Money to Study
Care to Learn
Young parents can get help with childcare costs of up to £155 per child per week between August and July. It’s available to young people who:
o Are under 20 years old; and
o start a course or training programme that receives some public funding; and
o live in England; and
o care for your own child/children; and
o use registered childcare providers.
Child Benefit
Your parent or carer can get child benefit until you are 19 if you are in ‘relevant education’. This means a full-time ‘non-advanced course’. Full-time means more than 12 hours per week. ‘Non-advanced’ means up to and including A-levels or other level 3 course.
Child benefit is now also available to your parent or carer if you are on e2e or a Programme Led Apprenticeship.
If you leave school at the end of Year 11 and are not in work or training, Child Benefit will continue until the beginning of September. Extended Child Benefit is available until the end of December if you have called into the Connexions Centre to say you are looking for work or training.
Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)
EMA is a weekly allowance of up to £30 available to some young people who continue to stay on in full-time education (either at school or college) after year 11. It is now also available if you are on e2e or Programme Led Apprenticeship.
The amount you can get will depend on your family’s income and it is linked to attendance.
You may also be able to get bonuses of £100 if you stay on your course and make good progress.
You won’t lose out if you get money from a part-time job. And your parents won’t lose any benefits they get. Young people who get Income Support whilst studying can also get EMA on top of Income Support. Young people in ‘relevant education’ who live with foster carers, are in care or have left care can also apply for the full education maintenance allowance.
You can get an application form from your school, college or local Connexions Centre.
Fees for Courses
If you start a full-time course before you are 19 you do not normally have to pay tuition or exam fees. If you have been living in another country in the last three years, you will need to check if you have to pay fees. You will also have to pay fees if you go to a private school or college.
If you are older than 19 and get some kind of benefit from the Benefits Agency, you may not have to pay fees.
Higher Education
There’s a lot of talk about the cost of a university education. This is the information for students starting higher education in 2006 and it may change by the time you go to university.
H.E. Tuition fees
The Government plans tonow allows universities to charge up to £3000 per year tuition fees.from September 2006. They will add this to your student loan. The standard tuition fee will be around £1200. Universities that wish to charge more have to sign a special agreement.
H.E. Bursaries
Help with tuition fees will be available to students who receive the full maintenance grant (see below) and attend universities charging more than £2700 per year.
H.E. Student Loans
This is to help with the cost of everyday living expenses and the interest is linked to inflation. This means you would only repay in ‘real terms’ what you borrowed. You only start to pay back once you are earning more than £15,000 per year. There is a maximum amount you can borrow. For example, a student living away from home and starting a course outside London would be able to borrow up to a maximum of £4405 for the first year (depending on family income).
H.E.Higher Education Grants
These are new. They are aimed at students from low-income families. The grant is worth up to £2700 and the amount you get will depend on your family income. You would not have to repay this grant.
H.E. Disabled Student’s Allowance
If you have a disability or learning difficulty, you may be able to claim Disabled Student’s Allowance. Contact your local education authorityChildren’s Services Authority.
Income Support whilst studying
See ‘Money to work, seek work or unable to work’ section below.
Learner Support Fund (LSF)
If you stay on in further education after Year 11, you may be able to apply for LSF. This is to help with the cost of books, living expenses and transport. It can be paid on top of any EMA you may get. If you’re at college, see your student support counsellor; if you’re at school talk to your tutor or Head of Sixth Form.
Studying and part-time working
lf you’re still at school or college, you can work part-time to earn extra cash.