What is an education maintenance allowance?
Education maintenance allowance (EMA) is designed to encourage you to further your education after compulsory school, and improve your employment prospects.
We manage the scheme on behalf of the Scottish Government which has ultimate responsibility for policy and guidelines. You can find out more about EMA on the Scottish Government website.
You must complete a new application every academic year. You can find out more about how we monitor your entitlement on our FAQ's.
Please note we will only deal with queries and applications for pupils residing in the Scottish Borders. For all other residents in Scotland, contact your local authority.
When to apply
Applications for academic year 2024/25 will be available online during the school summer holiday.
Am I eligible for EMA?
You can apply for an EMA if you:
- live in Scotland at the start of your course
- have been ordinarily resident in the UK for the last 3 years immediately before you started your course
You must also either have
- settled immigration status in the UK, including British citizens
- lived in the UK for 7 years if you're under 18
- other residency rules also apply
- if you live in Scottish Borders and travel daily to England to attend school or college and meet the eligibility criteria you can apply to us for an EMA. You won't be eligible for EMA if you receive another type of education funding for example college bursary.
Your age
You can apply for EMA when you are between 16 and 19 years old.
For example:
- if you turn 16 between 1 March and 30 September, you'll be eligible to apply from the autumn intake in August.
- if your turn 16 between 1 October and the last day in February you'll be eligible to apply from the winter intake in January.
Your household income
Your household income for the tax year ending 5 April 2024 must be less than:
- £24,421 for one child in education
- £26,884 for two or more children in education
Income considered as part of household income includes:
- earned income
- self-employed income
- pensions
- Tax Credits
- Universal Credit
- DWP benefits
Your course and where you study
To apply with us you should meet one of the following criteria:
- be enrolled at school in the Borders and follow your agreed timetable for 100% attendance.
- have an Stage 1 No One Left Behind programme for more than 9 hours per week, and fully participate in those activities every week
- be home educated studying a non-advanced course at home that SBC have approved
- be on a non-advanced course at school or college in England but reside in Scotland
You will also need a learning agreement, signed by you, your parents or carers, and by the school or college you attend. The agreement should detail your timetabled hours and study periods.
If you are on a non-advanced course at Borders College, you can find information about how to apply on their website.
NOTE: - EMA is not available to anyone that resides in England