To receive EMA, students must be studying an eligible course. This must be provided by or at a recognised education provider.

The school or college is responsible for confirming that the student’s course is valid. You can do this through the Learning Centre Portal, as part of the process to confirm the student’s EMA Learning Agreement.

Course length

All eligible courses must be a programme of full-time academic or vocational education with:

• at least 10 weeks' duration
• at least 12 guided contact hours per week

Full-time is defined as at least 12 guided contact hours per week. However, for any course where the weekly hours are higher, students must attend all allocated hours. For example, if a course has 20 guided contact hours, students must attend all 20 hours to be in attendance for EMA purposes.

Course type

The course criteria for the EMA scheme are wide-ranging and flexible. These must relate to nationally recognised academic or vocational qualifications.

Eligible qualifications are up to and including National Qualifications level 3, issued by a recognised awarding body.

Higher education courses on level 4 or above do not qualify.

The student must show some measure of progression from beginning to end. Both academic and vocational courses are included.

Important elements of an eligible course:

• it is a programme of full-time academic or vocational education or a full-time programme in preparation for life and work
  
  
• the duration of the programme of full-time academic or vocational education is at least 10 weeks
  
  
• it is provided by or at a recognised education provider
  
  
• it leads to qualifications up to and including National Qualifications level 3 issued by a recognised awarding body
  
  
• it leads to the achievement of a personalised learning programme funded by the Welsh Government under the Preparation for Life and Work programme area
  
  
• the student is timetabled to study for at least 12 hours per week

Students are not eligible for EMA support for Work Ready, work-based learning or equivalent schemes and programmes where an allowance or similar is paid.

If you are not sure if a course is eligible or not, please email the Welsh Government at studentfinancedivision@gov.wales or isadrancyllidmyfyrwyr@llyw.cymru.

Eligible courses: Independent Living Skills programmes

To be eligible for EMA, students must be on a further education course up to level 3. This is equivalent to A levels or NVQ level 3, leading to a qualification from a recognised awarding body.

From academic year 2019/20, the Welsh Government extended support to students with learning difficulties and disabilities on Independent Living Skills (ILS) programmes that are made up of unaccredited provision.

All Learning Centres offering ILS programmes are responsible for determining the suitability of the students.

ILS programmes follow a robust schedule of processes for:

• initial student assessments
• target setting
• monitored achievement against target

These processes set by the Welsh Government fit with current EMA Learning Agreements.

The revised curriculum was developed in response to recommendations set out in a recent Estyn Thematic Report. Each new programme is designed to provide a practical approach for gaining and consolidating skills, to prepare students for adult life.

Under the new curriculum, ILS students follow tailored individual programmes which develop their skills across 4 pillars of learning:

• health and wellbeing
• employability
• independent living
• community inclusion

To support this new development, students with learning difficulties commencing an ILS programme are eligible for EMA support from academic year 2019/20. This is subject to satisfying all other eligibility criteria. These include personal eligibility, income thresholds and residency requirements.

The programme is wholly non-accredited. It leads to the achievement of a personalised learning programme funded by the Welsh Government under Preparation for Life and Work.

Work-related study