Student Bursary Fund

The bursary scheme has recently been announced by the government and aims to support young
people who face the greatest barriers to continuing in education.
If you fall into one of the priority groups listed below, you may be able to benefit from the scheme.

Priority 1	Priority 2	Priority 3
Any student: in care care leavers in receipt of Income Support disabled students in receipt of Disability living allowance and employment support allowance.	Any student not in receipt of an EMA payment and living in a household where the gross annual income is £16190 or less.	All students who have an extreme financial problem and a short term and specific educational or independent living cost which they cannot meet.
These students will be entitled to a weekly payment as well as help towards the cost of transport, meals, essential books, equipment and trips. This replaces any EMA payment you receive.	These students may be entitled to weekly payments or other appropriate support from the fund.	These students can request support from the Bursary fund. This will be dependent on the number of applications received and the funds available.

If you believe that you may be eligible for help from the fund, you can download an application form here or collect a pack from college.
You must:

• be enrolled on a full time programme of study at Greenhead College
• be under 19 years of age on the 31st August 2011
• satisfy residency criteria (as defined in the document YPLA Funding Guidance 2011/12:Funding Regulations)
• have a bank account in your own name in order to receive any payment.

The college will determine the size of the bursary depending on individual need, the number of applications and the funds available.

What to do next:

July 2011	Find out about the Student Bursary Fund Open a bank account. Print and complete an application form with your parents or carers.
September	Please bring the completed form with the evidenceto the Student Registration Office. We MUST have ORIGINAL documents.
September 16 2011	Closing date for applications.

Application forms and further information are available from the Student Registration Office

EMA

The EMA scheme is being withdrawn by the government and replaced by the Student Bursary Fund in September 2011.

What if I get EMA at the moment?

• If you first applied successfully for Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) in 2009/10, you’ll continue to receive the same level of weekly payments while you study in 2011/12.
• If you first applied successfully for the maximum EMA payment of £30 a week in 2010/11, you’ll receive £20 a week while you study in 2011/12.
• If you’re in care, a care leaver, on income support, or receiving both Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance, your weekly EMA payments will be replaced with a bursary of £1200 a year from September 2011. You’ll receive that bursary directly from your school, college or training provider.
  If you get EMA at the moment but are not in one of these groups, you can still apply for a bursary through your school, college or training provider.
• EMA Student Helpline: 0800 121 8989
• Website: http://direct.gov.uk/ema