements (e.g., tenancy agreement, Council Tax notice, official letter addressed to you).
How to Apply
Apply online as soon as you can! We’ll email you an application link after you accept your course. Wait for this email before activating your funding account – doing so too early can cause issues. It takes about 4–6 weeks to process. If you don’t receive the email, contact us at studentfunding@glasgowkelvin.ac.uk. See How to Apply for more details.
Key Information
- You need to meet Home/Scottish residency rules.
- If parent(s)’ income drops by at least 15% in 2025/26, request a current income assessment.
- EMA is not paid during college holidays.
- You need 100% attendance each week to get your EMA payment.
- If you turn 18 during the course, you won’t be reassessed for a bursary – you’ll stay on EMA until the course ends.
Questions?
Contact finance@glasgowkelvin.ac.uk.