Published: 30/09/2026 · Last Updated: 30/09/2026
Bulletin for September 2026
Welcome to academic year (AY) 2026/27
Welcome back to a new year of EMA. As always, we appreciate your help with administering EMA and WGLG for your students.
Online applications
Students can apply online. Where possible, please encourage students to do so. It's easy and helps us to process forms quickly.
The majority of our applications so far this year have been online. To help promote the service, we’ve created posters to download and print. Please display these in areas where students will see them.
New EMA students must apply within 13 weeks of their course starting to be eligible for full backdated payments. The 'application received' date will be the first time they save or submit their application online. Students can contact us about their application on our helpline number 0300 200 4050. This will be open from Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm.
If your students would prefer a paper application form, they can still ask for one. They can also download application forms from the Student Finance Wales (SFW) website. This is available even if they’ve started an application online.
The majority of our applications so far this year have been online. To help promote the service, we’ve created posters to download and print. Please display these in areas where students will see them.
New EMA students must apply within 13 weeks of their course starting to be eligible for full backdated payments. The 'application received' date will be the first time they save or submit their application online. Students can contact us about their application on our helpline number 0300 200 4050. This will be open from Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm.
If your students would prefer a paper application form, they can still ask for one. They can also download application forms from the Student Finance Wales (SFW) website. This is available even if they’ve started an application online.
Missing Evidence status
Some new students' records may show on the LC Portal as ‘Missing Evidence’. You can check this in the view application worklist section. You can select 'Missing Evidence' and it will give you an idea of what is missing. For example, it may say proof of identity. This may mean that they still need to send in evidence, such as a birth certificate. Please ask your students to log into their online account and check what they still need to send or upload. Once we have this information we can continue with their application.
Backdated EMA payments
If SFW receives an EMA application within 13 weeks, new eligible students may have EMA payments backdated to the start of their course.
Applications received after the 13 weeks will still be eligible for backdated pay. However, this will only be from the qualifying week that we received their application form.
Returning (auto rollover) students should also sign the AY 2026/27 Learning Agreement within 13 weeks of their course start date. This will make them eligible for fully backdated pay.
Applications received after the 13 weeks will still be eligible for backdated pay. However, this will only be from the qualifying week that we received their application form.
Returning (auto rollover) students should also sign the AY 2026/27 Learning Agreement within 13 weeks of their course start date. This will make them eligible for fully backdated pay.
Service standard reminders
All new and returning students should sign a Learning Agreement. Students should sign this within 10 working days of an approved application, or the 2nd Monday in September whichever is later.
You should confirm attendances every week. This should be done before 5pm on a Wednesday for the previous week’s attendance.
Remove any students who are no longer studying with you. You should remove them within 10 days of an approved application.
Full details of the service standards and guidance documents are available on the LC Services website.
If you've had a change in staff at your learning centre, please contact me to arrange a training session either online or face to face.
You should confirm attendances every week. This should be done before 5pm on a Wednesday for the previous week’s attendance.
Remove any students who are no longer studying with you. You should remove them within 10 days of an approved application.
Full details of the service standards and guidance documents are available on the LC Services website.
If you've had a change in staff at your learning centre, please contact me to arrange a training session either online or face to face.
LC Services website
Remember that there's guidance and promotional materials on the LC Services website. There's also an example of a fair and realistic Learning Agreement available, should yours need updating. You can find AY 2026/27 Learning Agreement templates and payment information guides on the downloads section of LC Portal.
EMA/WGLG FE support desk
Our support desk team is available from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday to answer any day to day operational questions about individual students, application processing, payments and system issues.
You can contact the support desk on 0300 200 4050 (option 6 for EMA queries, option 5 for WGLG FE) or email emainfo@slc.co.uk.