EMAs and Me
What age do I have to be?
- EMAs are available to eligible 16-19 year olds, if you were born between 1 March 1992 and 28 February 1996.
- You cannot get an EMA until you have reached your school leaving age.
- If you reach your 20th birthday whilst receiving an EMA, payments will stop from the week after your 20th birthday.
- EMAs can be paid for up to 3 years and up to 4 years for students with additional support needs.
Where do I apply?
Ask your school, college or Local Education Authority for an application form. This form is not available to download from this site.
What's in it for me?
EMA awards will be paid according to the total taxable household income. Payments are only made when you have 100% weekly attendance.
Income |
No. of dependent children in household |
Award |
£0 - £20,351 |
1 |
£30 |
£0 - £22,403 |
2+ |
£30 |
* 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 in full-time education and training.
Can I get an EMA if I study elsewhere in the UK?
Yes, if you are ordinarily resident in Scotland but study elsewhere in the UK, you may be eligible to receive EMA in Scotland provided you meet the eligibility criteria, e.g. age, household income, valid course, residency. Please contact your Local Authority for further details.