Learner Support Funds
Education Maintenance Allowance
Help if you're studying away from home
Care to Learn
HE finance

Getting the money to study is not always easy. The amount you get, and the conditions attached, can depend on what you want to study, for how many hours a week, what your qualifications are and what kind of study you have done already. It can also depend on your age and what the family income is.

If you want to study full or part-time, and you are under 19 on 31 August in the year in which you start the course, your course fees will be paid. (But this does not apply to fees for private colleges).

Learner Support Funds

Discretionary Learner Support Funds are available in sixth forms and colleges to help with learning costs. The funds are prioritised for those who face financial hardship. They can be used to help with:

• financial hardship and emergencies
• childcare costs (for Ofsted-registered childcare)
• accommodation costs, for those who have to study beyond daily travelling distance
• travel costs
• essential course-related equipment, materials and field trips

To be eligible to apply, you must:

• be 16 or over (including those in sixth forms)
• have been accepted onto and be studying a programme of learning funded by the Learning and Skills Council

Colleges and schools would normally give priority to students who are economically disadvantaged (such as those on benefit or a low income), those aged over 19 who don't have a Level 2 qualification, those leaving care or on probation, probationers, young parents, and others considered 'at risk'.

For more information, go to Directgov/Learnersupportfunds

Education Maintenance Allowance (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.

Pick up an application form at your school or local Connexions centre, or phone the EMA helpline on 0800 121 8989. To find out more, go to Directgov/EMA.

Help if you're studying away from home

If you want to take particular courses, but can't find them on offer locally, you may be able to get funding for your accommodation and travel costs from your home to term-time lodgings.

There are two main ways of getting help with the cost of specialist courses:

• Studying at a college that offers residential bursaries for certain courses - such as agriculture, art and design, and horticulture.
• Applying for finance under a Residential Support Scheme. The scheme will help pay for your residential accommodation and could also help with travel costs. Applications are based on household income.

For more information and details of how to apply, go to Directgov/Awayfromhome.

Care to Learn - childcare while you learn

If you are a young parent, Care to Learn can help pay for your childcare and travel costs while you’re learning.

The subject or course you take is entirely up to you. You can choose, for example, whether you want a qualification or not, or whether you want to learn at a college or through work.

Wherever you learn, you can be confident that your child is being safely looked after.

To find out if you qualify, or to help you apply, you can either phone the Care to Learn helpline on 0800 121 8989 or contact your Connexions Personal Adviser.

Find out more at Directgov/Caretolearn.

Higher education finance

Cost is a concern for most potential HE students - the good news is there's probably more help than you think. The important part is knowing what's available, what you're entitled to and whether or not you'll have to pay it back.

As a general rule, grants and bursaries don't have to be paid back, but loans do - so check what you're applying for, so you know what you'll owe when you leave higher education.

Grants and awards
Maintenance grants
Maintenance grants are targeted at students from low-income families. The grants do not have to be repaid. Eligible students are assessed on their parents' income. They are payable in three instalments - one at the start of each term.

Help for students in specific circumstances

• Childcare Grant and Parents' Learning Allowance are available to students with children
• Adult Dependants' Grant is available to students who have an adult who depends on them financially
• Disabled Students' Allowances are available to help students with disabilities, mental health conditions, or specific learning difficulties

Bursaries, scholarships and other awards
You may be able to get help through a bursary - extra financial help from your university or college. Bursaries can be provided in a variety of ways - for example, as payments into your bank account or a discount on accommodation costs. You don't have to pay bursaries back.

Some universities and colleges also offer scholarships. These can be based on your income, your A level results or on other criteria – check what’s available.

There are also some charities and educational trusts which may be willing to award you extra financial help.

You won’t have to pay back any money you get through a bursary, scholarship or award.

Student loans
There are two types of student loans - one to help cover the costs of your tuition fees, and one to help with basic living costs (rent, bills, food, etc). Remember that they are not grants, student loans have to be paid back.

The interest rate on a Government student loan only takes inflation into account, so the overall amount will, in real terms, be the same as the amount borrowed.

You only start repaying your student loan when you've left university and earn more than £15,000 a year. Repayments are collected through the tax system, directly linked to an individual's earnings. So the less you earn, the less you pay; the more you earn the more you pay. For more information, go to Student Loans Company.

There is plenty of financial help available if you want to carry on learning, so drop in to your local Connexions centre for advice. Or go to Directgov/studentfinance.